How to Create a Winter Car Kit

A winter car kit can help you survive a breakdown and get you back on the road as quickly as possible. Here’s our guide to creating your own winter car kit before you head out onto the open road.

All cars should have a breakdown kit, just in case, but many do not, leaving drivers vulnerable to the elements and mechanical breakdowns. Winter is coming, and your risks of breaking down on the open road are about to increase significantly. Are you prepared?

Here are some unbelievable stats on winter break downs:

• The top-five causes of winter break downs in the UK include dead batteries, flat tyres, engine cut-outs, non-starters and engine warning lights. 
• One in six UK motorists has broken down in winter due to not preparing their vehicle correctly.
• Over half of all motorists do not conduct a service before winter.
• 40% don't know how to adjust the height of their headlight beams. 
• One in six don't know how to turn their full beams on at all.
• 74% said they do not consider the importance of checking the battery charge level.
• One in 10 motorists says they avoid driving in winter altogether.

These stats are shocking and prove just how underprepared most of us are for winter driving. Beyond taking your car for a pre-winter service (which is essential!), you can create your very own winter-survival car kit. 

A winter car kit will ensure that, if you do break down, you have everything you need to survive the cold while you wait for assistance or manage to get the car going again. 

Creating the Ultimate Winter Car Kit for Survival This Winter

A winter car kit is broken down into three categories: winter tools, safety items and comfort items. Together, all of the items will ensure that, no matter what happens when you break down, you have the best chance of getting your car going again. The kit also ensures that you have what you need to stay warm, comfortable and safe should you be unable to fix the issue yourself. 

Winter Tools

Folding Shovel (Essential)

A folding shovel is just what you need should you get stuck in thick snow this winter. It will fit neatly in the boot of the car to save space and might be the difference between being stuck for hours and continuing your journey. An absolute essential for your winter car kit!

Ice Scraper and De-icer

Parked overnight? Need to get a move on? An ice-scraper is essential in getting you moving again quickly, and a de-icer will help clear that windscreen in no time. Hundreds of accidents happen every winter because people attempt to drive with ice-covered windscreens in a rush to get on the road. 

Engine Coolant

A lot of non-starters are due to the engine freezing. Ensuring your engine has coolant before you head out on the road is the first step to preventing your car from not starting. It’s also worth carrying engine coolant with you, just in case. 

Jump-Start Cables

Learning to jump-start your car is an invaluable skill that you will likely need one day. Having the jump-start cables to hand can help you get back on the road and avoid waiting for hours to be rescued, only for the mechanic to jump-start the car for you.

Jump-Start Battery Power Pack

Some jump-start battery power packs will allow you to jump-start your car up to twenty times! You can't always rely on someone else helping you to jump-start your vehicle, especially if you're in the middle of nowhere. A battery pack will ensure you can always jump-start your car no matter where you break down this winter. 

Snow-Traction Treads

Should you find yourself stuck in the snow this winter, despite having your folding shovel at hand, you may need some extra assistance to get free. Anti-slip snow-traction treads are made from plastic and slip under your tyres to give you some grip and allow you to drive the car out from the snow. 

Tow Rope

A tow rope is excellent for those times when you simply can't get your car out of the snow. If you're driving with other vehicles in convoy or you flag someone down on the side of the road, they could pull your car out using the tow rope. This is a quick and simple solution to get your vehicle free from thick snow. 

Snow Chains

Snow chains aren't essential for most motorists in the UK, as we don't get the level of snow required to make the best use of them. If, however, you do live in a region where the snow is consistently heavy each year, you could consider adding snow chains to your winter car kit.

Safety Items

High-Visibility Vest

If you break down, you will likely need to get out of the car and take a look at the engine, lights or other parts of the vehicle. Having a high-vis vest will ensure oncoming traffic can see you and give them time to slow down before passing, keeping everyone safe.  

LED Warning Beacon

LED warning beacons are excellent for letting other motorists know you have broken down and warning them to slow down and pay special attention to the road. These beacons are incredibly important in weather with poor visibility, especially if you break down on a busy motorway or A-road.

Thermal Blanket

If you can't get your car started and need to wait for assistance in the freezing cold, having a thermal blanket is absolutely essential. If you’re travelling with your family, keeping young and elderly members warm and comfortable is critical. 

Insulated Work Gloves

Chances are you will need to get under the hood of the car to check out what's going on and find the cause of your break down. To do this, you will need a pair of insulated work gloves to protect your hands and keep them warm in the cold weather. Having warm, protected hands will help you to resolve any issues quickly and safely.

High-Powered Torch and Inspection Lamp

No, your iPhone light isn't enough to help you during a breakdown. You will need a high-powered torch and some light sticks to help improve your visibility as you work on the car. Inspection lamps are great if you're by yourself and need to do some work under the hood or underside of the vehicle. 

You may want to also consider a head torch because it can make life much easier when trying to fix issues that require two hands.

First-Aid Kit

A first-aid kit is vital and not up for debate. Having one may just save your or a family member's life after an accident. Your first-aid kit should include, at the very least, the following:

• Scissors
• Alcohol Pads
• Bandages (triangle and small-roll adhesive)
• Tweezers
• Pins
• Band-Aids
• Gauze Pads
• Emergency Blanket
• Emergency Food Bar

Emergency Phone Charger & Power Bank

It's one thing to break down in winter, but it's a whole lot worse if your phone dies and you're left stranded. Bringing your phone charger and a fully charged power bank is essential. If you can't get your vehicle going again, you will need to call for road-side assistance or call a family member or friend to come and save you. 

Disinfectant Wipes

Fiddling around the engine or changing tyres is a messy job, and there’s always the risk of cutting yourself while performing car maintenance. Make sure you pack some disinfectant wipes to clean your hands after you're done.

GPS Beacon

Not essential for all drivers, but incredibly useful if you're driving deep into the countryside or going off-road this winter. A GPS beacon will allow rescue teams to find you as quickly as possible.

Spare Batteries

If you invest in any of the tech recommended in this post, you will need spare batteries in case the existing ones run out and leave your devices useless. Torches, beacons, warning lights and many other bits of tech may require them. Double-check what batteries you need and stock up.

Comfort Items

Compact Sleeping Bag

Should you get stranded in severe weather conditions, you may not be able to get any assistance any time soon. A night spent in your car during winter will be much more comfortable with a warm sleeping bag to wrap up in.

Food and Water

This is essential if you get stuck for an extended period. Breaking down is stressful enough, the last thing you need is to feel hungry and thirsty. Think of snacks that keep well such as cereal bars, nuts, seeds and chocolate bars. Stock up on large bottles of water, and add some sugary drinks like juice and pop too. 

Warm Gloves and Socks

As well as work gloves, it's worth packing some extra warm and insulated gloves too. If your car cuts out and you have no heating, your hands will soon start to feel cold. Having cold hands limits your mobility should you need to get out of the car and try to resolve any issues.

Warm socks are also essential. It's incredible how quickly your feet get cold and how uncomfortable it can become. Having a nice big pair of woolly socks to slip into will be a life-saver, trust us.  

Insulated Flask

Picture this, you break down, assistance is a couple of hours away. What do you need? A hot cup of tea? Coffee? Maybe a hot chocolate? Believe us, having a hot drink after a break down is a quick way to lift your spirits and pass the time. 

Books and Magazines

If you're stuck for hours and you need to keep your phone battery reserved for emergencies, you will need some other form of entertainment. Books and magazines can help you waste time while you wait in the car and keep your mind off the cold.

Buy a Ready-Made Winter Car Kit

As much fun as it is to create your own winter car kit, you can also buy ready-made kits for your convenience. They won't include everything on the list above, but you can typically expect the following items:

• Thermal Blanket
• Wind-up LED Torch
• Folding Shovel
• Ice Scraper and Windscreen De-icer Spray
• High-Visibility Vest
• Emergency Whistle
• Long-Life Drinking Water
• Long-Life Emergency Food Ration
• First-Aid Kit
• Emergency Foil Blankets
• Emergency Light Sticks
• Instant Hand Warmers
• Carry Backpack

The above will help you survive most breakdown scenarios, keeping you safe and warm until you get assistance. It's important to always carry your winter car kit in the car. Stick it in the boot of the vehicle in a safe place, and make sure to tell anyone else using the car not to remove it. 

Creating a Breakdown Action Plan

Any person that uses the car should be aware of the winter survival kit as well as what to do in the case of a breakdown. Teaching yourself and others how to make basic checks on the car as well as tasks like changing tyres, fixing wipers and how to dig the car out of snow is critical. 

If you live in icy regions of the world and will be driving in cold and snowy conditions a lot during the winter, it's your responsibility to have a winter-survival car kit as a minimum.

You should also ensure that you and anyone else driving the car has the number of your breakdown company so they can get someone out to them as quickly as possible. 

YMF Car Parts stocks a number of essential items to add to your winter car kit, including de-icer, engine coolant, jump-start cables, tow rope, high-visibility vests, gloves, inspection lamps and head torches. Visit our online store, get free delivery on orders over £30. Click and collect available.