the exact winter car kit NHTSA recommends

pulled straight from NHTSA's own winter driving guide, not a blogger's expanded version of it. current as of Sep 2026, they do update this page.

01
Snow shovel
02
Broom
03
Ice scraper
get one with a brush attached, the $3 ones snap by January
04
Abrasive material (sand or kitty litter)
for traction if you're stuck, not for the windshield
05
Jumper cables
06
Flashlight
check the batteries in October, not the night you need it (learned this one late)
07
Warning devices (flares and emergency markers)
08
First aid kit, including a tourniquet
the tourniquet part surprised me too, it's on NHTSA's own list
09
Blankets
10
Cell phone and charger
a $12 battery pack lives in the glovebox now
11
Water
12
Food
protein bars, not the kind that melt against the seat
13
Any medicine you take regularly
do this first if you're driving anywhere rural this month

Or start a list of your own. Free, it takes a minute.