How to Make Your Car Bug-Out Ready

Summary 

Your car could become your lifeline in an emergency. From essential gear to grab-and-go kits, this guide shows you how to make your vehicle bug-out ready—so you’re never caught unprepared when disaster strikes.

Why Your Vehicle Should Be Bug-Out Ready

When disaster strikes and you must move fast, your vehicle may become your bug-out bag on wheels. 

Your safety net.

Your shelter

Your way out. 

Whether you’re facing a weather emergency or find yourself driving near rioters, you want to have everything you need to survive.

This means always keeping your car bug-out ready. 

Because when seconds matter, you don’t want to be guessing—you want to be ready to roll. 

Read on for detailed checklists for making your car bug-out ready and staying prepared while on the road. 

What to Keep in Your Car at All Times

You can get into a car accident or run out of gas in the middle of nowhere.

You can get stuck in the snow in the wilderness.

You can drive into dangerous territories.

These are just a few of the very real possibilities that emphasize the importance of always having emergency gear in your vehicle.

Here is a list of items you should keep in your car at all times in case of an emergency.

Ideally, you will have a storage tub or trunk organizer in your trunk that contains the emergency gear that isn’t kept in your car console. 

What to Have Ready to Throw in Your Car When SHTF

While having your car prepared with the emergency essentials will help you for a brief period, you also need to have a bug-out bag prepared for when you plan to get in your car and head for safety.

Let’s say there is a major civil disturbance, and you need to get away.

You’re going to need to have more than just the essentials to survive.

In addition to the emergency essentials you always have in your car, you need supplies ready to toss in and go. 

The key here is making sure these items are in your garage or close to it. 

You don’t want to have to dig through storage to get what you need when seconds count. 

In addition to the items you already have in your car, here is a list of survival gear for your grab-and-go kit if SHTF:

Here is a list of the important documents you will need after a disaster. Keep copies of these documents in your kit.

  • Driver’s license

  • The deed to your house

  • Your will or trust

  • Proof of insurance/insurance policies

  • Medical records

  • Passport

  • Social security card

  • Birth certificate

It is simple to put together your own grab-and-go kit for your car, but you can also purchase a pre-made go-bag.

My Patriot Supply’s Go-Bag with Ballistic Panel and 60 Bug-Out Essentials has all the essentials you need for a sudden evacuation.

This one-of-a-kind bug-out bag contains:

  • (1) Black Tactical Backpack: This durable backpack is resistant to tears and abrasions. It features a variety of mesh slots, pockets, and zipper compartments to store your survival supplies.

  • (1) Ballistic Panel: Insert this 8 in. x 10.5 in. ballistic panel into your backpack for extra protection from whatever may come your way. This panel fits perfectly into the pack pocket against your back and has a five-year shelf life.

  • (1) Emergency Sleeping Bag by Ready Hour: When you’re caught in dangerous weather, use this reflective bag to keep your body temperature comfortable and stable. Waterproof and wind-resistant, it can also be used as ground cover or gear protection.

  • (1) Army Green Nylon Emergency Tent with Survival Whistle by Ready Hour: Keep yourself (and your gear) warm, dry, and protected from harsh conditions with this thick, tear-resistant tent. At pocket size, it can shelter two people. Comes with a paracord and survival whistle.

  • (1) Aquamira G2O Water Filtration Bottle: Not sure about your water supply in an emergency? Fill up the Aquamira G2O Bottle to reduce chlorine, VOCs, microplastics, and harmful chemicals, as well as remove parasites, bacteria, and viruses. 

  • (1) Rechargeable Sensor Headlamp by Ready Hour: Fully-Rechargeable, Motion-Activated Headlamp Provides 20 HOURS of LIGHT!

  • (2) 2,400 Calorie Emergency Ration Bars by Ready Hour: Get quick calories with 12 tasty bars. At 200 calories each, you’ll have 2,400 calories in one box! 

  • (8) Emergency Drinking Water Pouches by Ready Hour: Packed in sturdy, puncture-resistant pouches with four protective layers, you can count on this emergency drinking water in your backpack—and hydrate when water is nowhere to be found.

  • (1) Survival Kit with Guide (46 Pieces): This kit was made for a crisis. From first aid essentials to fishing supplies, it’s a survival kit with a little bit of everything—plus a helpful guidebook.

  • (1) Waterproof Matches (4-Pack) by InstaFire: Start a fire with a single strike. These waterproof matches can be lit to provide light, keep you warm, and cook your food in nearly any condition.

  • (2) InstaFire Fire Starter Pouch: This simple fire-starting product can produce a fire in five to ten minutes in wind, rain, and snow. 

  • (1) Ready Hour Patch by Ready Hour: Add this patch to your pack to make it stand out from the rest.

  • (1) Emergency Poncho (2-Pack) by Ready Hour: Whether it’s a small shower or even a downpour, this two-pack of one-size-fits-all ponchos will keep you warm and dry. 

This bag is a wise choice to keep on hand when you need to grab and go, with extra space for you to add supplies for your unique needs.

If you want to see everything listed in this article, head over to our Bug-out Ready Car Collection here. 

How to Use Your Car to Survive in an Emergency

In an emergency, your car can be a form of protection for you and your family.

Here are some of the ways your car can be used in an emergency.

  • Shelter: A car offers protection from the elements and provides a place to rest.

  • Signal for Help: You can use your car’s horn, lights, or even mirrors to signal for help. 

  • Start a Fire: Your car has what you need to start a fire. For instance, you can siphon gas from the tank to make a quick fire.

  • Charge Devices: If you don’t have a solar device charger, you can use your car to keep your devices charged.

  • Communications: Utilize the car radio to listen to the news. 

What You Should Never Keep in Your Car

While you want your car to be bug-out ready, you don’t want to keep items in your vehicle that are dangerous.

Do not store the following items in your vehicle.

  • Perishable food: High temperatures can cause food to spoil.

  • Canned beverages: Canned beverages can explode due to extreme temperatures.

  • Aerosol cans: Aerosol cans, such as deodorants or sunscreens, can explode due to high heat.

  • Disposable Lighters: Cheap, disposable lights can leak or explode from heat expansion.

  • Important documents: While you should have copies of important documents in your grab-and-go bag that you keep in your home (ready to throw in your car when SHTF), you should never keep important personal documents in your car. 

  • Valuables: Do not keep valuables in sight in your vehicle. If you do have valuables in your vehicle, such as jewelry or weapons, keep these items stored and hidden. 

Stay safe on the go, friends.

In liberty,


Elizabeth Anderson

Preparedness Advisor, My Patriot Supply

 

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