Car Emergency Kit for Your College Student

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Lots of parents are getting ready to send their babies off to college. Whether for the first time or not, it’s always scary sending your kids off without you.

There are many ways to prepare for this moment, but one thing we think all college students need before driving off (or any driver for that matter) is a well-stocked car emergency kit.

Here is our ultimate list of things to include in your car emergency kit

Here’s a list of twelve things you should include your car emergency kit:

  1. FIX-A-FLAT
  2. TIRE PRESSURE GUAGE
  3. QUARTERS FOR THE AIR PUMP…so you don’t have to scrounge under the seats praying there are some stuck in there.
  4. JUMPER CABLES OR EMERGENCY BATTERY BOOSTER*
  5. CONTACT INFO FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE (You may have it as part of your insurance but might forget about it in a pinch.)
  6. MULTI-USE TOOL. You can go down the rabbit hole on Amazon looking at all the cool features some multi-use tools have, but I always find a good old Leatherman to have more than enough for what I need.
  7. SEAT BELT CUTTER AND WINDOW BREAKING TOOL. This $7 tool could save your life, but it’s important to keep it in the center console. Obviously, if you are in a situation that requires a seat belt cutter, you will probably not be able to get into the trunk to fetch it from your safety kit.
  8. EXTRA PHONE CHARGER CORD AND PLUG (not the one you use daily. An EXTRA…because you know you will take it out at some point!)
  9. CHARGED PHONE BATTERY PACK (in case of the phone battery AND car battery die)
  10. PRINTED LIST OF EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS (again…dead phone…)
  11. FIRST AID KID
  12. FLASHLIGHT

You can get really fancy and add things like bottles of water, protein bars, disposable ponchos, and baby wipes. In my experience, this kit works best when it’s a true emergency kit – not a kit for daily or occasional SNAFUS.

*(On a personal safety note, if you have a young adult driver, talk to them about what to do if someone asks them for a jump. Honestly, I would tell my daughter to say she is on her way to an appointment if approached by someone she does not know. There are just too many predators out there, and teens don’t always know who to trust. There are lots of other ways to be a good Samaritan that are not as dangerous.)