Winter car emergency kit: what to keep in your car

A winter car kit is about surviving a long, cold wait: blankets and warm clothes, water in plastic bottles, food that won’t spoil, a torch, a small shovel, a scraper and snowbrush, jumper cables and sand or cat litter for grip. Ready.gov also says to keep a full tank. If you get stuck, stay in the car, keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow and run the engine only in short bursts.

We earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Brands never pay for placement. Read our disclosure.

Why winter needs its own car kit

Ready.gov warns that winter storms bring a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite and carbon monoxide poisoning, and that a storm can last from a few hours to several days. Snow closes roads and motorways in Europe and North America every winter, and drivers are sometimes stuck for many hours before help arrives. Your normal car kit (see our car kit checklist, including what the law requires in different countries) covers a breakdown. A winter kit covers the long, cold wait.

The checklist

This list combines the Government of Canada’s emergency car kit and Ready.gov’s winter advice, which mentions jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks.

In the cabin

• Warmth: a wool blanket or a sleeping bag per seat if you drive long distances, plus foil blankets, a hat, gloves, dry socks and spare shoes or boots. Canada lists extra clothing and shoes.
• Water: in plastic bottles so they won’t break if frozen, changed every six months. Plan on at least 2 litres (0.5 US gal) per person for a long wait.
• Food that won’t spoil: energy bars, nuts, dried fruit.
• Light: a wind-up flashlight or a head torch with lithium batteries, which cope better with cold.
• First aid: a car first aid kit; Canada adds a seatbelt cutter.
• Signalling: a whistle to attract attention.
• Phone power: a USB car charger and a charged power bank, since you may not want the engine running.
• Paper: road maps, important numbers and a copy of your emergency plan.
• Extra warmth: hand warmers take no space and work for hours.

In the boot (trunk)

• A small folding shovel, an ice scraper and a snowbrush.
• Sand, salt or non-clumping cat litter to put under the wheels for grip.
• Antifreeze and winter washer fluid.
• A tow rope and jumper cables, or a portable jump starter if you often drive alone.
• A small car fire extinguisher.
• Warning lights or flares. In Spain, a connected V-16 beacon has replaced warning triangles since 1 January 2026; elsewhere a warning triangle and hi-vis vests are often compulsory.

Canada’s list also includes a candle in a deep can and matches. If you carry one, keep it upright in its can, away from fabric, and never leave it burning while you sleep.

Before every winter trip

• Keep the tank full or close to it, as Ready.gov advises: fuel is your heat if you get stuck.
• Check the weather and road conditions. Ready.gov’s advice in a winter storm is to stay off the roads if at all possible.
• Charge your phone and tell someone your route and when you expect to arrive.
• Have the battery, tyres, lights and wipers checked before the cold sets in.

If you get stuck in snow

1. Stay in the car. Ready.gov: if trapped in your car, stay inside. It is shelter, and rescuers find cars more easily than people walking.
2. Call for help and say exactly where you are. Switch on hazard lights or a beacon.
3. Keep the exhaust clear. Clear snow from the exhaust pipe before running the engine, run it only in short bursts for heat, and open a window slightly. Carbon monoxide has no smell or colour; the NHS lists headache, dizziness, nausea and tiredness among the symptoms.
4. Stay warm: blankets, hats and gloves on, huddle together, move your arms and legs.
5. Watch for hypothermia: Ready.gov lists shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. A body temperature below 35 °C (95 °F) is an emergency.
6. Save power: phone on low-power mode, texts instead of calls.

Shopping list

We don’t list prices because they change often. Use the button to see the current price on Amazon.

For the year-round basics and country rules, see the car kit checklist; for home, the winter storm kit.

Questions people ask

Keep reading

• /kits/car/
• /kits/winter-storm/
• How to keep warm without heating in a power cut
• Canada’s 72-hour emergency kit (Get Prepared)
• Best power bank for emergencies

Sources

1. Government of Canada, Get Prepared: Emergency car kit
2. Ready.gov (FEMA): Winter weather
3. NHS: Carbon monoxide poisoning
4. Spain, DGT: V-16 beacon requirement