Winter Car Emergency Kit Checklist for Families (US and Canada)
A winter car emergency kit is not only jumper cables and an ice scraper. For families it is the bag that makes a few stranded hours with kids — or a pet in the back seat — manageable: warmth, water, snacks, a flashlight and a calm plan if the road closes.
Also packing a bag in case you need to leave home? Start with our free one-page 72-hour go-bag checklist.
Why Families Need a Winter Car Kit
Ready.gov's car safety page asks you to keep automobile extras in the vehicle in case you are stranded. Its #WinterReady guidance adds that winter travel has unique risks and that every vehicle should carry an emergency supply kit in the trunk. The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) and Get Prepared Canada's emergency car kit list say the same thing in Canadian terms: build the kit before the storm, not during it.
For parents the difference is time with dependents. A stalled car is harder with a diaper change, a snack or a familiar blanket in play. A kit in the trunk — and a fill-in checklist in a Family Guard binder ($39) — keeps that list short and ready.
Winter Car Emergency Kit Checklist
Merge the Ready.gov car extras with CAA and Get Prepared Canada lists. Keep items in a tote or bin you can grab from the trunk without unpacking everything.
- Jumper cables or a portable jump starter — only if someone present knows how to use them
- Flares, reflective safety triangles or a warning light
- Ice scraper and snow brush
- Cell phone car charger and a charged power bank
- Warm blanket (and a second if kids or pets ride often)
- Paper map of your usual region (phones fail; maps do not need a signal)
- Sand, kitty litter (non-clumping) or other abrasive traction aid (CAA notes road salt in the trunk can encourage rust)
- Small shovel with a long handle
- Flashlight (CAA prefers crank-type in extreme cold) plus spare batteries in the package
- Small first-aid kit (Get Prepared Canada pairs it with a seatbelt cutter)
- Bottled water in plastic bottles that will not shatter if frozen (rotate on a schedule)
- Non-perishable snacks such as granola or energy bars
- Extra socks, gloves, hat, warm layer, and hand or foot warmers
- Extra windshield washer fluid and gas-line antifreeze where your climate needs them
- Lock de-icer (CAA: keep it with you in extreme cold, not only in the locked car)
- Small tool kit, paper towels, extra fuses and a whistle
- Short emergency contacts card and a little cash
Transport Canada's winter trip planning page also lists traction mats, a fire extinguisher and an emergency seat-belt cutter and window hammer. Add what fits your routes; skip tools you will never practice using.
Buy in stages. The Family Guard binder has shopping lists by budget ($50 / $200 / $500) so you can cover warmth, light, water and first aid first, then add traction and tools over a few paychecks.
Extras for Kids and Families
Official lists cover adults well. Families still need a short add-on for riders who cannot wait calmly for a tow.
- Diapers, wipes and a spare outfit for the youngest rider
- Kid-friendly snacks and formula or baby food if you use them on the road
- A comfort item and a screen-free activity (board book, cards or stickers) that live in the kit
- Paper contacts card with parent names, phones and an out-of-area relative
- Extra child layers: hat, mittens and dry socks in a zip bag
Tell school-age kids that if you pull over and wait, staying in the car is the plan unless you say otherwise. Pocket cards and a short kids script sit ready-made in a family emergency binder.
Pets Who Ride Often
If a dog or cat regularly rides with you, assume they are there when you get stuck.
- Leash or carrier (listed on the Family Guard car-kit page)
- Small portion of pet food, a collapsible bowl and extra water for the animal
- A familiar towel or bed
Do not leave pets alone in a running or closed vehicle as a heat or carbon monoxide (CO) workaround. Treat them as passengers under the same fresh-air rules.
Sample Pages From the Family Guard Binder
A preview of two pages from our 38-page binder shows the car-kit fill-in and the cold-weather seasonal swap. The complete pages are ready to fill in when you get your copy.
If You Get Stuck or Stranded
The National Weather Service (NWS winter storm safety page) is direct: if your car gets stuck, stay in the vehicle. Leaving can leave you disoriented in wind-driven snow. The same page notes that more than 5,000 fatalities occur on the roadways each year due to weather conditions — a reminder to slow down and prepare before you leave.
- Stay in the vehicle unless a clearly safer building is a short, visible walk away.
- Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat (Ready.gov #WinterReady and NWS).
- Crack a window for fresh air so carbon monoxide (CO) does not build up; clear snow from the exhaust pipe.
- Be visible: dome light at night when the engine runs; a bright cloth (preferably red) on the antenna or door; after snow stops, raise the hood.
- If you skid, ease off the gas and steer where you want the front to go. With an anti-lock braking system (ABS), apply steady pressure — do not pump the brakes.
Transport Canada matches the spirit: stay inside when safer than the storm, keep the tailpipe clear, crack a window, set out triangles or flares, use the dome light rather than draining headlights, move arms and legs often and stay awake. Prefer warmers over continuous heater use when fuel is limited.
Before You Leave: Vehicle Prep
A kit cannot fix worn tires or an empty tank. Ready.gov's car page and #WinterReady travel tips give a short checklist:
- Have a mechanic check antifreeze, battery and ignition, brakes, exhaust, filters, heater and defroster, lights, oil, thermostat, and wipers and washer fluid.
- Keep the tank as full as you reasonably can (Ready.gov: helps keep the fuel line from freezing). Transport Canada suggests at least half full; for electric vehicles, allow extra range in the cold.
- Install good winter tires with enough tread, or any chains or studs your area requires.
- Clear ice and snow from the whole vehicle — NWS notes flying snow from cars causes accidents.
- Tell someone your route and arrival time; disable cruise control on icy or snowy roads; postpone non-essential trips in poor conditions.
Go-Bag vs Car Kit vs Home Kit
These kits answer different questions. The work mini-kit gets you to the car or through a walk home. The car kit covers a few stranded hours or a detour. The go-bag covers about three days away from home. The home kit covers staying put. That is how page 16 of the Family Guard binder ties them together.
Use the free 72-hour go-bag checklist or the full list on the Family Guard homepage for the bag you would grab if you leave the house. Pair this with a winter power outage checklist when ice storms hit roads and power together. For the wider plan, see what to put in a family emergency binder.
The Family Guard binder ($39) already includes the car-kit fill-in, seasonal swap log, shopping lists by budget and pocket cards — so you note where the kit lives and who checks it when the clocks change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should Be in a Winter Car Emergency Kit?
Combine Ready.gov car extras (jumper cables, flares or reflective triangle, ice scraper, blanket, map, sand or cat litter) with Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) and Get Prepared Canada items such as a flashlight, first-aid kit, shovel, warm layers, water, snacks, booster cables and traction aids. Add family extras: diapers or wipes, kid snacks, a comfort item, a paper contacts card, and a leash or carrier if pets ride often.
What Should You Do If Your Car Gets Stuck in a Winter Storm?
The National Weather Service (NWS) says stay in the vehicle unless safe shelter is nearby. Run the engine about 10 minutes each hour for heat, clear snow from the exhaust pipe, crack a window for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and make yourself visible with a dome light, bright cloth on the antenna or door, and — after snow stops — a raised hood. Transport Canada gives similar guidance: stay inside when it is safer than walking into the storm.
Should You Keep a Separate Car Kit From Your Go-Bag?
Yes. A car kit covers a few stranded hours or a detour. A 72-hour go-bag covers three days away from home. A home kit covers staying put. Keep the car kit in the trunk year-round and swap cold-weather additions each fall. Do not store medications in a hot or freezing car unless the label allows it.
How Often Should You Check Your Winter Car Kit?
Ready.gov #WinterReady says every vehicle should have an emergency supply kit in the trunk, checked about every six months, with expired items replaced. When the clocks change is a practical reminder: rotate water and snacks, test the flashlight, refresh washer fluid and check that kids' clothes still fit.
Official Guidance Used on This Page
- Car Safety, Ready.gov (United States Federal Emergency Management Agency)
- #WinterReady, Ready.gov
- What To Do If You're Caught in a Winter Storm, National Weather Service
- Emergency Kit, Canadian Automobile Association (CAA)
- Planning Your Trip (Winter Driving), Transport Canada
- Emergency Car Kit, Get Prepared Canada
This page is general household guidance. Follow instructions from your local emergency officials first.
More family emergency planning articles · What to put in a family emergency binder · Winter power outage checklist