To ensure that you are prepared for being stuck on the roadside, you will want a car emergency kit. They combine everything you require to remain safe and components to assist with getting your vehicle back on the road.
The best car emergency kit is the Lifeline 4330AAA, which ensures you are prepared with 42 pieces that are stored within a carrying case.
Most brands of roadside emergency kits compete with each other to include as many items as possible. However, you will need to be able to store and repack the items easily, which means the additional items can reduce it’s usability.
Table of Contents
Best Car Emergency Kit
| Car Emergency Kit | Pieces | Air Compressor |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeline 4330 AAA | 42 | No |
| Top Gear Roadside | 66 | No |
| SlimK Heavy Duty | 15 | No |
| WNG Brands | 14 | No |
| Always Prepared Assistance | 125 | No |
| Thrive Auto Tools | 104 | No |
| BLIKZONE Auto Roadside | 81 | Yes |
Most roadside kits include large first aid kits that make up the bulk of the kit. However, many vehicles include a first aid kit from the factory, which may make it pointless purchasing another one. We highly recommend reading which items are included and decide upon a kit that best suits your requirements.
Below is a list of the best car emergency kits for assisting with a broken down car and keeping you safe at the roadside.
Lifeline 4330 AAA Car Emergency Kit
AAA are a highly reputable company that provide roadside assistance across the USA. They have developed a complete 42 piece car emergency kit to ensure you are ready for each and every scenario at the roadside.
All of the components are AAA branded and built to the brands “Standards of Excellence” with a storage case for keeping it all together.
Components of the Lifeline 4330 AAA Kit include:
- 24 pieces of first aid
- Heavy duty jumper cables
- 2-in-1 screwdriver
- 3 AAA batteries
- 9 LED aluminum flashlight
- 5 cable ties and duct tape
- Shop cloth and poncho
The brand offer a range of larger or smaller kits if this car emergency kit doesn’t suit your requirements. However, if you want a basic kit that includes the most used components, the 4330 AAA kit is the best option.
Check it OutTop Gear Premium Roadside Emergency Kit
Another popular roadside emergency kit is the TopGear branded alternative. It is a 66 piece kit that is contained with a TopGear branded carrying case. Over half of the kit (34 pieces) are part of the first aid.
The standout feature is the mechanics work light, which require no batteries and is powered by squeeze pump.
Components of the Top Gear Premium Kit include:
- 34 piece first aid kit
- Reflective safety vest
- Battery booster cables
- LED flashlight
- Light sticks
- Emergency rain poncho
- Gloves with grippers
- … And many more components
Overall, it is an excellent all-round car emergency kit but it does come with a premium price tag. Although it is backed by the TopGear brand, this doesn’t mean that they designed this kit but simply placed their branding over it. However, it is still a great roadside kit that includes everything you require.
Check it OutSlimK Car Multipurpose Emergency
Many cars from the factory come equipped with a first aid kit. This can make purchasing an additional first aid items pointless and a waste of money for some people. If this is the case, the SlimK roadside emergency kit is the best option.
As the kit is not full of first aid items, SlimK include other unique items such as ratchet straps, a folding shovel and much more.
Components of the Slim K Roadside Emergency Kit include:
- Intuitive organizer bag
- Heavy duty tow rope and ratchets
- Reflective triangle and vest
- Gloves with gripping palm
- Tire pressure gauge
- Screwdriver and wrench
- Seat belt cutter and safety hammer
If you simply require the automotive items of an car emergency kit, the SlimK is perfect. All of the components are built to the highest of standards and are designed to be long lasting.
Check it OutWNG Brands Roadside Emergency Kit
Unlike many of the alternatives, included within this kit are tow straps, which are ideal for helping out others with no drive.
Components of the WNG Brands Kit include:
- Fully equipped first aid kit
- Reflective triangle and safety vest
- 2 gripper gloves, raincoat and a blanket
- Safety hammer and belt cutter
- LED flash light
- Adhesive tape
- Screwdriver
- Tire pressure gauge
- 8 feet long jumper cables
As the WNG Brands kit is smaller and included with a compact case, it is much easier to store. Many people with larger kits struggle with storage and often take components out, which may be needed at the roadside.
Check it OutAlways Prepared Safety Roadside Assistance Kit
one of the largest roadside emergency kits available is by the Always Prepared brand. It is a huge 125 piece kit, which is an all-in-one solution that can be used for a variety of roadside emergency situations.
The bulk of this car emergency kit is from the first aid as it contains a total of 88 items.
Components of the Always Prepared Kit include:
- 8 feet long jumper cables
- Analog tire pressure gauge
- Self-powered flash light
- Reflective safety vest and triangle
- Comprehensive first aid kit
- … and much more
Although it is one of the most expensive kits, it certainly the best option for those that want to be prepared for an emergency. Unlike other large kits, the case is much larger, which makes it easier to repack but harder to store.
Check it OutThrive Auto Emergency Kit
If you require as many components as possible without spending too much, the Thrive Auto is the best option. It is a 104 piece kit that includes 42 automotive supplies and 62 first aid components.
In order to keep all of the components together, the brand includes a rugged 600D nylon case that can be easily stored.
Components of the Thrive Auto Kit include:
- Jumper cables (8 gauge)
- Reflective safety triangle and vest
- Flash light
- 62 piece first aid kit
- Multiple screwdrivers
- … and much more
Although it is a cheap car emergency kit, the brand provide an unlimited and easy to claim guarantee. It is also a FDA registered company, which should provide you with peace of mind whilst purchasing this kit.
Check it OutBLIKZONE Auto Roadside Assistance Car Kit
By far the most expensive roadside emergency kit by the BLIKZONE brand. The main reason for the increase in price is the inclusion of a portable tire inflator. Many kits include a gauge but if you don’t own an inflator, you will remain broken down.
The brand claim that no other alternative covers as many fixes within one carrying bag as this 81 piece car emergency kit.
Components of the BLIKZONE Auto Kit include:
- 10 feet long jumper cables
- 9 piece multi-tool
- Circuit tester pen
- Tire repair kit
- Tire inflator with pressure gauge
- … and much more
Overall, it is a car emergency kit that will provide you with an item for every situation at the roadside. The BLIKZONE kit does come with a premium price tag but this is reflected with the components that are provided.
Check it OutCar Emergency Kit Buying Guide
A broken down car can be highly frustrating and it can be for a minor reason. Owning a car emergency kit allows you to fix an array of problems from a flat battery to a component of your car that needs securing.
Most of the kits available vary in sizes from as little as 30 pieces to huge 200 plus piece kits. Although the additional components may be useful, they can also be difficult to store and repack.
To help you make an informed buying decision, we have produced the below guide regarding car emergency kits.
Essential Components
Considering that the most popular reason for a breakdown is a broken or weak battery, almost all kits include jumper cables. The quality of the cables differ between brands but it is certainly essential component regardless of the quality.
Safety whilst broken down is just as important as the tools for fixing your car. Reflective vests and triangles are highly recommended as they will make you more visible to other drivers. If the driver or any of the passengers are injured, the first aid kit will be invaluable and often include everything you need.
Although many cars come fitted a first aid kit, it’s important to note that they do expire. Therefore, depending upon the age of your car, you may want to check the expiration date. The last thing you want to do is use expired medical equipment, which could cause further issues.
Size of the Kit
As mentioned previously within the article, most of the kits are mostly made up from the first aid kit. It may be tempting to purchase the larger kits but the likelihood of you using each item is very unlikely. The best option would be to choose high quality kits with the essential components as listed above.
However, if you have the room in your car to store all the components, there is no harm in purchasing a large kit. It is better to be prepared for all emergency situations with all the tool and equipment you require.
Additional Items
Although brands offer hundreds of items within their kits, some may be missing certain components. LED road flares are on item that we believe are missing as they provide invaluable when broken down in poor driving conditions.
Additional items that you may want to add to an emergency kit include:
We highly recommend that you keep spare motor oil that is specific for your car with the kit. Although you can drive a short distance with the oil light on, it is not recommended and can cause expensive damage to the engine.
Quality of the Case
Considering that the kit will be stored within the trunk or underneath the spare wheel, the case needs to be durable. If the case were to split, all of the items contained inside of it will spill, which can be time consuming to pick up and repack.
Conclusion
Car emergency kits are designed for motorist that have broken down on the roadside or have become injured. Ideally, if everyone had these kits in their car, broken down cars will be a less common site on the road.
All of our recommendations include kits with a low number of items to huge kits for every situation. It is advise that you read through the items included and decide whether it is best suited to your requirements. Many brand simply include items primarily to increase the number of pieces within the kit.
