The best roadside emergency car kits

Get the Full StoryRoadside emergency car kits can ensure you have some useful items on hand, in case your vehicle breaks down or is involved in an accident.

Our top picks are well-stocked, full of practical supplies, and all available at reasonable price points from Roadside Rescue, Lifeline AAA, and Always Prepared.

When I, as a teenager, bought my first car, my parents gave me a roadside emergency kit for Christmas. For years, that kit sat in the back of my car, unused until one day it didn't. When my car broke down on the side of the road, during torrential rain, I was so glad to have that kit. It had everything I needed, including a poncho, reflective triangle, and roadside flares. It also contained jumper cables that I've now used numerous times to help friends jump-start their cars' dead batteries.

Don't think of roadside emergency kits as "just in case" purchases; if you are ever in a situation where you'd need them, they're invaluable. You can purchase everything from the most basic kit to a deluxe package with more supplies than you could ever possibly use, but finding the right kit takes some time. Some more affordable kits include low-quality supplies, and when you're in a pinch you don't want to depend on a product that won't work. Other kits have some essential items, but they don't include some important basics you'll almost certainly need.

We've identified the best roadside emergency kits to help make your decision easier. Our selections are based on a number of factors, and we've assessed the items contained in the kits, any valuable items that may be missing, the overall quality of the products, the kits' price points, and how satisfied buyers are with their purchases. Many of these kits include items that the National Safety Council, Ready, and the American Automobile Association recommend in a roadside emergency kit, but not all, like a can opener, batteries, hand-crank radio, etc.

Keeping a kit in each vehicle you drive can give you peace of mind that you're prepared in the case of a breakdown or an accident. These kits also make excellent gifts for new drivers, or for anyone who has a vehicle but doesn't yet have a kit of their own.

Here are the best roadside emergency kits you can buy:

Best premium roadside emergency kit overall: Roadside Rescue Emergency Assistant Kit

Best winter roadside emergency kit: Lifeline AAA Severe Weather Road Safety Kit

Best high-visibility roadside emergency kit: Always Prepared Reflective Car Emergency Roadside Kit

Updated on 12 6 19 by Caitlin Petreycik. Updated prices, links, and formatting. The best overall

Amazon

The Roadside Rescue Emergency Assistant Kit is a 110-piece grab bag that prepares you for just about any emergency you could encounter while on the road.

If you'd like to be super-prepared for just about any situation you could encounter while on the road, then the Roadside Emergency Assistance Kit is for you. This comprehensive 110-piece kit contains practical supplies that you're likely to put to use, like a heavy-duty tow strap, a flashlight, a tire pressure gauge, and jumper cables. It also includes a few items you're less likely to need a seat belt cutter, an emergency blanket, a windshield breaker but that are definitely worth having, if only for the peace of mind.

The 64-piece first aid kit tucked inside the larger canvas duffel bag is also super comprehensive, with items like arm slings, an assortment of bandages, medical tape, gauze, and alcohol pads.

Other key resources you'll find: a magnesium fire starter, a roadside warning sign, and an 11-in-one multi-tool.

We did come across a few buyer reviews mentioning that the jumper cables didn't feel as sturdy as they had hoped.

Pros: 110 pieces to handle nearly any emergency, 64-piece first aid kit, items to get you back on the road

Cons: Some customers have found the jumper cables to be a bit flimsy

The best winter kit

Amazon

With warming supplies to help keep you comfortable during a winter weather breakdown, the Lifeline AAA Severe Weather Road Safety Kit is a must for cold-weather travel.

A breakdown in winter weather requires particular supplies, and the Lifeline AAA Severe Weather Road Safety Kit is designed just for that circumstance. Warmth will become a real concern in the event that you can't turn your vehicle on or have limited gas, and this kit includes warmth accessories such as tea candles; a fleece set of gloves, scarf, and hat; an emergency blanket; and hand-warmer packets.

Additional supplies include a folding shovel, LED flashlight, batteries, emergency whistle, and ice scraper. This kit also includes a 45-piece first aid kit. Everything is stored neatly in a compact bag that can fit underneath a seat.

The value of this kit is really in its warming items, which aren't offered by many other kits. If you live in an area that receives harsh winter weather, this kit would be well worth the investment. Pair this kit with some visibility essentials, like road flares, and you'll have a well-rounded emergency supply collection for winter weather.

Pros: Warming supplies, 45-piece first aid kit

Cons: Battery-powered flashlight would be better if replaced by a light with a hand crank, kit would benefit from some emergency visibility supplies

The best high-visibility kit

Amazon

The Always Prepared Reflective Car Emergency Roadside Kit contains high-visibility supplies to help keep you safe if you're ever stranded roadside.

Whereas many emergency kits fall short on quality high-visibility products, the Always Prepared Reflective Car Emergency Roadside Kit focuses entirely on making you visible to other drivers. These items are essential for keeping you safe if your car breaks down on the side of the road, and increased visibility can potentially keep other drivers from hitting you or your car.

This kit contains everything you need to maximize your safety during a breakdown. Two reflective triangles fold up for compact storage and can be set out to draw attention to your vehicle. One flashing LED emergency light and one neon safety vest also help to keep you safe and visible.

All of these items fit neatly inside a storage bag that can be tucked underneath a seat or placed in your trunk. Because it doesn't contain other essential items, it's best paired with another roadside emergency kit.

Pros: Higher quality, heavy-duty visibility items, easy to use, compact storage fits under a seat

Cons: Should be paired with another kit for a more complete supply of emergency items

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