What emergency kit should you keep in your car for winter?
Tuesday 2nd December 2025
Winter puts extra strain on most parts of your car, whether you realise it or not. Cold snaps can expose hidden issues, like weak batteries, low fluids or worn tyres, increasing the risk of breakdowns, which isn’t ideal in the darker evenings. Preparing your car with an emergency kit can make all the difference if your car loses power, you become stranded, or the weather takes a turn for the worse.
With more than 55 years of vehicle servicing experience at Formula One Autocentres, we’ve put together 16 essential items to keep in your car during winter. Many of these are useful year-round, but they become especially important in freezing temperatures and poor visibility.?
Why is a winter emergency car kit useful?
A winter car emergency kit can help you stay safe and warm on the roads in the miserable UK weather if your car breaks down or you become stranded. This kit should include lighting, warm clothing, navigation tools, breakdown essentials and safety items.
St John’s Ambulance recommends keeping a well-stocked winter car emergency kit to ensure that you’re prepared for anything unexpected. It also recommends:
- Checking items monthly to ensure they are still in good condition
- Keeping a record of expiry dates
- Storing supplies in a sturdy, waterproof bag or container
- Ensuring supplies are easily accessible and not buried
16 Emergency essentials for your car during winter
These 16 items will keep you and your passengers safe in case of breakdowns or if adverse weather disrupts your travels. Preparing your vehicle with backup communication, non-digital navigation, and even a spare set of clothes can make a stressful time a little bit more bearable.?
1. Battery-operated torch (and spare batteries)
With darkness falling as early as 4pm in the UK during wintertime, a reliable battery-operated torch is essential. It helps you inspect your vehicle safely, makes you more visible to passing drivers, and helps you navigate your way if you have to leave your car.??
2. Battery-operated or wind-up radio
If you lose phone signal or your car battery dies, a radio keeps you updated on weather alerts and traffic disruptions. Use a wind-up model that doesn't rely on power or use the spare torch batteries, if needed.?
3. Sunglasses
Low winter sun can cause dangerous glare, with 73% of drivers saying it’s the worst part of driving during the autumn and winter months, according to AA and Yonder. If you’re dazzled and don’t slow down or stop, you could be prosecuted for careless driving under Highway Code Rule 237.
4. High-vis jacket
If you need to leave your vehicle in the dark, a high-vis jacket makes you far more visible to other motorists. Many European countries, like Denmark, Spain and France, require them by law to increase visibility on the roadside.
5. First-aid kit
Useful all year round, a first-aid kit can help you deal with minor injuries while waiting for assistance. Look for a British Standards Institution (BSI) compliant kit, as this is suitable for motor vehicles. It’s not a legal requirement to have one, but the Highway Code highly recommends it. Check expiry dates regularly to ensure the kit is fit for purpose.
6. A paper map or atlas
If your phone or in-car sat nav loses charge or power, a paper map means you can still find your way to aid or safety as quickly as possible. It’s a huge relief knowing that a physical map can help you, when you would otherwise be lost with no phone signal.
7. Empty fuel can
It’s not uncommon for drivers to drive with close to an empty tank, but this can be risky if the nearest petrol station or service is without fuel. With a safe roadside stop and a fuel can, you can refuel nearby without waiting hours for help in bad weather.?
8. Jump leads
Exposure to colder weather can shorten the lifespan of your battery, no matter how new your car is. A set of jump leads can help you or another stranded driver get moving again. Formula One Autocentres offers a free battery check throughout the year, so avoid digging out your cables for a little bit longer with a check-up.
9. Car phone charger and portable charger
Before you leave for any journey, you should ensure your phone is fully charged. A portable charger is especially useful if your car battery fails or your in-car charger stops working. However, if you break down on the motorway and have no signal, you’ll have to find the closest emergency phone.
10. A list of emergency contacts
If your phone dies or gets lost, having a written list of emergency contacts in a pocketbook or on a piece of paper means you can still reach breakdown services or family when you need to. Keep it in your glovebox for safe and easy access.
11. Reflective warning signs
Reflective warning triangles alert other drivers that your car is stationary from at least 45 metres away but remember they must not be used on the motorway. This is another item which is a legal requirement in many European countries.
12. Food and drink
Being stuck or stranded in wet or snowy conditions is far more uncomfortable if you’re hungry or dehydrated. Consider packing non-perishable snacks and a flask of tea, coffee or soup for longer winter journeys.?
13. Ice scraper and de-icer
No matter what the weather is like, you’re legally required to fully clear your front and rear windscreens and rear-view mirrors before driving. Even if your car has heated windscreens, a de-icer can speed things up when you’re in a rush to get going. Although, it’s always useful to allow for extra time before you set off in icy weather, so your car has time to defrost thoroughly?
14. Blankets and spare clothes
If your car heating fails because of poor air con, or you become stranded, warm layers help protect against hypothermia. Keep a spare coat, hat, gloves and another layer of clothing for yourself and additional passengers. To save space in your emergency kit, you could keep any extra blankets and clothes in vacuum bags.
15. Shoes with grip
While it’s not advised to drive in chunky boots or wellies, they’re a wise choice to keep in the car to help you stay steady when walking around an icy vehicle. If you don’t want to keep spare footwear in the car, you could always pack a pair of lightweight snow grips instead to prevent slipping.?
16. Foldable shovel
If you know that deep snow is forecast or your journey involves travelling along rural roads, a shovel can help free stuck wheels or clear up the path ahead. Foldable versions save boot space and are easier to store.?
A good way to organise these 16 essential emergency items is to keep them in a single, easy-to-grab bag. If you prefer to store the items at home, you can quickly put together the kit before long winter trips.?
What else can you do to prepare your car for winter?
You can prepare your car for winter by keeping on top of regular maintenance throughout the year. This is likely to reduce the chance of a breakdown when temperatures drop. These checks include:
- Keeping fluids, like antifreeze and coolant, topped up
- Monitoring tyre pressure more often
- Inspecting windscreen wipers and lights
- Stocking up your emergency kit
- Maintaining oils and filters throughout the year
- Regularly washing your car to remove salt and debris?
- Determining if your tyres are suitable for winter
- Checking the condition of your air con
Formula One Autocentres offers a range of free vehicle checks, ranging from a 10-point safety check to brakes, batteries and wheel alignment, to name a few.
Book your servicing with Formula One Autocentres
Prevent winter breakdowns with year-round maintenance from ‘Excellent’-rated Formula One Autocentres. With more than 136 branches nationwide, book your full or interim service at your closest branch today.?
For other winter driving tips, read our other guides:
