15 Items You Should Have in Your Car

Most of us keep lots of things in our car. Most of it is junk. I have lots of empty water bottles, dog leashes, extra shoes, and a slew of other items that I really don’t want to admit are in my truck. There are a few things you need to have in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Let’s run through the list and see how many of these items you have in your car right now.

They are 15 items you should always have in your car, according to Ready.gov and LifeHacker:

1. Jumper cables.
2. At least one flashlight with extra batteries.
3. A first aid kit.
4. Non-perishable food. This means canned food and things like energy bars.
5. A can opener.
6. At least three gallons of water per person. This means 12 gallons for a family of four, but that's really just if you're driving through the middle of nowhere or going camping.
7. A basic toolkit with a wrench, pliers, and a screwdriver.
8. Food and water for your pets.
9. A hand-cranked radio, or one that uses batteries.
10. Cat litter or sand to give your wheels better traction if you get stuck.
11. A shovel. It's especially important in the winter, in case you need to dig your car out of the snow.
12. An ice scraper, unless you never drive anywhere cold.
13. Extra clothes, including a jacket.
14. A blanket or sleeping bag.
15. Your old cell phone, and make sure it stays charged. Even if it's deactivated, any cell phone can call 911.

How did you do? I have seven of these items in my car. Not too bad.