You don’t have to be a master mechanic to have and use these tools. I’ve found myself in several scenarios where I was without one or more of these, and it was stressful. We don’t want any of y’all to be in that position.

So here are our top 5 tools that every car owner should have:
  1. Tire Gauge – Newer vehicles will have a tire pressure light that will tell you when pressure is low. But not every vehicle has this sensor, and it takes very little time to check your tire air pressure. You’ll find the manufacturer suggested PSI inside the drivers door.
  2. Jumper Cables – Leaving a light on overnight is all it takes to drain a battery. You’ll also probably end up using them to help someone else out. Just remember, red is positive and black and negative.
  3. Floor Jack – Most vehicles come with their own jacks. You’ll usually find it near your spare tire. But when you’re on the side of the road and trying to use that tiny jack, you’ll wish you’d invested in a floor jack. They’re safer, quicker and easier to use. Be sure to check the weight rating to be sure it can safely lift your vehicle.
  4. 4-Way Lug Wrench – Same as with the jack, most vehicles will come with a small lug wrench, but a 4-way will make it easier to loosen lug nuts, especially if they were over-tightened.
  5. Mechanics tool set – Stanley has a few good options you can get from Walmart. I personally have this one in my car. There may be a screw or bolt that you need to tighten up, and this will come in quite handy.