PrepCar emergency kit checklist
What to keep in the boot in case you break down or get stuck. Tell us who's usually in the car, turn the winter items on or off, and print the list. Nothing leaves this browser.
Who's in the car?
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Your car kit
Water, snacks, blankets and hi-vis are per person. The rest is one per car.
Check it again every 6 months.
Water and food
Warmth
Light and phone
Breakdown
Ice and snow
From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.
How it works
This list starts from the car kit in the Prep app and adds the British Red Cross car list: a paper map, a radio and warm clothing. Be Ready doesn't itemise a car kit. Its cold weather page says to consider packing a few essentials in the boot, and its hot weather page says to pack water bottles.
Water, snacks, blankets and hi-vis vests are per person. The amounts are planning figures for a breakdown, not a day's supply: a 1 litre bottle each is a third of Be Ready's 3 litres a day.
The winter items are on by default. Turn them off to print a summer list.
On a motorway: the Highway Code says never to use a warning triangle. Leave by the side furthest from traffic if it's safe, and wait well away from the car, behind the barrier where there is one. If you can't get out safely, stay in with your seat belt and hazard lights on, and call 999. Keep your hi-vis vest within reach of your seat.
Common questions
What should I keep in my car in the UK?
The British Red Cross lists an ice scraper and de-icer, a snow shovel, a paper map, a blanket and warm clothing, a first aid kit, a torch and radio, jump leads, bottled water and snacks, and high-visibility clothing.
Can I use a warning triangle on a motorway?
No. The Highway Code says never to use warning triangles on motorways. On other roads, put one at least 45 metres behind your car, on the same side of the road, if it's safe.
What do I need in the car for winter?
Add a shovel and warm clothing to the basics, and keep an ice scraper and de-icer in the door pocket. Be Ready also says to prepare your vehicle before cold weather and to check forecasts before you travel.
Do I need a kit if I only do short trips?
A small one is still worth having. A blanket, a phone charger, water and a torch take little room, and winter delays can happen close to home.
What should I keep in the car in hot weather?
Be Ready says to pack water bottles in case of a breakdown or long periods in traffic, and to check tyres, fluid levels, the battery and air conditioning before a hot spell. Never leave babies, children, older adults or pets alone in a parked car.
Sources
- British Red Cross: prepare an emergency kit (car list)
- The Highway Code: breakdowns and incidents (rules 275 to 277)
- Be Ready: cold weather, snow and ice
- Be Ready: hot weather and heatwaves
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Checked on 2 November 2026. This is an independent tool and not official advice. See sources and method.