When it comes to driving, the most important thing of all is to be prepared. If you pack your glovebox with a few essentials, this can really save the day for you, no matter what situations you face on the road. Today, we’re looking at 25 must-haves that’ll fit right in your glovebox so that you’re always ready.
Your Car’s Manual
You should always keep your car’s manual handy because it’s your go-to guide for figuring out those blinking lights on the dashboard or how to pop the trunk if the button gives up on you. It’ll also help you during those DIY moments when you want to do a quick repair yourself. Keeping your car manual handy will save you a call to the mechanic and some money, too.
Insurance Card
Put your insurance card in there, too, because you’ll need it on hand if you ever get into a fender bender or a traffic cop pulls you over. If you’ve got it in your gearbox, it’ll make the whole process of exchanging information a whole lot easier. It’ll also help you stay a little more relaxed when you need it most.
Registration and Emergency Number
Don’t forget your registration, and put some emergency contacts in there as well. After all, you never know if someone else is going to need them to help you, and it’ll keep you covered during any official inquiries. If and when things go sideways for you on the road, you’ll be able to get to these important documents quickly.
First Aid Kit
You should also put in a small first-aid kit that contains the essentials. For example, you should get bandaids for cuts and painkillers for those unexpected headaches. And don’t forget the antiseptic wipes to help you clean up any scrapes. This way, you’ll be able to deal with any minor accidents along the way.
Basic Medications
Speaking of medication, make sure you take other ones like allergy meds or antacids as well. You don’t want to be sneezing when you’re driving or needing to pull over because the road food doesn’t agree with you. If you take any regular meds, put some in the glovebox, too, just in case you drive off from home without remembering to take them.
Flashlights and Batteries
We’ve all dropped something in the car at night, and we know just how frustrating that can be. But what happens when your phone dies? Then you’ll probably be grateful you’ve got a flashlight with extra batteries in your glovebox instead. Plus, it’ll be just what you need if you’re ever stuck on the roadside in the dark.
Tire Gauge
Put a tire gauge in your glove compartment, too. Why? Because it’ll help you if your tires are under-inflated, which can be a real drag on your car’s fuel efficiency and safety. If you give your tires a quick check again, you’ll save a little money and also keep those annoying lights off your dashboard.
Puncture Sealant
Speaking of tires, a puncture sealant will give you a temporary fix to get you to a repair shop without needing to change your tire immediately. Yes, it’s not a permanent solution, but it’ll give you enough time to get somewhere safe without damaging your rim. Giving your tires a quick squirt will seal small punctures.
Portable Tire Inflator
Likewise, you can get a flat tire at any time, and that’s exactly where a portable tire inflator comes in handy. Most of them are small enough to fit in your glove box, and they’ll let you quickly pump up your tires without needing to find a service station. You never know when your tires might start running low.
Multi-Tool
It might sound strange, but a multi-tool can be pretty helpful to have in your car, as you can use it to tighten up any loose screws, for example. There’s no need to lug around a whole toolbox when you’ve got something like this in your car. You can even get a special kind of multi-tool that’s specific for cars.
Napkins or Wipes
If you usually eat or drink in your car, napkins or wipes are a must-have because you never know when you’ll need to clean up a coffee spill or sticky hands. Even if you’re not as messy as this, you can use the napkins to do a quick dust-off on your dashboard. Who doesn’t want their car looking clean?
Pen and Paper
Always keep a pen and paper nearby in your glovebox because they come in handy for everything. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing down a new friend’s phone number or leaving a note on someone’s windshield because a pen and paper are always useful. You could even use them to make a quick shopping list while you’re parked waiting.
Spare House Key
You might not think you’ll ever be that person who locks themselves out, but if that day comes, you’ll be glad you put a spare house key in your glove box. It’s one of those low-effort and high-reward items that’ll stop you from calling for help. Why wouldn’t you want to make your life a little easier?
Charger and Portable Battery
Keep a spare phone charger and a portable battery to make sure your devices are out of juice, especially during long trips or emergencies. After all, do you really want to be unable to make an urgent call just because your phone’s dead? Having these backups means you’ll never have to worry about running low on power again.
Window Breaker and Seat Belt Cutter
A window breaker and seat belt cutter can be a lifesaver in an emergency. They’ll help you to escape your vehicle quickly if the doors won’t open or if you need to cut a stuck seatbelt. Yes, you can also use your headrest, but we think a cutting tool like this is a lot easier. Even if you don’t use it, it’ll be great for your peace of mind.
Gloves and Hand Warmers
If you’re somewhere where it’s a little colder, gloves and hand warmers can keep you cold during a breakdown. You can also use them to handle cold steering wheels or controls if you get back into your car after it’s been parked in the cold for hours. They’ll also make scraping off ice a bit less painful on your fingers.
Travel-Sized Sunscreen
On the flip side, if you live somewhere warmer, a bottle of sunscreen will be pretty useful during the summer to protect your skin. After all, your windscreen might protect you from some UV rays, but it won’t protect you from the ones that can cause skin cancer. It’s unlikely, but the risk is still there.
Foldable Sunshade
You should also keep a foldable sunshade in your glove compartment to protect your dashboard and steering wheel from sun damage. It’s a necessity if you usually park outdoors, as it can keep the inside of your car from cracking. It’ll also make coming back to your car a lot nicer during the summer.
Compact Umbrella
Speaking of the weather, don’t forget about the rain. Put a compact umbrella in your glovebox that doesn’t take up much space and will be perfect for any sudden downpours when you have to pull over. You never know if you’ll need to walk to get some help, and an umbrella will keep you protected.
Ice Scraper
An ice scraper is absolutely essential for anyone who lives in a snowy area because it can clear your windshield and windows after some snowfall. Yes, you could just have one at home, but what will you do if it snows while you’re parked at work? This small tool will help you stay safe by removing anything that can affect your visibility.
Bottled Water and Non-Perishables
It doesn’t matter if it’s after an accident or just because you’re hungry, because having some water and energy bars will be a lifesaver. You might be stuck somewhere without any access to food or drink, and having a quick snack can make things a little more bearable. And drinking water is always important.
Emergency Flares or Reflective Triangle
In some places, it’s the law to have a reflective triangle in your car because it can keep you safe during an emergency. But don’t forget about emergency flares either, which will help your visibility on the road during night-time emergencies. No matter the problem you’re dealing with, you’ve got to make sure other drivers can see you so you don’t get into another accident.
Whistle or Small Horn
Similarly, you could find yourself in a situation where you need to draw attention to yourself. During these times, a whistle or a small air horn will help you do this without straining your voice. After all, you can’t always rely on other people to see you, and making a noise can help people find you.
Hand Sanitizer
It doesn’t matter where you go because you’re always going to be in contact with germs. So, having some hand sanitizer in your glovebox can help protect you from getting sick, and you should clean your hands whenever you leave the car and touch something. Pumped some gas? Clean your hands. Paid the parking meter? Clean your hands.
Antibacterial Wipes
Yes, having hand sanitizer is good for you, but what about your car? You can’t exactly pour a bottle of hand sanitizer over your dashboard, so keep some antibacterial wipes in your car to keep things clean. You can use them to wipe down surfaces or even just to help your car smell nicer.
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