The Edit — Road Trips
Winter Car Emergency Kit: What NHTSA Says to Carry
NHTSA publishes a specific winter carry list, from kitty litter to a tourniquet. Here it is item by item, with the one upgrade worth making: a jump starter that doesn't need a second car.
This guide is research-led: we have not handled these units ourselves. If you buy through our links we may earn a commission — it never changes a pick. How we choose
Nothing here was used or tested. The list is NHTSA’s own, read on 19 September 2026, and the 1 product shown is ranked as How we choose describes.
NOCO Boost GB40 1000A Lithium Jump Starter
Good fit You often drive alone or on empty roads
Not for You will not remember to charge it every few months
Snow and sleet cause tens of thousands of crashes a year
NHTSA counts 320 fatal crashes and an estimated 22,293 injury crashes in 2023 with snow or sleet falling at the time. Its advice starts with preparation, and the carry list below is the part you can buy.
NHTSA’s carry list, item by item
| Item | Why NHTSA lists it |
|---|---|
| Snow shovel, broom, ice scraper | Digging out and clearing every window |
| Sand or kitty litter | Grip under the drive wheels when stuck |
| Jumper cables | A battery flattened by the cold |
| Flashlight, flares, emergency markers | Being seen, and seeing |
| First aid kit, including a tourniquet | Injuries before help arrives |
| Blankets | Warmth without running the engine |
| Phone and charger, water, food, medicine | Waiting it out |
Most of it is cheap and lives in the trunk all winter. A snow brush and ice scraper, a folding car snow shovel and a bag of cat litter cover the first 2 rows.
A jump starter replaces the cables and the second car
Jumper cables need a second car and a willing driver. NHTSA notes that cold weather cuts battery power while gas and diesel engines need more of it to start, which is why a flat battery is one of AAA’s 3 most common holiday calls.
A portable jump starter does the job alone. The number to buy by is the engine size the maker rates it for, not the peak amps, as what peak amps measures explains.
NOCO Boost GB40 1000A Lithium Jump Starter
Starts gas engines to 6.0 litres and diesels to 3.0 by NOCO's rating, with no second car and no stranger needed.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Maker's engine rating | 6.0L gas, 3.0L diesel |
|---|---|
| Replaces | Jumper cables |
| Also | USB power bank, light |
4.6 across 129,470 ratings, and owners of the NOCO Boost GB40 find it far easier than jumper cables and small enough to live in the car. NOCO rates it for gas engines up to 6.0 litres and diesels up to 3.0, and it charges a phone as a USB power bank.
Battery life is where the reports split, so charge it when the rest of the kit goes in, and check it again before a long drive. The full jump starter comparison covers larger engines.
Buy it if
- You often drive alone or on empty roads
Don't buy it if
- You will not remember to charge it every few months
Check the tires cold, against the door label
Tire pressure falls as the temperature drops. NHTSA says to fill each tire to the pressure on the label on the driver’s side door frame, not the number on the tire, which is the maximum it can hold.
Check them cold, meaning not driven for at least 3 hours, and at least once a month. Tread should be at least 2/32 of an inch, and some vehicle makers recommend replacing tires every 6 years whatever their wear.
If you are stuck, stay with the car
NHTSA’s advice for a stalled or stranded car is to stay with it and not overexert yourself. Put bright markers on the antenna or windows and keep the dome light on so you can be seen.
Carbon monoxide is the hidden danger. Clear snow from the exhaust pipe, and run the engine only long enough to stay warm, never for long periods with the windows up.
Keep the tank close to full, and in an electric or hybrid car keep the battery charged and plugged in overnight where you can. Then check the busiest Thanksgiving travel days and leave outside them if you can.