There has been a definite theme to our recent blogs. Winter is almost here and we have been thinking a lot about how to get ready. We talked about getting our yards and homes ready. We talked about getting our food storage in shape and getting our emergency supplies gathered. If we have followed through and taken care of the items on our lists, we are very close to ready. There is another important place to get ready for winter weather – our vehicles. That’s caused me to think about a car winter checklist.

In the bad weather it is definitely better to minimize travel, but if travel is necessary, keeping your car equipped with items you need in an emergency is a must. Winter weather can provide a variety of unexpected emergency situations. Make yourself a car winter checklist and be prepared. Your car winter checklist will include lots of things. You might already be keeping the following in your vehicle:

Cell phone and portable charger
We have our cell phones with us most of the time. When driving in winter weather it is a good idea to keep charging them as we drive. If we become stuck have a charged cell phone will be very important. This is also a good time to consider having a portable charger with a full reserve in your car. These car winter checklist items are probably easy to check off.

Window scraper and snow brush
You probably already have at least one of these car winter checklist items and chances are they are still in your car from last winter. Make sure you know where they are and they are in good repair. Cracked or broken scrapers can damage your vehicle and won’t work effectively.

Canned compressed air with sealant for emergency tire repair
This is something else from the car winter checklist that you might already have in your car. In severe weather it could be quite hard to change a tire. If road conditions make changing a tire impossible, the canned air could make a bad situation much less tragic.

Tow chains or rope
These are more important to have on your car winter checklist than they might be other times of the year. Winter weather brings slick roads and increased chances of slide-offs. Having tow chains or ropes can help you be pulled from a being stuck or could allow you to help someone else.

Booster or jumper cables
Most of us have booster or jumper cables in our cars. It is a good idea to check them and see if they are in good working shape. With the colder temperatures, the chance of these being needed could be more than in other seasons.

Emergency flares or warning lights
This car winter checklist item is something that many of us already have. In blizzard or low visibility conditions, the importance of flares or emergency warning lights is increased. Warning other drivers of your vehicle or another road hazard can keep low visibility situations from being even more dangerous.

First aid kit
After summer and fall road trips your car’s first aid kit might be a bit depleted. It is a good idea to take inventory and restock the supplies that were used. Keep your first aid kit on your car winter checklist.

Tool kit
Simple tools are something most of us probably already have in the car. Like the first aid kit, your tools may have gotten misplaced or used somewhere else during the good weather. Check that the needed tools are still in your car. Having all of the tools you need can make a winter car repair or issue much less serious.

What is on your car winter checklist? Want to suggest something we forgot? Watch our blog tomorrow for more winter specific items to keep in your car. See you then!