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At some point or another, nearly all of us will experience our cars breaking down. It will be annoying, it will be frustrating, and it will happen at exactly the moment you could least do with it. 

But one action you can take which will make it considerably more bearable - is be prepared. 

And with many of us planning summer road trips or long drives to the coast, it seems like a particularly good time to get an emergency breakdown kit in order and ready to go. Getting a few bits together, particularly in advance of a trip, can be a life saver. And to mention a time saver too if it stops you having to flag down help to get you back on the road. 

So before you go off on any adventure, here’s everything you need to take in case of a car related emergency. 

Torch

You never quite know what time of the day disaster will strike. And the last thing you want is to be trying to inspect your tyres on a dark country road. So make your life considerably easier and pack a small torch.

Hi-vis

Increasing your visibility to other drivers will make you safer. Particularly if you find yourself needing to bend down to inspect your car on the side traffic will be passing; you won’t be able to see the other drivers, so it’s even more important to make sure that they can see you. 

Jump start cables

With one of these in the car (and the kindness of a passing stranger) you’ll be back on the road in no time. The likelihood of your battery going flat is increased during cold weather, so make sure to carry one with you particularly in winter months or when heading off the colder climates.

Puncture repair kit

You never know when a puncture might hit so it’s good to have a plan for if one does. A spare tyre is of course the most useful thing, but many modern cars no longer come with one. Failing that then, some Tyreweld should do the job to get you safely to a garage. 

Two reflective warning signs

As well as your hi-vis, popping one of these in front of your car and one to the rear when broken down will help keep you in even better visibility to other drivers. In some countries carrying these in your vehicle is a legal requirement. So, if you’re planning on driving abroad make sure to check the rules on this for each specific country. 

Empty fuel can

You’d be surprised how many drivers run out of fuel on the road, some figures put it at around 70,000 a month in the UK. So if you are someone who lives life on the riskier side and dip into the red before filling up, you’d be wise to carry an empty fuel can with you to easily refill if you do find yourself stranded.  

And before setting off anywhere, the most important thing in your emergency breakdown kit is to take out breakdown coverage.