Imagine you’re all packed up, ready to head home after an amazing family holiday, when you suddenly notice a flat tyre, or it’s freezing outside, you’re late for work, and your car refuses to start – we’ve all experienced moments like these!

To help you stay prepared in the event of a breakdown, we’ve put together a list of essential items to keep in your car.

That way, when the unexpected happens, you’ll have the tools you need to tackle the situation with confidence.

Tyre Inflator

If you notice a deflated tyre, instead of driving to the nearest garage and running the risk of potentially damaging your wheels, keep a trusty tyre inflator in your boot.

Our top picks for ease of use and reliability are the Halfords Rapid Digital Tyre Inflator and the Michelin Multifunction Cordless Inflator which isn’t just useful for pumping up tyres, it’s also ideal for blowing up airbeds on camping trips, or sports balls for fun days out – making it a versatile bit of kit!

Torch

Most smartphones have a torch feature, but in the event your car breaks down, it’s important to have a backup so you can use your mobile for more important things, like calling for help or letting friends know you might be late for your dinner reservation.

Shop our favourites including the rechargeable Energizer Tactical 700 or the super bright Energizer HDL50 High CRI LED Head Torch, which is a ideal for leaving your hands free so you can carry out checks or small repairs. If your torch requires batteries, it won’t hurt to keep a few spares in your glovebox too!

High visibility vest

If the worst happens and you end up stuck on the side of the road, stay safe and seen while you’re waiting for help.

Shop our range of high-visibility vests and other breakdown essentials that will alert other drivers of your travel mishap and encourage them to steer clear.

It’s also a good idea to keep warm items in the car such as spare coats, blankets, and hand warmers so you don’t get too cold.

Jump starter power pack

We’ve all been there, forgetting to turn off your headlights at the end of the day, only to wake up the next morning and find your battery completely drained. It’s a simple mistake, but it can quickly become frustrating if you’ve got important places to be.

We recommend keeping the compact Halfords Advanced 3L Jump Starter Powerbank in your glovebox to make life easier if your battery does run out of steam. It’s suitable for a wide range of vehicles, but it’s important to check the power pack you’re using is compatible with your car before use.

Empty fuel can

Running out of fuel may seem like a rookie error, but it happens to more of us than you might think.

A great way to avoid getting stuck without fuel is by taking an empty fuel can with you everywhere you go. This way, if you do run out of juice in the tank, you can walk to the nearest fuel station, fill it up, and get back on your way!

Here at Halfords, we stock a range of fuel cans that are suitable for containing both petrol and diesel.

Mobile phone charger

A charged mobile phone will keep you in touch with friends, family, and emergency services while you’re waiting to get back on the road. Whether you’ve got an Apple or Android phone, we’ve got power cables in multiple lengths that can be plugged directly into your car’s USB port. If your vehicle doesn’t have a USB port, try one of our handy Halfords USB Sockets that can be plugged directly into your cigarette lighter to stay connected.

First aid kit

This one goes without saying, a first aid kit is vital for any journey. You never know when you might need to quickly grab a plaster or cool down a nasty burn. We recommend our Halfords Essentials Compact First Aid Kit which even contains a foil blanket, great to keep your body insulated if you’re caught out in the cold winter months.

Now that you’re all set for whatever your next journey might throw at you, don’t forget to have your insurance and breakdown details on hand. You’ll need them if you ever have to call for backup!

Halfords Motoring Club

By joining the Halfords Motoring Club today, you’ll get access to a range of amazing benefits and discounts that are designed to keep you moving, keep you safe and keep you saving.

It’s free to join and you’ll receive money off your MOT, a free car health check and a welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service.

Or choose our Premium membership for a small monthly fee (or a one-off payment) to unlock exclusive member pricing on all motoring products and services online and across our stores, garages and Halfords Mobile Experts, as well as a variety of other benefits that will help you to keep moving for less.