What to Keep in Your Car During Winter

Because the weather doesn’t care about your plans.

Winter driving has a habit of going from “this is fine” to “why am I sitting in a lay-by questioning my life choices?” in about ten minutes flat. One minute you’re humming along to the radio, the next the temperature’s dropped, visibility’s gone, and your car’s doing that thing where it feels… less confident than usual.

Nobody plans to break down. But winter has a wicked sense of humour. And that’s why keeping a simple winter essentials kit in your car isn’t dramatic — it’s just sensible. Think of it like packing a coat before leaving the house. You hope you won’t need it, but you’ll be very smug if you do.

So, kettle on. Here’s what you should really keep in your car during winter — and why future-you will be grateful you did.

First things first: visibility is everything

Warning triangle (or emergency beacon)

If your car does stop unexpectedly, being seen is priority number one. A warning triangle lets other drivers know you’re there — especially important on darker winter evenings or foggy mornings when visibility drops fast.

Modern illuminated or LED emergency beacons are even better. They’re quicker to deploy, easier to spot, and don’t involve you playing human Frogger on the hard shoulder. Calm, visible, sensible. We like that.

Your phone is your lifeline (until it dies)

Mobile phone charger

A dead phone in winter is about as useful as an umbrella with holes in it. Keep a charging cable or fully charged block charger permanently in the glovebox, ideally with a 12V adapter so it works even if your car’s older than your Spotify Wrapped.

Wireless charging mounts are handy too — especially if you use your phone for navigation. Just don’t rely on “I’ll remember to bring one”. You won’t. None of us do.

Staying warm: not optional, actually

Warm, waterproof clothing

If you had to step outside the car — or worse, wait inside it — thin layers are your best friend. A fleece or jumper, thick socks, gloves, and something waterproof can make a huge difference to comfort (and mood).

And yes, keep a blanket in the boot. It sounds over the top until you’re stuck somewhere cold, watching your breath fog up the windows and wondering why you ever mocked your parents for being prepared.

Ice: beautiful to look at, annoying everywhere else

De-icer and ice scraper

These should live in your car all winter, not just when snow’s forecast. Because frost doesn’t check your calendar — it just turns up overnight and ruins your morning.

Scraping ice properly (not with an old loyalty card that snaps instantly) gives you clear visibility and avoids that “tiny peephole” driving technique we all know is a bad idea.

The surprise hero of winter driving

Sunglasses

Feels wrong mentioning sunglasses in December, doesn’t it? But low winter sun can be brutal — especially early mornings or late afternoons when it sits right at eye level like it’s doing it on purpose.

A cheap pair in the centre console can massively reduce glare and eye strain. Think of them less as a summer accessory and more as a safety feature with style points.

When daylight disappears at 4pm

Torch

Phones are great. Phone batteries… less so. A small torch — rechargeable or battery-powered — is invaluable if you need to check something outside the car in the dark.

Top tip: check it once a month. A torch that doesn’t turn on is just a disappointment shaped like preparation.

High-visibility vest

If you have to get out of the car near traffic, this one’s non-negotiable. A hi-vis vest makes you instantly more visible to other drivers and emergency services.

They’re cheap, fold flat, and take up virtually no space — which is about the best value-for-safety deal going.

Snow happens. Be ready.

Shovel + mats or old carpet

If you live somewhere that gets proper snow (or even the surprise “one inch that causes chaos”), a small shovel is incredibly useful. Dig snow away from the driven wheels, slide mats or carpet under them, and you’ve got traction again.

It’s not glamorous. But it beats rocking the car back and forth while pretending this is all part of the plan.

Food, water, and morale

Drinking water and snack bars

If you’re delayed or stranded, water and a couple of snack bars can make a stressful situation far more manageable. Nothing fancy — just something that won’t freeze solid or crumble into dust.

A thermos with a hot drink? Elite-level winter prep. You might not need it, but if you do… you’ll feel like an absolute genius.

The takeaway

Winter doesn’t ask for permission. Roads get slippery, visibility drops, and minor issues can become big inconveniences surprisingly fast. Keeping a small winter kit in your car isn’t about expecting the worst — it’s about knowing you’ll cope if it happens.

Most of these items are inexpensive, easy to store, and only need a quick once-over at the start of the season. Ten minutes of prep now can save hours of stress later.

And honestly? There’s something deeply satisfying about being the calm, prepared one when everyone else is panicking.

Stay warm. Stay visible. And maybe… keep the blanket. Just in case.