While you don’t want your car to break down, it’s still a good idea to prepare for unexpected roadside issues. Here are a few items towing companies want drivers to keep in their vehicles for assistance in times of trouble.

5 Important Items to Keep in Your Car

1. Jumper Cables

Use jumper cables to give your dead car battery power. Car batteries weaken after years of use, especially in hot weather when scorching temperatures increase corrosion and wear.

Jumper cables connect your battery to another car’s battery to provide the boost it needs. Since the tools require someone else’s car to work, consider adding an emergency battery booster to your kit for when you don’t have access to another vehicle.

2. Duct Tape

Apply duct tape to temporarily keep your muffler, mirrors, fender and bumper, headlights, and many other car parts in place until you can visit an auto repair shop. Duct tape also holds parts together during towing, so nothing flies off and possibly damages other vehicles.

3. Tire Pressure Gauge

Keep this affordable tool on hand to regularly check your tires’ pressure, which increases and decreases in hot and cold weather, respectively. Routine pressure checks improve vehicle handling, help prevent premature wear and dangerous blowouts, and contribute to better gas mileage.

4. Flashlight

Add a flashlight and batteries to your kit for illumination on dark nights. They provide light for midnight tire changes, help you navigate the contents of your trunk if the lights are out from a dead battery, locate lost objects, and offer additional auto part inspection and repair help. A separate light source also becomes necessary when your phone is dead and its flashlight isn’t accessible. If you’re concerned about battery corrosion, get a crank flashlight model.

5. First Aid Kit

Treat minor wounds and help injured passengers stay comfortable until medical help arrives with a comprehensive first aid kit. Include antiseptic ointment or wipes, pain relievers such as aspirin, and aloe vera gel for burns. Also, add antihistamines, bandages, products for treating insect bites, bruises, and rashes, and hand sanitizer for cleaning hands before treating wounds. Additional items you may want to have on hand include a CPR mask, instant cold packs, gauze, tweezers, scissors, and saline solution. 

If you need towing, an oil change, transmission service, or other car repairs, contact Gomes Bus Fleet Maintenance. A state-recognized certification center and full-service auto repair shop, this Kaneohe, HI, facility keeps personal and commercial vehicles safe and drivable. Call (808) 239-6755 today to make an appointment, or learn more about towing and auto repair services online.