The Best Roadside Emergency Kits You Can Buy

Look, we get it. It’s 2023: you carry a smartphone with you at all times, and you probably have both an AAA membership and the app. In most situations, those will be the most important tools in your arsenal in getting you out of whatever roadside jam you find yourself in.

But it’s always a good idea to have a backup plan — especially if you’re planning a long highway drive, leaving the pavement, encounter inclement weather frequently or don’t want to entrust matters to your not-so-reliable cell service provider. In other words, you should have a roadside emergency kit.

In a perfect world, money wouldn’t be an issue, and you’d have ample time to research the best jumper cables, best portable jump starter, best tire repair kit, best portable air compressor, best portable shovel and so forth to build out your own optimal roadside emergency kit. But most of us, well, have other things to do — so an alternative for many car owners is a simple pre-assembled roadside assistance kit that you toss in the trunk and hope you never need.

What do you need in your roadside emergency kit?

What the ideal roadside emergency kit will look like will depend on your circumstances — especially if you’re going overlanding. No pre-assembled kit will have everything you need. But here are some items you should look for.

• Emergency Blanket: Your first priority in a cold weather emergency — be it in winter or at night — is to stay warm.
• First Aid Kit: You’re not a doctor. But you want to be prepared for as many minor medical issues as you can with gauze, bandages aspirin, antibiotic ointment and other items. If you’re going overlanding, you’ll want a more robust first aid kit that can transition to the campsite.
• Flashlight: You’ll need light at night. And you don’t want to drain your phone battery to provide it. Having a flashlight in your kit is great. Having extra batteries for it is even better.
• Gloves: You’re only as useful in an emergency situation as your hands. Whether you’re changing a tire or shoveling snow, gloves keep your hands warm, comfortable and clean.
• Jumper cables: Every kit should be prepped for restarting a dead battery. Look for UL certification, which ensures the highest safety and reliability standards.
• Safety Gear: Flares, strobe lights, reflective triangles, vests, anything to make you more visible to first responders and alert other motorists to your presence.
• Shovel: An essential if you’re going overlanding, live in a winter climate or will encounter cold weather.
• Tools: You don’t know what’s going to go wrong. But having a basic set of tools can come in handy in a myriad of situations, even if it’s just chipping ice and snow off your tires.

Amazon

The Best Roadside Emergency Kit

Haiphaik Emergency Roadside Toolkit

• $50.00 at Amazon
  $80.00 (38% off)

This affordable package provides the basics you’ll need in an emergency. The jumper cables are UL-certified for safety and reliability. It includes an extensive tool set with a durable case, tow straps and a shovel. But you’ll still need a supplementary first aid kit and probably want an emergency blanket as well.

Amazon

The Best Upgrade Roadside Emergency Kit

Lifeline AAA Excursion Road Kit

• $88.00 at Amazon

Lifeline is the exclusive manufacturer of AAA-branded kits. This is their top-of-the-line 76-piece kit, which includes both medical and roadside essentials, as well as a portable air compressor. Though it is pricier than other options and it does not come with helpful accessories for cold weather.

Amazon

Best Budget Roadside Emergency Kit

Always Prepared 62-Piece Roadside Emergency Assistance Kit

• $40.00 at Amazon

This compact Always Prepared kit is pared down to the essentials with jumper cables, roadside visibility gear and basic first aid equipment. Helpfully, it includes an emergency blanket and high-visibility vest. Though it lacks a pair of gloves and a shovel.

Amazon

Best Roadside Emergency Kit for First Aid

Swiss Safe 2-in-1 Emergency Roadside Car Assistance

• $110.00 at Amazon

This isn’t the most compact emergency roadside kit option, but Swiss Safe’s 2-in-1 sets you up with a solid basic toolset with jumper cables and a premium 348-piece first aid kit for less than $50. But you will need to add your own flashlight, and it does not include a shovel.

Amazon

Best Roadside Emergency Kit for a Flat Tire

First Secure Emergency Roadside Kit

• $90.00 at Amazon
  $99.00 (9% off)

First Secure’s 90-piece roadside assistance kit focuses on providing high-quality, essential tools for roadside emergencies. It’s prepared for a flat tire incident with both an air compressor and a tire repair kit. It also includes a tow strap and work gloves. But there is no shovel.

Amazon

Best Roadside Emergency Kit for Fixing Your Car

Blikzone 82-Piece Auto Roadside Assistance Emergency Essentials Digital Car Kit

• $146.00 at Amazon

Here’s another solid but pricier roadside emergency kit option from Blikzone. It includes an air compressor with a digital gauge reader, a tire repair kit and an automotive circuit tester with backup fuses. But it is pricier than other kits on this list, and that expenditure won’t relieve you from having to buy a separate first aid kit.

Amazon

Lianxin Roadside Assistance Emergency Kit

• $40.00 at Amazon
  $51.00 (22% off)

This 142-piece kit from Lianxin is another compact, portable kit featuring a wide range of roadside recovery essentials. It has an extensive tool set with its own case and emergency window-breaking tools. The jumper cables are UL-certified for safety and reliability. But you will need to supplement with a first aid kit and a shovel.

Amazon

Best roadside emergency kit for Jeremy Clarkson fans

Top Gear Premium Roadside Assistance Kit

• $28.00 at Amazon
  $48.00 (41% off)

This “Top Gear” branded roadside assistance kit includes most of the basics you would need, including some first aid materials, two 12-hour light sticks and an emergency blanket. But there is no shovel if you get into an off-road or snow-related incident.

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