5 Things Your Car Needs in Winter

Winter can bring its own set of challenges, especially if you live in an area of the country where snow is a regular occurrence.

You need to make sure you and your car are prepared in case you find yourself stranded on the side of the road or you see a car that’s covered in white powder or ice in the morning. Here are five things you need to make sure you have when you get ready to drive in the winter.

1. Portable PhoneCharger/Battery

There’s a chance you get stranded, slide off the road into a ditch, or the car just doesn’t want to start after you’ve been driving. Winter driving can be hard on your car and you need to be ready to call for help. Make sure you have a portable battery or portable charger that can keep your phone charged and ready to go.

2. Ice Scraper

When you head to work in the morning you might have a clear path but a winter storm could hit your area during the day. Make sure you have an ice scraper with a long arm and a snow brush on it to help you clear off the precipitation when you return to your car in the afternoon. If you have to do this without a scraper one time, you’ll make sure you have it next time.

3. A Bag of Sand or Kitty Litter

Even if you don’t own a cat, you can use a large bag of sand or kitty litter in the winter. A few bags are good if you have an RWD car because it can add weight to the trunk and improve the traction on slippery roads. If you get stuck in the snow or on ice, it will provide the extra grit you need to gain traction and keep on driving.

4. Flashlight

You never know if you’re going to be stuck during winter in the dark and you need a light that doesn’t come from your cellphone. Keep a cellphone in your car with the ice scraper so that you can see what you need to when you’re stuck and need to signal other cars or look under the hold to try and solve your problem.

5. Blankets and Extra Cold-Weather Clothes

You might not dress for the elements if you start in a garage and end your drive in a parking deck or garage. If you get stuck in the cold temperatures, you’ll want to have blankets and layers of cold-weather clothes that can help keep you warm and make it possible for you to survive in case you’re stranded for several hours.

Your car needs to be ready for you to be stuck in the elements for several hours when the winter weather arrives. Put these few items in your car and you can feel secure knowing if you get stuck, you’re prepared to handle the situation and survive in relative comfort until help arrives.