Super Mom Hacks

The Parents’ Winter Car Emergency Kit Checklist (Free Printable!)

How To Make the Ultimate Family Winter Emergency Car Survival Kit:

You’ve got the summer car essentials down pat – but what about winter preparedness? Especially for emergencies? It’s never too late to prepare your family’s winter car emergency kit – unless, of course, you’re facing an emergency situation and realize you FORGOT to prepare.

Or you live somewhere where you think you don’t need a winter car emergency kit. And then – like most of Spain last weekend, for example – you find out you were wrong.

Why Everyone Needs a Winter Emergency Car Kit

As for me, I should know better. I’ve lived much of my life far enough north that I know what snow looks like firsthand, how to drive in it, and what -30F temps and -60F windchills feel like.

But on a recent weeknight, it was below freezing and my car wouldn’t start after Essie’s karate lesson.

We were less than a mile from home, but there was no way we were going to walk. Essie had her uniform on but no coat, and just her slip-on karate sandals (no socks) on her feet!

I was annoyed with myself for not having at least a spare coat in the car for her (let alone socks and a proper set of shoes). But I was more terrified by the fact that the night AFTER this happened, she had a doctor’s appointment at a regional medical center over an hour from home.

What if this had happened on our way to – or from – our appointment, far from home?

That’s when I realized I needed to brush up on my winter survival skills, and get my car in order.

Whether you

this free printable checklist for your winter car survival kit will help you get ready in no time.

Your Car’s Winter Emergency Kit Checklist:

A. Basic Car Emergency Kit List

At the very least, your car emergency supplies should always include

Other things worth considering:

Have a designated place (box, bag, etc) to store these things in the back of your vehicle, and keep them in your car at all times!

B. Car Emergency Kit Essentials for Ice/Snow/Hills/High Elevations:

If there is any chance whatsoever that your winter driving might include ice and snow,

you’ll also want to add these things to your winter car survival kit:

Depending on where you live/how much snow, ice, and cold are a part of your winter, you might also consider:

If daytime temps where you live or work are regularly below zero, you’ll also want to consider an engine block heater. This will help you start your car even when temps are brutally cold. Sometimes an engine-block heater comes standard in cold-weather packages on new cars (depending where you live), but you can also have your car service provider install one after-market. (Hint: if where you live or work has outlets sticking up at every parking space, you should get an engine block heater!)

C. Winter Survival Essentials For If You Get Stuck:

If you’re already preparing for cold and snow, anyone who drives more than a few miles from home in winter needs to consider the possibility that you’ll get stranded somewhere. Whether it’s for a few hours, overnight, or longer, your family’s health and safety will depend on how well-stocked your car’s winter emergency kit is.

Even a small amount of ice or snow on a slight incline can make your car get stuck. (My mama and I were once almost stuck overnight on a remote mall access road, until we finally decided that carefully backing down the road was better than spending the night there!)

Here are some of the things you’ll want if you end up stuck in place for awhile:

Other things to consider:

What’s on YOUR basic car emergency kit list?

Anything I missed on this emergency car survival kit list? Let us know in the comments!

(Oh, and don’t forget to grab your FREE car emergency kit checklist PDF!)

 

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