Okay, confession time: I don't have a car emergency kit.
I've been driving for years. I've done solo road trips. I've driven through snow, through deserts, through stretches of highway with no cell service and more cows than people. And yet, if you asked me what's in my trunk right now, the honest answer is: a reusable grocery bag, one flip-flop whose partner I lost in 2023, and a yoga mat I keep meaning to use.
I've been lucky. Nothing bad has happened. But "lucky" is not a strategy, and after reading through the Safety & Peace of Mind board here, I've realized I need to get my act together.
So I'm building a kit from scratch. And I want to know what you actually keep in yours — not the Pinterest-perfect version, not the "what every website says" version, but the real stuff that real women actually have in their cars right now.
What I've Gathered So Far (The Basics)
After reading approximately forty-seven lists online and getting overwhelmed by all of them, I've narrowed it down to what seem like the absolute essentials. Here's what's on my shopping list so far:
First aid kit — bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, medical tape, tweezers, pain relievers. I found a compact one on Amazon that fits in the glovebox.
Jumper cables — and yes, I need to learn how to use them. I've watched three YouTube videos and I think I understand the red-to-red, black-to-ground concept, but I'm still terrified of doing it wrong and frying my battery. Someone please tell me this gets less intimidating.
Flashlight — with extra batteries, not just my phone. Because if my phone is dead and it's dark, I need something that actually works.
Blanket — I live in Colorado. It gets cold. This one seems obvious.
Multi-tool or basic toolkit — I don't know what half the tools do, but I know pliers and a screwdriver are probably useful.
Tire pressure gauge — because the one time my tire light came on, I had no idea if it was a slow leak or just cold weather, and I panicked.
Reflective warning triangles or flares — for if I'm stuck on the side of the road at night. I'd rather be the person with too many warning signals than not enough.
Portable phone charger or power bank — fully charged, checked every few months.
Bottled water and non-perishable snacks — granola bars, nuts, something that won't melt or go bad.
This is my starter list. It feels like a lot. It also feels like the bare minimum. What am I missing?
The Things I Wouldn't Have Thought Of
This is where I need your help. The internet can tell me to pack jumper cables. The internet will not tell me the specific things that women actually end up using when something goes wrong.
A few things I've seen mentioned in this community that I'm adding to my list:
Hair ties and bobby pins — not an emergency item in the traditional sense, but multiple women here have said they keep extras in the glovebox, and honestly, when your hair is in your face while you're trying to change a tire, that's absolutely a safety issue.
Tampons and pads — again, not what AAA would put on their list, but a roadside emergency is bad enough without adding this particular category of discomfort.
A physical map — because phones die and cell service disappears, and I personally don't know how to navigate with a paper map and should probably learn.
Cash — small bills, tucked somewhere hidden. For gas, for food, for a situation where cards don't work.
What else falls into this category? The stuff that's not in the official emergency kit guides but that you've been grateful to have?
What I'm Actually Asking You
This is where you come in. I want the real lists — not the aspirational ones.
What's in your car emergency kit right now, today? Not what you plan to put in it someday. Not the list you saved on Pinterest. The stuff that's actually in your trunk or glovebox at this very moment. No judgment if it's incomplete. No judgment if it's random. Mine currently has a single flip-flop. We're starting from honesty here.
What's the one item in your kit you've actually used? Not the thing you carry just in case. The thing you reached for when something went wrong. The thing that saved you time, or stress, or actual danger. I want the stories.
What's the thing you wish you'd had but didn't? The moment you were stuck somewhere and thought, "I can't believe I don't have [X] in this car." Tell me about it so I can learn from your experience instead of my own.
And for the women who've been doing this a while: Is there anything on my starter list that's unnecessary? Anything I'm overthinking? Anything that seems useful but actually just takes up space?
Why I'm Doing This Here, With You
I could Google "car emergency kit checklist" and get a thousand results. But here's the thing: those lists are written by people who don't know what it's like to be a woman alone on the side of the road at night. They don't mention the hair ties or the tampons or the specific kind of fear that makes you triple-check your door locks at a rest stop.
This community does. That's why I'm asking here.
If you have a photo of your kit, post it. If you have a list, drop it in the comments. If you have a story about the time you needed something and either had it or didn't, I want to hear that too.
Let's build the Her Garage car emergency kit together — the real one. The one that actually makes sense for our lives.
No comments yet.