Getting stranded at night, whether it is due something minor like a flat tire or something more major like a car accident is never fun. It is even less fun if you are not properly prepared. So if you do not have an emergency kit of some sort in your car right now you should consider keeping the following things in your car.

• Spare Tire and a Jack – The most common reason for getting stranded at night is a flat tire. So, you will definitely want to make sure you have a spare tire and a jack. It is also important that you actually know how to change a tire.
• Jumper Cables – If your car stops running and you cannot get the car to start you may have a battery that is dead. In order to fix that problem you need a set of jumper cables, and you need to know how to use them.
• Flares – If you have to pull your car over the side of the road, for any reason, at night you will want flares to alert cars that you are there. At night, even your hazards may be hard to see, so using flares is a really good idea.
• Water and Non-perishable Snacks – In most cases if something does happen to your car you will be able to call someone, be it a family member, or a tow truck to come get you. However, if you get stranded in a rural area that you are not familiar with and that doesn’t get cell service, you might be sitting there a while. That is why it is always a good idea to have some water and snacks in your emergency kit.
• Blanket – Even if you do not live in a part of the country that gets super cold, at night many places get cold and if you are stranded somewhere you will want a way to keep warm. Plus believe it or not it will come in handy may other times, especially if you have children. If they get wet somewhere and you were not prepared for that. Or if you go to a sporting event and forget the chairs.
• First Aid Kit – Should you end up in a minor car accident, you, your passengers, or the other driver could end up with some minor cuts and scrapes. Having a first aid kit is handy to have.
• Flashlight – Although most of us has flashlights on our phones now, the last thing you want to do is use up the battery on your phone if you get stranded. You may need that battery to allow them to locate you or to make a call to get you the help you need to get back on the road.

It is not a pleasant experience to get a flat tire or get into a car accident, but it is even worse to get stranded at night. To make the experience go as smoothly as possible you will want to equip your car with an emergency kit to help you get yourself back on the road, or survive until help can get to you.