Most breakdowns can’t be prevented – but being prepared makes them far less stressful and a lot safer. A simple kit in your boot can turn a roadside emergency into a minor inconvenience. Here’s what we’d recommend keeping in your car all year round.

The safety essentials

High-visibility vest – one for every regular passenger, kept where you can reach them before getting out.
Warning triangle – useful on ordinary roads (never use one on a motorway).
Torch – a wind-up or well-charged torch for night-time breakdowns.
Phone power bank – a flat phone in a breakdown is a real problem; keep a charged power bank in the glovebox.
First aid kit – a small basic kit covers minor injuries.

Cold weather extras

Warm blanket and an extra layer – if you’re waiting on a verge in winter, you’ll be glad of them.
De-icer and a scraper – obvious, but easy to forget until you need them.
Water and a snack – especially on long journeys with children.

The practical bits

Jump leads or a jump pack – for the most common breakdown of all, the flat battery. (Read our flat battery guide for how to use them safely.)
Tyre inflator or sealant – handy if your car has no spare, as many modern ones don’t.
A note of your recovery number – saved in your phone and written down in case the phone dies. Save ours now: 07301 118118.

What you shouldn’t rely on

A kit helps, but some jobs are never safe to do yourself – changing a wheel on a motorway hard shoulder, for example, or attempting repairs in a live lane. In those situations the right move is always to get safe and call for professional recovery. See our guide on what to do if you break down on the motorway.

Prepared, whatever happens

A good kit and a saved recovery number mean that whatever the road throws at you, you’re ready. And if you do end up stranded, we cover the whole UK, 24/7 – any time, any place, any vehicle, any situation.

Save our number now: 07301 118118 – K9 Recovery, 24/7.