What to keep in your car emergency kit (and what to skip)

Jump leads only help if another car stops. A lithium jump starter removes that dependency and doubles as a power bank. Size it to your engine: roughly 400–600A peak for a small petrol car, 1000A+ for a diesel or a large truck engine.

Charge it twice a year. A jump starter left in a hot or freezing boot for three years is a paperweight — put a reminder in your calendar the day you buy it.

A 12V compressor and an accurate gauge fix the slow puncture that would otherwise become a roadside stop, and they let you correct pressures before a long loaded drive, which measurably affects fuel use and handling.

Carry sealant only as a get-home measure, and know that using it can complicate a proper repair. If your car has no spare, confirm the jack and the locking wheel nut key are actually in the car — they frequently are not.

A high-visibility vest kept in the cabin rather than the boot, a warning triangle, and a headtorch cover the standing-at-the-roadside scenario. Reaching into the boot on the traffic side to fetch your vest is the part people get wrong.

A hands-free light beats a phone torch for any repair. Phones are also your route to help, so protect their battery.

Recovery in bad weather can take hours. A packable blanket, a litre of water and something to eat turns an unpleasant wait into a boring one. In winter, add gloves and a hat — you may need to work outside the car.

Skip the novelty extras. Multi-tool gadgets that promise a window breaker, torch, compass and radio in one usually do all four badly; carry a proper seatbelt cutter and window punch instead if you want one.