What should I keep in my car trunk ?

Do I need to legally carry my driving licence?

Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to legally carry your driving licence with you when you are driving. However, it is strongly recommended.

A Police Officer can ask to see your licence at any time and if you do not produce it immediately, then you will have to produce it at a Police Station within 7 days. If you don’t, then it’s an offence and you will be prosecuted. So, while it’s not illegal, it’s highly recommended. Most people have their licence with them in their wallet or purse anyway. However, if you lose your licence then it needs to be replaced straight away.

What should I do if I lose my driving licence?

If you have lost your licence, or it has been stolen or damaged, then you need to get it replaced immediately.

But don’t worry, getting it replaced is pretty straightforward. You can do it online with the DVLA. If you go here, you will be able to do it. You will have to do this as soon as possible. As we said above, you will only have 7 days to produce your licence if you are asked and it can take longer for your new licence to be delivered.

When Is It Time to Buy Another Car?

Here are a few scenarios in which we’d opt for buying another vehicle:

• The repairs are becoming more frequent, and the costs are hard to keep up with.
• The car leaves you stranded often, putting you in a potentially dangerous situation or making you late to work.
• The repair in question will cost more than half the value of the vehicle.
• You had already planned on getting something new, but your mechanic clues you in on an impending major repair on your old car. Hold off and let the next owner handle it. Just be upfront about it when it comes time to sell.

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Warning Triangle

Approximate cost: $22

Many warning triangles have LED lights, which is a nice feature, but it’s best to pick one that also has reflective material, which is key if the batteries run out.

There are cheaper versions of reflective triangles, but they tend to be made out of floppy plastic and don’t stand up well. Look for one that fits in a sleeve and has a rugged stand to help it stand upright even when heavy trucks go by.

Buy a solid warning triangle and it will literally last forever. Your writer has one that was in the back of his father’s 1967 Chevrolet Impala as far back as he can remember. It’s currently under the seat, and has probably been out of the sleeve three times since the Johnson administration, but it proved its mettle every time.

3. A roll of silver 3M all-weather duct tape to make sure broken things (like a side-view mirror) stay good and stuck on until you can properly repair them

Flashlight

Approximate cost: $6

We’re truly in the golden age of flashlight technology. If you wanted a decent flashlight years ago, you had to carry something the size of a nightstick that weighed about 42 pounds thanks to the four to six D-cell batteries in it.

Today, you can get a decent quality LED flashlight that’s either rechargeable or runs on AA or AAA batteries for about $5 from Amazon, Harbor Freight, or any number of discount providers. Chances are pretty good you’ve gotten one for free in the last few years. We recommend one that’s cheap and small and has an array of bright LEDs plus a magnet: That will take a lot of responsibility off your 10-year-old son.

Many these days run on AAs, which we like for an emergency light, because you can also stash a pack of spare batteries in your emergency kit rather than having to rely on 12-volt power to support your charger.

23. A 100-piece first aid kit packed with bandages, butterfly closures, gauze pads, ointments, examination gloves, an instant cold compress and more for any emergencies that don’t (hopefully) require a trip to the emergency room

Garbage Cans

We are not talking about the usual metallic or plastic garbage can. The ones made for cars are typically made of firm, tough fabric that can expand when needed and collapse if not. Car waste bags are more useful for long travels since passengers need to consume food and drinks on the road. To ensure that you will never forget to bring it in your travels, just store the garbage bag inside your car.

Drive Auto Products Car Garbage Can is a bestseller due to its smart design. It can securely hold liners for easier disposal. It is also waterproof and odor-proof.

View Price on Amazon

Portable DVD Players

Entertainment seems superficial to be considered as an essential concept, but you will definitely find it useful when you travel. Despite the emergence of new gadgets, many people still prefer to use DVD players. Video streaming is cool and all, but it can be useless if you are not connected online. Meanwhile, softcopies are also easy to use. Luckily, most portable DVD players are already compatible with different file types. DBPOWER Portable DVD Player is a swivel and flip type, perfect for headrest mounts. It is ready for long travels because of its rechargeable battery. It is also versatile since it has an SD card slot and a USB port.

View Price on Amazon

Today: The Current Situation

In November, I moved back to San Francisco, because I couldn’t stand the long commute. Commuting through city traffic is tiring and psychologically draining; I quickly remembered why I dislike driving so much. In contrast, San Francisco is a hub of public transportation options — sometimes better or worse, depending on the neighborhood that you live in.

I now live eight miles from my job in Sausalito. The drive takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on traffic. Parking at my job is easy, but parking in San Francisco is a nightmare — it can take up to 40 minutes to find a parking spot. I have the option of purchasing a parking spot, but those cost upwards of $300 in a city like San Francisco, and I can’t stomach how much I’m already spending on the car alone.

I now have alterative means for getting to work. For example, I can bike to work a few days per week, depending on the day and the weather. There’s also a bus line that goes to and from my work on the hour, and takes about 30-40 minutes to get to work (it doubles my commute time, but I don’t have to worry about parking, driving, or concentrating on the road).

What safety equipment should I legally carry in my car?

Unlike France, we do not have any laws that require you to carry certain equipment in your car. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t. Being prepared in the event of an accident or a break-down is invaluable. While you hopefully will never need to use it, you’ll be glad you were prepared in the event you do.

So, no laws that require you to carry any equipment with you. However, you should have a few things in the event of an emergency. We recommend things such as;

• A high visibility jacket
• A hazard triangle
• Spare tyre/jack
• First aid kit
• Mobile phone and charger
  • One of those old phones that have a long battery life will do, our smartphones aren’t built to last a break-down

• Water
• Waterproofs
• A road map
• Details of your breakdown cover and insurance company details
• A blanket
• Non-perishable food
  • Things such as crisps or cereal bars
• A torch
  • Preferably wind up unless you want to keep spare batteries in your car as well

So those are a few of the things we recommend you keep in your car. We definitely recommend stocking your car up if you are doing a long journey or during the colder months. While you don’t have to have everything in your car all the time, having the essentials could prove invaluable.

Arguments for Fixing Up

Buying a new car may not be right for you, for budgetary or other reasons. Here are a few examples of why it might be a good idea to get the repairs done.

• It is almost always less expensive to repair a car than buy a new one.
• Although something as severe as a blown motor or a failed transmission will run you between $3,000 and $7,000 to replace at a dealership, such repairs still don’t cost as much as buying a new car. That $3,000 or $7,000 would certainly make a nice down payment, but then there are the monthly payments to consider. You can perhaps purchase a used car for that much, but just keep in mind that another used car could come with its own set of issues.
• Insurance and registration fees will be higher on a new car.
• A new car typically loses an estimated 22 percent of its value in the first year. Your car has already taken that depreciation hit.
• You really need the car to last a while longer. Let’s say you were planning on getting a new car in a year or two, but it broke down earlier than expected. Repairing it now will help you stay on the road and keep you from making a hasty new car purchase. It will also give you more time to save up and get your finances in order.
• You have a sentimental attachment to your car. Maybe it was your first car, a gift from a loved one, or a dream car you finally were able to purchase. For you, buying a new car would mean giving up an old friend. This is not the strongest argument for fixing it up, but it’s a real one.

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