Trunk space, center consoles, door storage, seat pockets; Today’s cars come with a plethora of compartment storage, but the glove box is often under utilized. It’s a safe, easy-to-access place for crucial items, and almost every car has one. Even the best of us are sometimes guilty of littering our glove boxes with unnecessary items like CDs or cosmetics, but if an emergency strikes, this little temperature controlled cubby, should be a crisis command center and ready for action. Be prepared and consider the following things to keep on hand.

Registration – The safest place for your registration is in your glove box. Some might carry it in their wallets afraid if their car is stolen, but my argument to that is what if you lose your wallet? The odds of losing or forgetting your wallet, are greater than having your car stolen. You can always make a copy for your wallet. 

Insurance Card – A lot of insurance companies have gone digital and provide an app for your phone with the information, but when you need it, the last the thing you want to do is scramble through your phone when you need your information. Keep a paper copy just in case.

ICE – AAA recommends keeping an ICE – in case of an emergency – card, filled out with your emergency contacts and any pertinent medical information like medications, allergies, and blood type. You can download a free ICE card here.

You can keep the first three items in a plastic bag, held together by a paper clip. This will keep them all together for convenient access.

Pen & Paper – When is having a pen not handy? From writing an address, phone number,  directions, or to exchanging insurance information, a pen is never a waste of space. Store a little note pad too.

Owner’s Manual –  Wondering what all those weird symbols mean on your dashboard? Your owner’s manual will explain what each symbol means, but may not help you diagnose the problem. If you see an unfamiliar light illuminate on your dashboard, bring your car into Osceola Garage for an onboard diagnostics check, and we’ll be able to tell if it was just a faulty sensor or how to correct the problem.

Tire Pressure Gauge –  Check your tires regularly. If you read our post a couple weeks ago, you know how important tire pressure is and why you should check it regularly.Here it is in case you missed it. Save yourself a headache and opt for a non-digital tire gauge.  Stop by our Car Care Center for a routine service, and we’ll check your tires for free. 

Extra Fuses –  You can’t predict when a light will go out or fuse will blow. Stock a few extra fuses in your glove box and avoid a ticket or worse. Not sure how to change a fuse, bring your car in and we can show where the common fuses are located. We also hold several car care clinics to educate our community on a variety of topics throughout the year, make sure you don’t miss the next one.

Wheel Lock Key  – If your tires are equipped with wheel locks, you won’t be able to change a flat tire without the wheel-lock key. Keep the key in the glove box, and you’ll always know where it is.

Hand Sanitizer – From changing a tire to sticky gas pumps, short of carrying around a water jug and hand soap, this is the next best option to cleaning your hands from whatever mess life throws your way.

Glove compartments are great places to stash stuff on the go and should hold more than your vehicle’s title and registration, but no so much, that when opened, items pop out and you can’t find what you need in a hurry. If you have the above essentials neatly tucked in and find a little extra room, feel free to stow away some extra essentials like some napkins, chapstick, and even a spare hair tie.