Winter Car Emergency Kit: What to Pack and the Gear We’d Buy

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Testing note: We haven’t hands-on tested this gear. Specs come from NOCO’s product page and the Amazon listings, checked Oct 24, 2026.

Diagram: a winter car emergency kit, laid out by where it rides. In the cabin: phone and charger, a jump starter, a flashlight, blankets, warm clothes, water, snacks and medicine. In the trunk: a snow shovel, a snow brush and ice scraper, sand or kitty litter for traction, jumper cables, warning triangles or flares, and a first aid kit. Plus: keep a full tank of gas. Sources: NHTSA and Ready.gov

Bottom line: A winter storm that knocks out power can also strand you on the road. Ready.gov’s car kit is short: jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and snacks, plus a full tank of gas (Ready.gov). NHTSA adds a shovel, an ice scraper, warning devices, a first aid kit and a phone charger (NHTSA). Most of it is already in your house. The three things worth buying are below.

Our pick

NOCO Boost GB40 jump starter: NOCO rates it at 1,000 amps for gas engines up to 6.0 liters and diesels up to 3.0 liters, with up to 20 jump starts per charge. No second car needed.

Check on Amazon
See all three picks ↓

What goes in the kit

NHTSA’s list, grouped by job (NHTSA):

  • Clear the car: a snow shovel, a broom or snow brush and an ice scraper. For the driveway at home, see our snow shovel and ice melt picks.
  • Get unstuck: sand or kitty litter to sprinkle under the tires.
  • Get moving or get help: jumper cables, a flashlight and warning devices like flares or reflective triangles.
  • Stay alive: blankets, a first aid kit, a phone and charger, water, food and any medicine you need.

Ready.gov adds warm clothes (Ready.gov). The CDC says to always carry extra warm clothing and blankets, and not to count on the car for heat, since it could break down (CDC). Keep the warmth and food in the cabin. If you get stuck, the CDC says to move what you need from the trunk into the passenger area (CDC).

If you get stranded

What to do if you're stranded in your car in a winter storm: 1, stay in the car and don't overexert yourself; 2, clear snow from the exhaust pipe; 3, run the motor and heater about 10 minutes each hour with one window open slightly, to cut carbon monoxide risk; 4, be seen, with a bright cloth on the antenna, the dome light on at night, and the hood raised after the snow stops; 5, stay warm by wrapping up, moving your arms and legs, and huddling together. Sources: CDC, National Weather Service and NHTSA
From the CDC, the National Weather Service and NHTSA. Checked Oct. 24, 2026.
  • Stay with the car. The National Weather Service warns that you’ll get disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow if you leave (NWS). NHTSA adds: don’t overexert yourself (NHTSA).
  • Watch for carbon monoxide. Run the motor and heater about 10 minutes per hour, open one window slightly, and keep snow off the exhaust pipe (CDC). NHTSA says never run the car for long periods with the windows up or in an enclosed space (NHTSA).
  • Be seen. Tie a bright cloth to the antenna, turn on the dome light at night, and raise the hood once the snow stops (NWS).
  • Stay warm. Wrap up head to toe, keep your arms and legs moving, and huddle together. Don’t eat snow; it lowers your body temperature (CDC).

Before you drive

Before you drive in winter weather: keep a full tank of gas (Ready.gov); charge your phone and bring a car charger (National Weather Service); tell someone your route and when you expect to arrive (CDC); check and restock the car kit (CDC); clear all snow and ice off the car before you go (National Weather Service); never pour water on an icy windshield, since it can shatter (CDC). Best advice: stay off the roads if at all possible (Ready.gov)
From Ready.gov, the CDC and the National Weather Service. Checked Oct. 24, 2026.

Ready.gov’s advice is to stay off the roads if at all possible (Ready.gov). If you must go, the CDC says to tell someone your route and arrival time, restock the car kit, and never pour water on an icy windshield, because it can shatter (CDC).

Our winter car kit picks

Our winter car kit picks compared: our pick, the NOCO Boost GB40 lithium jump starter, rated 1,000 amps for gas engines up to 6.0 liters and diesel up to 3.0 liters, up to 20 jump starts per charge, spark-proof with reverse polarity protection, a USB power bank and a 100-lumen LED light; the Snow MOOver 39-inch extendable snow brush with a squeegee, a detachable ice scraper and an aluminum body that collapses to 31 inches; and Primacare HB-10 emergency Mylar blankets, 10 per pack, each 84 by 52 inches, waterproof. All three ship from and are sold by Amazon.com
Specs from NOCO and the Amazon listings. Checked Oct. 24, 2026.

All three ship from and are sold by Amazon.com.

Our pick: NOCO Boost GB40 jump starter

Jumper cables need a second car. NOCO rates the GB40 at 1,000 amps, for gas engines up to 6.0 liters and diesels up to 3.0 liters, with up to 20 jump starts per charge (NOCO). It’s spark-proof with reverse polarity protection, so a wrong clamp connection won’t spark. It doubles as a USB power bank for your phone and has a 100-lumen LED with SOS and strobe modes. It only helps if it’s charged, so top it up when you restock the kit.

Full maker specs: NOCO Boost GB40
  • Peak current: 1,000 A
  • Engines: Gas up to 6.0 L; diesel up to 3.0 L; 12 V only
  • Per charge: Up to 20 jump starts
  • Safety: Spark-proof; reverse polarity protection
  • Power bank: USB out; up to 4 smartphone recharges (NOCO)
  • Recharge: About 3 hours at 2.1 A
  • Light: 100-lumen LED, 7 modes incl. SOS and strobe
  • Build: IP65 rated; about 2.4 lb
  • Warranty: 1-year (listing)

Check on Amazon

Snow and ice: Snow MOOver 39-inch snow brush

NHTSA lists a broom and an ice scraper (NHTSA). This one does both. It has a bristle head with a wide squeegee and a detachable ice scraper, on an aluminum pole that extends to 39 inches, long enough to reach the middle of windshields and car roofs, per its Amazon listing. It breaks down for storage. Smaller car? The Amazon Basics 26-inch brush and scraper is also sold by Amazon.com.

Full listing specs: Snow MOOver 39-inch
  • Length: 39 in. extended; 31 in. collapsed
  • Head: 11 in. wide; bristles one side, squeegee the other
  • Scraper: Detachable
  • Pole: Aluminum
  • Weight: 2 lb

Check on Amazon

Warmth: Primacare HB-10 Mylar blankets

Blankets are on every official list (NHTSA). A pack of thin Mylar blankets adds warmth without taking up trunk space. For the house, see our wool blanket picks. This pack has 10 blankets, each 84 x 52 inches, made of waterproof Mylar foil that reflects heat back toward your body, per the Amazon listing. Pack them in addition to real blankets and warm clothes, not instead of them.

Full listing specs: Primacare HB-10
  • Count: 10 blankets
  • Size: 84 x 52 in. each
  • Material: Mylar foil
  • Features: Waterproof; reflects heat

Check on Amazon

More winter prep: our winter storm checklist, hand warmer picks, power bank picks and cold-rated sleeping bags.

FAQ

What should be in a winter car emergency kit?

NHTSA lists a snow shovel, broom and ice scraper; sand or kitty litter; jumper cables, a flashlight and warning devices; a first aid kit; blankets; and a phone and charger, water, food and medicine. Ready.gov adds warm clothes and a full tank of gas.

Should you stay in your car if you get stranded in snow?

Yes, in most cases. The National Weather Service says to stay in the vehicle because you can get disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow. NHTSA also says to stay with your car and not overexert yourself.

How long can you run your car for heat when stranded?

The CDC says to run the motor and heater about 10 minutes per hour, with one window open slightly. Keep snow off the exhaust pipe to lower the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Is a jump starter better than jumper cables?

A jump starter works without a second car, which matters if you’re stuck alone. Jumper cables never need charging but do need another running vehicle. Carrying both covers either case.

Specs checked Oct 24, 2026, from NOCO’s GB40 page and the Amazon listings. Safety guidance from NHTSA, Ready.gov, the CDC and the National Weather Service. We haven’t hands-on tested this gear.

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