Important Travel Essentials You Need in Your Car

Travelling can be fun at times but also stressful most times, especially in Nigeria where you have checkpoints at many intervals during your journey. You don’t want to be stranded on the trip or not have documents needed at those checkpoints. So, here are some travel essentials you need to have in your car.

1. License and Registration

Look for your license and car registration documents even before you get in the car. Without these documents, you may not be able to go to your destination or even leave your city. Make certain that you keep:

• Make many copies of your original documents so that if you are required to submit a copy, you will have an extra copy on hand.
• Original and photocopies of your driver’s license
• The pollution certificate for your vehicle
• Copies of driver’s license and registration
• Copies of car insurance
• Any other forms of identification that you have for yourself

2. Emergency Kit

Another bad day preparation or more like precaution that is required before you hit the road is an emergency kit. Make sure your emergency kit is stocked with everything you’ll need for a safe and enjoyable journey. Items such as a warning triangle, whistle, tyre pressure gauge, window breaker, first-aid kit, and so on.

3. Flashlights

Going on a road trip means you’re aware that there will be occasions when you won’t have access to the resources you’ll require. Flashlights aren’t something you’d find in the middle of nowhere. If your car battery fails in the middle of the road, you’ll need to use a flashlight to get to help. Extras of them, as well as extra batteries, are vital for road journeys and must be included on your road trip packing list. Solar or auto-powered torches are preferable since they can last longer (in the case of the former) or are self-powered (like the latter).

4. Spare Tires

Just be prepared for a horrible day, even if you don’t have one. A spare tyre might help you save time and get to your destination without further delays. While travelling, keep the following items with you:

• Spare tire for your car
• Wheels Wedges
• Reflective triangles and flares
• Kit for repairing a flat tire
• Car Jack
• Tissue Paper/Wet Wipes

Wet wipes or tissues will be an easy solution for any spills that occur, as water might not be readily available when needed. Always keep a backup plan on hand.

5. Phone Charger

If you’re thinking about what to take along with you on your trip, include a phone charger on your list of car requirements. Almost every day of our life, we use a phone as a communication device as well as a navigation tool. If there are multiple people in the car, consider a multi-port charger so you don’t have to fight over who charges their phone.

6. First Aid Kit

Keep every available aid on hand. You never know what you’ll need at any given time. Keep all required medications, bandages, antiseptic creams, and solutions on hand. When it comes to road trip necessities, this is a must. Not only should you retain it, but you should also learn a little bit about first-aid so you know what to use when, when, and how.

7. Water Bottles

On a road trip, you may not have access to drinking water at every stop, so bring one or two water bottles with you and refill them whenever you do. It is critical to stay hydrated while travelling. This will also come in handy in case of an emergency, such as overheating, or when you need to refill your windshield washer fluid or clean up something.

8. Sunglasses

The sun might be brutal on the day you travel. Wear or keep sunglasses on hand. It will protect your eyes from UV radiation and make driving easier for you. The sun in your eyes is bad for your retinas and your voyage. These should definitely be added to the packing list for a road trip.

9. Trash Bags

Let us make the planet a better place by not littering the roadways. Keep a trash bag in your car, fill it with rubbish, then dispose of it when you discover a trash can. Throwing rubbish on the street will not make you a better person. These bags can also be useful if someone becomes vehicle sick and there isn’t enough time or space to pull over (although it is always best to not use plastic and instead throw it up in the soil where it can be absorbed into the earth).

If the garbage is organic, such as banana peels or other fruit or vegetable waste, it can be disposed of in areas with soil and vegetation. They will provide nutrients to the trees and plants. However, dumping other types of rubbish indiscriminately is bad. 

10. Cash

Money can literally buy you anything. Carry cash, credit cards, debit cards, and meal cards with you. Also, carry some cash on hand in case your cards don’t work — for example, in toll booths. There are some areas where cards may not be accepted, so keep cash on hand.