How to pack winter emergency kit for your car

NBC Selected independently determines what we cover and recommend. When you click on or buy through our links, we earn a commission. Learn more .

Seventy percent of winter deaths related to snow and ice occur in cars, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation . Depending on where you live, wintertime can bring severe cold weather and snowstorms that can leave you stranded on the road. If that happens, a winter emergency car kit can be a lifesaver, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) and Vision Zero North Dakota .

That’s why I collected guidance from government agencies like NWS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) about what to put in a winter emergency car kit, and recommend some top-rated kits and supplies below.

Selected. Our top picks

Want more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.

The best winter emergency car kits of 2026

Our top picks have many of the supplies recommended by agencies like FEMA and the American Red Cross. You can supplement them with supplies of your own and find additional supplies in the kit supplies section.

Best winter kit

Lifeline 4390 AAA Severe Weather Emergency Road Safety Kit

Includes: 45-piece first aid kit, flashlight, batteries, fleece hat, gloves and scarf, folding shovel, ice scraper, clip-on LED safety strobe, whistle, candle, survival blanket, fire starter, hand warmers

This is a great starter kit to supplement with your own supplies: it includes many of the items recommended by the agencies we mentioned above, including a first aid kit, ice scraper , and a few winter clothing items. It is light on car equipment, however, so you’ll want to add items like a jump starter or jumper cables, a tow rope and a tire inflator ASAP.

Best general car kit

Everlit Survival Car Emergency Kit

Includes: 108-piece first aid kit, glass breaker, seat belt cutter, reflective warning triangle, gloves, hand crank flashlight, poncho, jumper cable, digital air compressor, tow rope, cable ties, electrical tape, bungee cords

This car emergency kit isn’t specific to winter conditions, so you’ll want to supplement it with cold-weather supplies. It includes a large first aid kit as well as many recommended car emergency supplies like reflective warning triangles and jumper cables. It also comes with a digital air compressor that can inflate standard tires in a few seconds, according to the brand. You can read a full list of the included supplies on Everlit Survival’s website .

Top-rated winter emergency car kit supplies of 2026

Almost all pre-made kits are missing a few items, so it’s important to supplement them with tools and supplies depending on your needs. You may also prefer to build your own winter emergency car kit from scratch — you probably already have many of the items recommended by expert agencies. Below are highly rated winter emergency car kit supplies for you and your vehicle.

Supplies for you

First-aid kit

Any first aid kit should include a variety of supplies for treating wounds and injuries. It’s important to add items like medications and emergency contacts, according to the American Red Cross .

First-aid kit

First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit (FAO-442)

Be Smart Get Prepared 110 Piece First Aid Kit

Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker Medical Kit

Water

Water can be tricky to store in winter conditions — it may freeze if stored in the trunk or a flatbed, so we recommend storing it in the backseat or somewhere else in your vehicle’s main cabin, if possible.

Water storage

Reliance Jumbo Water Container (7 Gallon)

Survivor Filter Collapsible Water Bottles (1L)

Flashlight

A flashlight is a critical tool, especially if it’s dark out and you need to troubleshoot your vehicle. I include emergency flashlights and headlamps, which can keep your hands free.

Flashlights

Thrunite Archer 2A C Flashlight

GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight

Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp

Goal Zero Crush Light

Cell phone, road maps

Multiple agencies recommend keeping cell phone chargers and spare road maps as part of your emergency car kit.

Maps and navigation

Rand McNally Folded Map: Western United States

Rand McNally Easy to Read: Central United States Folded Map

Rand McNally Folded Map: Eastern United States

Suunto A-10 Compass

Batteries and portable chargers

Most flashlights are powered by disposable AA or AAA batteries. A portable power bank is also good to have for keeping your phone charged.

Batteries and portable chargers

Amazon Basics 12-Pack AA High-Performance Alkaline Batteries

Amazon Basics 12-Pack AAA High-Performance Alkaline Batteries

Anker Nano Power Bank 10K Portable Charger with built-in cable