Winter on the North Shore means nor'easters, wind off the water along Lynn Shore Drive and Revere Beach, parking bans, and early dark. A breakdown that would be a small hassle in summer can turn into a long, cold wait in January. A simple winter kit in your trunk makes that wait safer and a lot more comfortable.
The essentials
These are the items we'd put in every car from November through March:
- Phone charger and a small power bank. Your phone is how you call for help and share your location. Keep the power bank charged.
- Warm layers. A hat, gloves, a heavy blanket or sleeping bag, and dry socks. If your car can't run, it gets cold fast.
- Ice scraper and snow brush. Clearing every window and the roof before driving isn't just polite; packed snow blowing off a roof is dangerous for the car behind you.
- Small shovel. A folding shovel can free a car from a snowbank or a plowed-in parking spot.
- Traction help. A bag of sand or non-clumping cat litter, or traction mats, helps when your tires spin on ice.
- Flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries. Early dark means many breakdowns happen at night.
- Reflective triangles. They make your car easier to see if you have to stop on the side of the road.
- Water and a few snacks. Granola bars or nuts keep for months.
- Basic first-aid kit.
Good to have
- Jumper cables or a portable jump starter, if you know how to use them safely. Cold mornings are hard on weak batteries.
- Windshield washer fluid rated for winter. Salt spray on the roads empties the tank fast.
- Tire pressure gauge. Tire pressure drops when the temperature falls, and the warning light often comes on on cold mornings.
- A bright cloth or flag to tie to the antenna or door if you're stuck in snow.
- Paper towels and a small trash bag.
Check your spare before you need it
Many drivers find out their spare is flat or missing at the worst possible moment. Before winter, find out where your spare is (trunk floor, under the car on many SUVs and pickups, or not there at all on some newer cars that only include an inflator kit). Check its pressure, and make sure the jack and lug wrench are there. If your wheels have locking lug nuts, find the key and keep it in the glove box.
Keep your tank half full
Keeping at least half a tank of gas in winter gives you a buffer if you get stuck in traffic during a storm, and it means you can run the engine for heat if you're waiting. If you do run the engine while stuck in snow, make sure the tailpipe is clear of snow so exhaust can't build up inside the car, and crack a window slightly.
What you can skip
You don't need a huge emergency bag that takes over your trunk. Skip anything that can freeze and burst (like large bottles of plain water in a full trunk for months; small bottles are fine) and anything flammable like spare gas cans. Never carry gasoline in an unapproved container inside your car.
Before a storm
When a storm is in the forecast:
- Charge your phone and power bank.
- Fill up the tank.
- Check the city or town's snow emergency and parking ban announcements so your car isn't towed from the street.
- Move your car off the street if a ban is coming and you have somewhere to park.
If you get stuck anyway
Stay with your car if it's safe, keep your hazard lights on, and call for help with your exact location. If it's a tire, a dead battery or an empty tank, we may be able to help right where you are. See our roadside assistance page. If the car can't be driven, we'll tow it where you need it.
Lyly Towing is based in Lynn and serves nearby North Shore towns. Call (833) 630-3011 or send a request.
