Most of us have accumulated a few things in the boot over the years, but some car accessories genuinely earn their place. They don’t need Bluetooth, an app or a flashing display – they just need to be useful when something goes wrong.
Here are five inexpensive additions we’d recommend keeping in your car.
1. A Rechargeable Jump Starter
Traditional jump leads are useful – provided another vehicle is available. A compact lithium jump starter lets you start a flat battery without needing anybody else’s car.
Modern versions are small enough to live in the glovebox or boot and often double as a USB power bank and emergency torch.
Just remember to check its charge periodically. Finding your emergency battery is also flat rather defeats the object.
2. A Portable Tyre Inflator
Tyre pressures affect handling, braking, tyre wear and fuel economy, yet they’re one of the easiest maintenance checks to neglect.
A compact 12V or rechargeable tyre inflator means you can check and correct pressures at home rather than hunting for a working forecourt air machine. Many allow you to enter the required pressure and automatically stop when it’s reached.
You’ll find the manufacturer’s recommended pressures in your handbook or, on most cars, on a label inside the driver’s door area or fuel flap.
3. A Proper Rechargeable Torch
Yes, your phone has a torch. But when you’re inspecting a tyre on a dark country road, looking under a seat for something you’ve dropped or dealing with a breakdown on a winter evening, you’ll appreciate having a proper one.
A rechargeable LED torch with a magnetic base is particularly useful because it can be attached to metalwork while leaving both hands free.
Keep it somewhere accessible – not underneath everything else in the boot.
4. A High-Visibility Vest
It’s neither glamorous nor particularly high-tech, but this could be the most important item on the list.
If you have to leave your vehicle following a breakdown, being clearly visible to other road users matters enormously, particularly at night or in poor weather.
Keep a high-visibility vest inside the passenger compartment, where you can put it on before getting out, rather than underneath the luggage in your boot.
A warning triangle is another sensible addition for breakdowns on suitable roads – but remember that you should never attempt to place one on a motorway carriageway.
5. A Windscreen Emergency Tool
Hopefully you’ll never use this one.
A small emergency escape tool combines a toughened-glass breaker with a concealed blade designed to cut a seat belt if its release mechanism becomes inaccessible following a collision.
Some are designed to attach securely within reach of the driver’s seat, which makes far more sense than keeping one buried in the boot.
It’s the sort of accessory you can own for years and never touch – and that’s exactly what you hope will happen.
One More Thing: Your Phone Charger
We’re cheating slightly by making it six.
A charging cable and reliable in-car USB adaptor are worth leaving permanently in the vehicle. Your phone isn’t just entertainment: in an emergency it can provide navigation, your exact location, breakdown-cover information and, most importantly, a means of calling for help.
Accessories Help – Maintenance Matters More
Useful accessories can make driving more convenient and help when something unexpected happens, but they aren’t a substitute for keeping your vehicle properly maintained.
Regularly checking your tyres, lights and fluid levels – and dealing with warning lights or unusual noises before they develop into bigger problems – is still the best way to avoid finding yourself at the roadside.
At JLE Autos in Gloucester, we provide servicing, maintenance, diagnostics and repairs for all makes and models. If something doesn’t seem quite right with your car, bring it in and let us take a look.
A few useful things in the boot are a great idea. A well-maintained car is even better.
