Michigan Emergency Car Kit: What Drivers Should Carry

Last Updated on September 4, 2026 by iMichigan Insurance Editorial Team

Michigan Emergency Car Kit: What Drivers Should Carry

A dead battery, flat tire, unexpected breakdown, traffic closure, or sudden winter storm can leave a Michigan driver sitting on the roadside longer than expected. A well-planned emergency car kit can make that situation safer and more manageable while you wait for help.

You do not need to fill your entire trunk with survival gear. The goal is to carry a practical collection of roadside, first-aid, communication, and seasonal supplies that you know how to use.

What Should Be in an Emergency Car Kit?

The best emergency kit covers several different situations rather than focusing only on winter weather. Start with roadside safety, communication, first aid, and basic comfort.

Roadside Safety Supplies

• Reflective warning triangles: Help make a disabled vehicle more visible when you can place them safely.
• Reflective safety vest: Makes it easier for approaching drivers to see if you must exit the vehicle.
• Flashlight: Choose a bright flashlight and check the batteries periodically.
• Portable jump starter or jumper cables: Especially useful during Michigan winters when cold weather can expose a weak battery.
• Tire pressure gauge: Cold temperatures can lower tire pressure.
• Spare tire, jack, and lug wrench: Know whether your vehicle actually includes a spare tire because some newer vehicles do not.
• Basic tool kit: A few commonly used tools can help with simple roadside problems.

First Aid and Personal Supplies

• First-aid kit
• Necessary personal medications
• Work gloves
• Hand sanitizer
• Bottled water
• Nonperishable snacks
• Phone charging cable
• Charged portable power bank

Useful Extras

• Rain poncho
• Paper towels
• Small trash bags
• Duct tape
• Multi-tool
• Paper map for areas with limited cellular service
• Roadside assistance and insurance contact information

What Should You Keep in Your Car During a Michigan Winter?

Michigan winters require a few additional supplies. Snow, ice, freezing temperatures, and rapidly changing road conditions can turn a routine breakdown into a more serious situation.

Consider adding these items before winter begins:

• Ice scraper and snow brush
• Warm blanket
• Winter hat
• Gloves or mittens
• Extra socks
• Warm boots
• Hand warmers
• Small snow shovel
• Sand or another suitable traction material
• Winter-rated windshield washer fluid
• Portable jump starter
• High-energy snacks
• Water

Winter preparation also means adjusting how you drive. Review our Black Ice & Winter Driving Safety in Michigan guide for additional cold-weather driving tips.

What Should You Do If Your Car Breaks Down?

What you do after a breakdown can be just as important as what is inside your emergency kit.

1. Move away from traffic if possible. Pull as far off the traveled portion of the roadway as you safely can.
2. Turn on your hazard lights. Make the vehicle visible to approaching drivers.
3. Stay aware of traffic. Highways and freeway shoulders can be dangerous places to stand.
4. Call for help. Contact roadside assistance, your towing provider, or emergency services when appropriate.
5. Use reflective devices carefully. Do not enter traffic or put yourself in danger to place a warning triangle.
6. Stay with the vehicle when that is the safer option. A vehicle can protect you from traffic and severe weather.

What If You’re Stranded in a Michigan Snowstorm?

Being stranded in heavy snow or extreme cold requires additional caution. In most situations, staying with the vehicle is safer than walking through severe winter weather because it provides shelter and is easier for rescuers to locate.

If you become stranded:

• Stay with the vehicle unless safe shelter is clearly nearby.
• Call for assistance and share your location.
• Turn on hazard lights and make the vehicle visible.
• Use warm clothing and blankets to conserve body heat.
• Conserve your phone battery.
• Keep the vehicle’s exhaust pipe clear of snow.
• If you run the engine for heat, follow carbon monoxide safety precautions and provide ventilation.
• Do not attempt a long walk through severe snow or extreme cold unless remaining with the vehicle is more dangerous.

For official winter emergency guidance, review the National Weather Service winter storm safety recommendations.

Carbon Monoxide Safety When You’re Stranded

Carbon monoxide can become a danger when a vehicle is surrounded by snow. A blocked exhaust pipe can allow dangerous gases to build up around or inside the vehicle.

If you must run the engine while stranded in snow:

• Make sure the exhaust pipe remains clear of snow.
• Run the engine intermittently rather than continuously when conditions allow.
• Open a window slightly for ventilation while the engine is running.
• Watch for symptoms such as headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, or confusion.

Never ignore a potential carbon monoxide problem simply because you cannot smell anything. Carbon monoxide is odorless.

Don’t Forget Your Phone

A smartphone has become one of the most useful pieces of emergency equipment in a vehicle, but only if it has power and service.

Keep these items or information available:

• Vehicle charging cable
• Charged portable power bank
• Roadside assistance information
• Insurance contact information
• Emergency contacts
• Offline maps if traveling in remote areas

Try to keep your phone reasonably charged during severe weather, rather than waiting until the battery is nearly empty.

Emergency Car Kits for Teen Drivers

A teen driver’s first emergency kit should come with something even more important: instructions. Simply putting supplies in the trunk does not mean a new driver knows what to do during a breakdown.

Parents should show teen drivers:

• Where the emergency kit is stored
• How to turn on the hazard lights
• Who to call first after a breakdown
• Where insurance information is kept
• How roadside assistance works
• Where the spare tire and tools are located
• How to use a portable jump starter safely
• Why standing near moving traffic can be dangerous

Parents preparing a new driver may also want to review our Michigan Teen Driving Guide for Parents.

Should You Carry a First-Aid Kit in Your Car?

A compact first-aid kit is useful for minor cuts, scrapes, burns, and other everyday injuries. Look for a kit with basic supplies such as bandages, gauze, antiseptic wipes, medical tape, and disposable gloves.

Check the kit periodically because medications, ointments, adhesives, and other supplies may expire or deteriorate after repeated hot summers and cold winters.

What Shouldn’t Stay in Your Car Emergency Kit?

Vehicles experience extreme temperatures, especially during Michigan summers and winters. Not every emergency item is appropriate for permanent vehicle storage.

Periodically remove or replace:

• Expired medications
• Expired food
• Damaged or leaking batteries
• Water containers that have leaked or become damaged
• First-aid supplies that have deteriorated
• Broken flashlights or electronics
• Unsecured heavy equipment that could move during a collision

Check Your Emergency Kit Twice a Year

Emergency supplies are easy to forget once they are stored in the trunk. Make it a habit to inspect your kit in the spring and again before winter.

Spring Emergency Kit Check

• Replace expired food and water.
• Inspect first-aid supplies.
• Recharge the portable jump starter.
• Recharge your power bank.
• Check flashlight batteries.
• Inspect reflective equipment.

Fall Emergency Kit Check

• Add blankets and winter clothing.
• Check the ice scraper and snow brush.
• Add a small shovel and traction material.
• Recharge the jump starter.
• Check tire pressure, including the spare if your vehicle has one.
• Confirm that winter windshield washer fluid is ready for freezing temperatures.

What If an Emergency Involves an Accident?

An emergency kit can help immediately after a crash. Still, accident scenes require additional steps such as checking for injuries, contacting police when required, exchanging information, documenting damage, and notifying your insurance company.

If you are unsure what to do after a collision, use our What to Do After a Car Accident in Michigan guide.

Michigan Emergency Car Kit FAQ

What should be in an emergency car kit?

A basic car emergency kit should include a first-aid kit, flashlight, phone charger, portable jump starter or jumper cables, reflective warning devices, basic tools, water, nonperishable snacks, and season-appropriate supplies.

What should I keep in my car for a Michigan winter?

Michigan drivers should consider carrying an ice scraper, snow brush, warm blanket, hat, gloves, extra socks, small shovel, traction material, portable jump starter, water, snacks, and other cold-weather supplies.

What are the most important items to keep in your car?

Some of the most useful items are a charged phone, charging cable, flashlight, first-aid kit, portable jump starter, reflective warning device, water, and seasonally appropriate clothing.

Should I keep blankets in my car?

Keeping a warm blanket in your vehicle is especially useful during Michigan’s colder months. It can help conserve body heat if a breakdown leaves you waiting for assistance.

Should I keep water in my car during winter?

Water can be useful during an extended delay, but freezing temperatures may damage some containers. Inspect and replace stored water periodically and avoid filling containers so completely that freezing causes them to rupture.

What should I do if I’m stranded in a snowstorm?

In most situations, remain with your vehicle, call for assistance, stay visible, conserve heat and battery power, and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow. Follow carbon monoxide safety precautions if you run the engine for heat.

Should every car have a first-aid kit?

A first-aid kit is a practical addition to any vehicle and can help with minor injuries until professional medical care is available.

What should a teen driver keep in the car?

Teen drivers should have the same basic emergency supplies as other motorists, along with clear emergency contacts, roadside assistance information, insurance information, and instructions from a parent or guardian about what to do during a breakdown or accident.