Having your car break down can put a real dampener on any trip, whether it's to the local shops, to work, or if you’re heading off on holiday abroad. Certain items of kit will help make any unplanned stops much less stressful. But do you know which are the best tools to aid a motorway breakdown, or that there are certain items you're required to carry with you when travelling in Europe?
In this article, we go over all the gear you'll need in a roadside pinch! From tow ropes and jump leads to warning triangle and hi-vis jackets, we've ranked the top 10 emergency kits for drivers in the UK. With kits for winter and ones for pretty much any eventuality on Amazon and eBay, you'll be sailing over every bump in the road, rather than grinding to a halt in an emergency.
Quick List - Top Car Emergency Kits
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If you're planning on buying a car emergency kit, there are a few things you should consider to ensure you buy the best ones for your needs. In this guide, we take a look at some of the different options available so that you can make an informed choice.
The contents of a car emergency kit can really make or break how useful it will be. Make sure to scrutinise what’s included inside, to guarantee it will be adequate for your needs!
While there are plenty of items that you arguably ‘should’ have in your car at all times, there aren’t actually any UK laws that state what specific items you must have with you. However, if you want to make sure that you’re covered in most emergency situations, it's important to find a kit that includes basic breakdown equipment.
For tyre changes you’ll need a car jack, and jump leads can help start a flat battery. Tow ropes are always useful to have with you, and a small torch can help you see under the hood as well as being useful in low light conditions.
If you breakdown on a dual carriageway or motorway, then you may find yourself in a very vulnerable position in terms of oncoming traffic and the increased risk of accidents occurring. Luckily, there are a few pieces of safety equipment that you can carry onboard, to help reduce the risk of potential hazards.
Having a set of reflective warning triangles is very important. If you break down you can place these along the hard shoulder or verge at least 45 metres up the road to warn drivers of your stranded car ahead. Hi-Vis clothing will also help you be more visible to other drivers, especially at night.
A first aid kit is also quite useful to have in your car, even it is only very basic. It can make all the difference if you, or one of your passengers, suffers an injury at any time. You should also consider looking for a kit with gloves, as these can protect your hands not only from the cold, but also from any injuries should you go rummaging under your car bonnet.
Some kits also include items to help you if you become stranded in colder weather. If you're travelling in frostier climates, or making car journeys during the winter months, we recommend including these items in your kit.
For cold weather journeys, looks for emergency kits that include an ice scraper for visibility, a foil blanket to help you keep warm, and a shovel to help you dig your car out of deep snow.
You may want to think about where you’ll be keeping your emergency kit and how it will be stored. The size of the kit will depends on how many items are included and how bulky they are. If you’re conscious about keeping your emergency kit compact for easy storage in your car, then you'll need to take note of the measurements prior to buying.
A lot of emergency kits available to buy come in a storage bag that’s appropriately sized for the contents inside. This will save you having to finding a suitable container and can simply be thrown on to the back seat, or in the boot, to have on hand should you need it.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | WNG Brands Roadside Assistance Car Emergency Kit | ![]() | A Compact Kit With High Quality Assurance | |
2 | Sailnovo Car Emergency Kit | ![]() | Tools to Help in Almost Every Situation | |
3 | Ring Automotive Emergency Car Kit|RCT2 | ![]() | All the Essentials for Common Car Emergencies | |
4 | AA Vehicle Breakdown Safety Kit Plus|AA5618 | ![]() | The Ideal Kit for Quickly Dealing With Flat Tyres | |
5 | TourKing Roadside Assistance Emergency Kit | ![]() | Useful Multi-Functional Tools and a 3 Tonne Tow Rope | |
6 | AA Emergency Winter Car Kit|AA5281 | ![]() | A Winter Emergency Kit From the Car Breakdown Specialists | |
7 | Simply Car Europe Travel Kit|ETK1 | ![]() | An Emergency Kit Designed for Travel Within Europe | |
8 | Silverline Car Emergency Kit|933429 | ![]() | A Good Selection of Equipment in an Easy to Stow Bag | |
9 | Femor Roadside Assistance Emergency Kit | ![]() | Safety Items to Help You Get Going Again | |
10 | EVAQ8 Deluxe Winter Car Survival Kit | ![]() | A Comprehensive Cold Weather Kit for Winter |
This kit comes with an unlimited satisfaction guarantee, which covers the entire contents for peace of mind that you're buying a quality product. The size of this kit belies its comprehensive contents, and it will fit just as snugly in the foot well, as it will inside the boot of your car.
Although there aren't any winter items included, this kit offers fantastic value for money and would make a great gift for a new driver. All the tools are of solid build, and it contains the necessary essentials, which is why we've chosen it for our number 1 spot!
This kit from Sailnovo contains an incredible 76 pieces of emergency equipment designed to help you out in nearly every situation, all stored inside a compact bag that will sit quite happily in the back of your car.
Were you to buy all the items separately, it would far exceed the very reasonable price of this kit.This kit is also compliant with the requirements for driving in most European countries, so its win win!
With this kit from Ring Automotive, you can be prepared for most common car breakdowns and emergencies. All items meet high quality standards, so you know that you can rely on them should you need to. The storage bag also has Velcro on the base so it won't slide around in the boot of your car, which is a useful feature indeed!
This kit could include some more gear for dealing with flat tyres, but the items included will ultimately see you through all manner of situations.
This kit from AA contains emergency items that you'll need in the event of a breakdown, plus a few more. Most notable is the inclusion of a mini tyre inflator with a 3m power lead that attaches into your car's 12V power socket! It also has a bright LED light, in addition to the torch supplied.
This kit is really well thought out, with a safety hammer and seatbelt cutting tool, and it all comes packed inside a compact storage bag. If we're being majorly critical the tow rope isn't as load bearing as others available, but otherwise, this is an excellent kit.
This kit from TourKing has some great features, such as a heavy-duty webbed tow rope with steel hooks that's capable of towing up to 3 tonnes, and a torch with a magnetic base that also doubles as a safety hammer. They've even included a 2-in-1 screwdriver that's sure to come in handy!
There were some cases in which the torch didn't work properly, so if this is one of the main features you're choosing this kit for, you'll need to double check upon delivery. There isn't a first aid kit included either, so you'll need to buy one separately if you plan on travelling in Europe.
The AA Emergency Winter Car Kit will make sure you're prepared for most eventualities come the winter months. The folding shovel is compact, yet strong enough to tackle thick snow, and the snow and ice grips will ensure you remain steady if it's icy. Plus, the plastic rain poncho is a useful addition should you get stranded in a downpour.
This is a really good quality kit and is bound to be useful in the snow and ice. However, if you're looking for a more comprehensive breakdown kit, this one may fall short.
Get prepared for motoring across Europe with the Simply Car Europe travel kit! It contains all the travel essentials you'll need in the event of a roadside breakdown when driving abroad.
The compact storage bag allows you to keep your boot tidy, and you'll be safe in the knowledge that your kit includes the key equipment required by law in many European countries. Just be aware that it doesn't contain any breakdown items, which you will need to carry separately.
This kit from Silverline is ideal for most motoring emergencies. It includes a tow rope with steel hooks, and a wind up torch with 3 super bright LEDs. The addition of a foot pump is also very useful, as is the handy adapter kit, so you can use it on most tyres.
While a foot pump is a great addition, the kit would have perhaps benefitted from a jack to help make tyre changes easier. The overall feel of the tools included in the kit isn't the highest quality either, which is something to bear in mind.
This kit from Femor contains key bits of equipment to help keep you safe and get back on the road again. The warning triangle is easy to assemble, and the hi-vis jacket is made from a breathable material that's suitable for even the hottest of days.
Unfortunately, we've marked this kit down for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the contents of the first aid kit don't appear to have an expiry date, which they really should. Second of all, there aren't any cold weather items in this kit.
This kit from EVAQ8 includes a comprehensive collection of items that will be very useful should you become stranded in the snow and freezing cold. There's plenty of gear to keep you warm and hydrated, plus tools to help de-ice your car and get you on the move quicker.
That said, the shovel and whistle could be much better quality, especially given the higher price point of this kit. Whilst its great for keeping you safe in the snow, there isn't a jack or jump leads. It's good at what it does, but its not everything you'll need.
Its worth noting that if you plan on travelling in Europe, there are certain emergency items that you’re required to carry by law. It's important to familiarise yourself with the rules before you go, as failure to do so can result in an on the spot fine.
The equipment varies country by country, but in addition to the necessary paperwork for your car, the majority require you to carry a warning triangle, first aid kit and a hi-vis jacket or vest. If you’re travelling abroad and want a full list of all the requirements for the countries you’ll be driving through, you can find this information and more on The AA website.
There are quite a few items that aren’t usually included in car emergency kits, that you should consider carrying with you to help make breakdowns just that little bit less frustrating! By keeping these items in your car alongside the rest of your kit, you should be covered in most eventualities.
Warm clothes are handy no matter the time of year, as is a waterproof jacket or coat. A blanket will help keep you warm if you haven't got heating, and some water and snacks will mean you won’t get dehydrated or hungry. Boots with a good grip can also be very useful, especially if its muddy or slippy outside.
If you're a bit of a car fanatic, we've got some great recommendations to help make driving even more enjoyable. Check out the articles below for more of the top rated motoring gear in the UK. Just don't blame us if one of these articles 'accidentally' influences your next car accessory impulse buy!
So concludes the ranking of our recommended car emergency kits. We hope you found it useful and informative. Carrying the right emergency kit will help you out in a motoring fix, but in the mean time, put your pedal to the metal and happy driving!
Author: Catherine Torrance
No. 1: WNG Brands| Roadside Assistance Car Emergency Kit
No. 2: Sailnovo| Car Emergency Kit
No. 3: Ring Automotive|Emergency Car Kit|RCT2
No. 4: AA|Vehicle Breakdown Safety Kit Plus|AA5618
No. 5: TourKing|Roadside Assistance Emergency Kit
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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