Emergency Kit for Your Car

For many people, the car is the most important means of transportation – and in an emergency, it is often the evacuation vehicle as well. At the same time, it is a place where you can easily get stuck: in a traffic jam on the highway that lasts for hours, during a breakdown on a lonely country road, or in a snowstorm. With a little gear in your trunk, an unpleasant situation doesn’t have to become a dangerous one. We’ll show you what is required and what we additionally recommend.

Required Equipment in Germany

You must always carry three things in a passenger car in Germany:

• First aid kit according to DIN 13164: The standard was updated in 2022; since then, it includes two medical face masks, among other things. Check the expiration date of the sterile materials and replace any expired items.
• Warning triangle.
• Safety vest: At least one safety vest is required. Our advice: one per seat, kept within easy reach in the passenger compartment, not in the trunk. That way, you can put it on before you get out of the car.

Please note: This is a general overview, not legal advice. For details on your vehicle, automobile clubs or your repair shop can help.

Basic Equipment for Breakdowns

Beyond the requirements, these items have proven their worth:

• Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries or a charged rechargeable battery. When you’re on the roadside in the dark, a headlamp is worth its weight in gold because your hands are free.
• Jumper cables or a jump starter: A compact lithium jump starter works without a second car. Recharge it regularly.
• Phone charging cable for the car and a charged power bank.
• Work gloves and a few rags.
• Tow rope and, if you know how to use them, a small tool kit.
• Tire sealant and an air compressor, in case your car has no spare tire – check what your vehicle already has on board.

Supplies for Long Waits

In a complete standstill after an accident or during black ice, it can take several hours before traffic moves again. In that case, you’ll be glad to have:

• Water: a few bottles per person. In summer, the car can heat up considerably – in winter, water in bottles can freeze, so leave some room in the bottle.
• Long-lasting snacks: granola bars, nuts, cookies. Swap them out regularly, because heat and cold in the car shorten their shelf life.
• Blanket: a wool blanket or a lightweight sleeping bag for each person, plus an emergency blanket from the first aid kit as a backup.
• Portable toilet or bags with absorbent material – not pleasant, but very helpful with children in a traffic jam.
• Paper map of your region in case your GPS and phone fail.

Winter Additions

During the cold season, pack the following in addition:

• an ice scraper and a snow brush,
• lock de-icer – and keep it in your jacket, not in the car, or you won’t be able to reach it,
• hats, gloves, and warm socks for everyone,
• a small shovel if you’re traveling in areas with heavy snowfall,
• snow chains if needed, which you’ve test-fitted once beforehand.

Another tip from experience: in winter, avoid driving with an almost empty gas tank. A well-filled tank gives you a reserve if you’re stuck for a long time or get rerouted. In basic training, one of the first rules for vehicles was: refuel when you can, not only when you have to.

Safety: Carbon Monoxide and Getting Stranded in Snow

If you’re stuck in your car in winter, it’s tempting to leave the engine running for heat. Be careful, though: if the exhaust pipe is blocked by snow, exhaust fumes containing toxic carbon monoxide can enter the passenger compartment. The gas is odorless and invisible. Keep the tailpipe clear of snow, run the engine only intermittently, and ventilate regularly while doing so. Never run the engine in a closed garage. A camp stove, grill, or gas heater has no place inside a vehicle, period.

If your car breaks down on the highway: turn on your hazard lights, put on a high-visibility vest, exit the vehicle on the passenger side, move behind the guardrail, and set up the warning triangle at a sufficient distance. In an emergency, call 112.

Well Stowed Is Half the Battle

Loose items become projectiles during hard braking. That’s why you should pack your gear in a sturdy box or bag and secure it in the trunk, for example with cargo straps or at the tie-down points. Your first aid kit, high-visibility vests, and flashlight should be placed so that you can still reach them when the trunk is full.

Check the contents twice a year, ideally when you change your tires. That way you can swap summer gear for winter gear and replace expired food at the same time.

In short: a car first aid kit per DIN 13164, a warning triangle, and a high-visibility vest are mandatory – one vest per seat in the passenger compartment makes sense. Add a flashlight, jumper cables, water, snacks, and blankets, and in winter also an ice scraper and warm clothing. Never let the engine run with a snow-blocked tailpipe or in enclosed spaces.

Suitable Gear Compared

	Produktbild bei AmazonClassicPETEX Verbandtasche (rot)	Produktbild bei AmazonWith resuscitation face shieldPURAHELP Verbandskasten Auto	Produktbild bei AmazonComplete setFLEXEO Verbandtasche mit Warndreieck & Weste
Rating	★★★★★at least 4.3 out of 5 starswith 500+ customer reviews (our selection criterion)See current reviews*	★★★★★at least 4.3 out of 5 starswith 500+ customer reviews (our selection criterion)See current reviews*	★★★★★at least 4.3 out of 5 starswith 500+ customer reviews (our selection criterion)See current reviews*
Features	Contents per DIN 13164:2022 Case made of nylon fabric Sterile items in a film pouch with contents list Booklet with first aid instructions	Contents per DIN 13164:2022, 2 medical masks Additional resuscitation face shield Velcro strips to prevent shifting Contents illustrated in film pouches	Contents per DIN 13164:2022, 2 face masks Warning triangle and safety vest included Sterile items with a 4–5 year shelf life, per manufacturer Instructions available in multiple languages via QR code
Pros	Shelf life of at least 4 years from purchase, per manufacturer Very large number of customer reviews	Extra item for CPR First aid guide included	Everything for the car in one set Contents can be renewed with a refill kit
Cons	No extras beyond the standard	No shelf life information provided	Redundant if a warning triangle/vest are already on hand
	View on Amazon*	View on Amazon*	View on Amazon*

Selected by manufacturer data and customer reviews (at least 4.3 stars with 500+ reviews). We only show exact star ratings when they come from Amazon the same day. As of 04.10.2026. Not tested by us. Current prices and reviews are on Amazon. *Ad · paid link

General information, no substitute for individual advice from authorities, emergency services or medical professionals. In an emergency in Europe: 112.