15 Items You Need In Your Car

15 Items You Need In Your Car

Don’t Leave Home Without Them
If your car breaks down, you might need a few of these things.

Car Safety Items You Need

Here are the top 15 items we recommend keeping in your vehicle at all times:

1. A Charged Cellphone

You’ll probably already have a cellphone with you, but it’s essential to make sure it’s always fully charged. Bring a car charger along for the ride too, so you can charge your phone when the power’s low.

2. Reflective Warning Triangles

Reflective warning triangles will notify oncoming cars to slow down. LED flares are another good option to prevent roadside mishaps when you’re stuck.

Reflective triangles will notify drivers to slow down.

Reflective Triangles

3. First-Aid Kit
Always keep a first-aid kit with bandages, gauze pads, adhesive tape, aspirin, antiseptic wipes, and antibiotic ointment in your car.

4. Fire Extinguisher
A fire extinguisher can smother a spark caused by an electrical problem.

5. Jumper Cables

Did you accidentally leave your lights on? Did the battery die? Leave jumper cables in your car so a nearby vehicle can help get your ride running again.

Prepare for a dead battery with jumper cables.

Jumper Cables

6. Flashlight
What if the car breaks down in the middle of nowhere at night? Keep a flashlight in your glove compartment, along with extra batteries.

7. A Multipurpose Knife
A standard multipurpose knife will come with a bottle opener, a flathead screw driver, a wire cutter, rescue blade, and glass breaker. It’s a useful tool in any situation.

8. A Poncho
Your car breaks down, you’re checking under the hood, and suddenly it starts pouring. Reach in your emergency kit for your rain poncho and stay dry.

9. Nonperishable Snacks
While you’re waiting for help to arrive, stave off hunger with high-protein nonperishable snacks like mixed nuts and protein bars.

10. Water
Along with snacks, keeping bottled water in your car is vital.

11. Cat Litter
Use cat litter as a replacement for sand to create traction beneath the tires if you get stuck.

12. An Emergency Radio
Leave a battery-powered or hand crank radio in the car to listen for weather warnings and other important news if your vehicle’s radio or cell phone stops working.

13. Walking Shoes
If your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, you have no cellphone reception, and you haven’t seen a passing car in hours, you’ll have to start walking to find help. Comfortable walking shoes will make the trek more bearable.

If you haven't seen a car in hours, you'll need to start walking to find help.

Stuck on the Side of the Road 😱

14. A Tool Kit
A tool kit with a Phillips head screwdriver, a flathead screwdriver, vise grips, an adjustable wrench, and a pair of pliers will come in handy if you break down and can fix things on your own.

15. A Fleece Blanket
A fleece blanket will keep you warm if your car breaks down in cold weather or during a winter storm.

Now that you know what you’ll need to pack for your homemade roadside safety kit, take one more precaution. Bring your car down to the New Jersey State Auto Auction.

Give us a call at: 201-200-1100.  Our mechanics will make sure your car is working properly so you can drive with confidence.

🚗 Driving On Black Ice – Safety Tips

Driving On Black Ice

Driving On Black Ice

🚗 Driving On Black Ice

—— 4 Safety Tips

1. Go Slow 

Just like driving in snow, you’ll want to go slowly and steadily over patches of black ice. Unlike snow, which still offers a little traction for your tires, black ice is completely smooth, and your tires won’t stick at all. As a result, it can be difficult to stop if you’re going too fast. When you reach a patch of black ice, take your foot off the accelerator immediately.

Additionally, keeping a straight wheel is advisable since you should be able to coast safely over the ice. If you turn your wheel while driving on black ice, you’ll increase the likelihood of losing control of your vehicle. If you start to skid and have to turn, be sure to turn into the skid.

 

2. Don’t Pump the Brakes

Brakes can be your best friend in many driving emergencies, but not black ice skids. When you approach black ice, let off the brake before your tires make contact. If you’re going too fast and need to brake a little, pump the brakes to avoid going into a full-on skid. Don’t slam on the brakes under any circumstances—you’ll only make your situation worse by doing so.

3. Go With the Skid 

One of the biggest mistakes drivers make when driving on black ice is overcorrecting a skid. This can compound the problem quickly by sending the car spinning in the other direction. Gently turn into the skid while pumping the brakes. As the skid breaks, return the steering wheel to normal. Once your tires get traction on the road again, you should find it easy to correct from there.

 

4. Watch Your Car’s Temperature Reading

Most cars these days come with an external thermometer. Pay attention to the reading during the winter months, and if it drops to freezing (32 degrees F), expect that you’ll run into black ice somewhere. To be extra safe, use caution even when the reading is only near freezing as many car thermometers pick up heat readings from the engine, which can make it seem warmer outside than it actually is.