Planning For The Road

Whenever you’re setting off for a journey, it’s important to consider what might happen if something goes wrong. While we all hope to make it from A to B without any issues, you never know when you might get stuck in a traffic jam and end up out for longer than you’d anticipated. That’s why an emergency car kit is essential.

We show you the six essential items to have in yours.

THE SIX ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR EMERGENCY CAR KIT

Spare Tyre With Working Car Jack And Wheel Brace

It goes without saying ensuring that these three are in your car and in working order is a priority for all car owners.

Jump leads

A good neighbour is one that will help you jump start your car but make sure you at least have the jumper cables or leads already. A basic set of cables should set you back anywhere between €15 to €30 on most websites.

Multi-Tool

Some of the issues you might come across if you were to break down can be solved via the use of a good multi-tool. There are plenty available on the market but a list of the best multitools from OutdoorGearLab may help you find a good one for you.

Reflective Triangle / High Vis Jacket

If your car were to encounter an issue on the open road, that required you to pull over and exit the car for a period, then ensuring your safety should be paramount. Having a simple reflective triangle and high vis jacket in your car can mean that you are secure if you have to do any repairs on the side of the road.

USB Phone Charger

We all live on our phones which means that if we have to stay in our cars for a long period of time then the power level will start decreasing very quickly. A simple to use USB charger which is fully charged can last you anywhere from three to six hours. This means that you should have enough battery to keep playing Candy Crush or Pet Rescue while waiting for rescue.

A quick tip is to avoid trying to connect to the internet if your signal is weak as this drains your battery.

Food

We're not suggesting that you are going to be stuck with your car for a long time but just in case you are feeling peckish it is always a good idea to have additional food in your car while going on a car journey.

Something simple and non-perishable is always a good idea. Nuts, chocolate or energy bars are a great source of sustenance for any weary driver.

BONUS - Water

Although the chances of you encountering a severe drought in Ireland is minimal it is always wise to keep a bottle of water in your car if possible.

Breakdown Assist

Some insurers offer this as an add on. Make sure when you are taking out your cover that you check if this is an option along with windscreen protection.

Having any of the above in your car if you were to encounter a problem means that you will be fully prepared for anything you might face from a puncture or an ill-timed breakdown.

If you want to speak to a member of our team about your car insurance options, such as additional breakdown assist or windscreen replacement, we'd love to hear from you on 01 4003400.