A first aid kit in the trunk of your car is just as essential as a spare tire. But instead, the emergency kit is often overlooked until it’s too late. Like wearing a seatbelt, you never know how valuable it is to have a first aid kit in your car until you need it.
This is your chance to get ahead of the situation.
But choosing a first aid kit can be a daunting task. Off-the-shelf kits at Walmart typically only feature bandages and ointments for minor cuts and scrapes. And the thousands of options on Amazon are frequently stuffed with plastic tools, expired products, and arrive in flimsy cases. So how can you know a good first aid kit when you see one?
The best first aid kit for your car will feature a durable case, quality contents, specialized emergency items, and a moderate price tag. Browse this list and decide the best first aid kit to pack in your car.
Table of Contents
Top Picks
Swiss Safe 2-in-1 Hardcase First Aid Kit
THRIAID Premium Trauma Medical Kit
Be Smart Be Prepared Soft Sided First Aid Kit
Thrive Home Essentials First Aid Kit
Best Overall Pick
Surviveware Large First Aid Kit
With 200 pieces in a water-resistant, durable soft-sided bag, this is the best overall first aid kit to always keep in your car. Plus, the 50-piece mini kit is perfect for stuffing into your day pack.
When it comes to first aid kits for the car, nobody designs one better than the Surviveware Comprehensive Large First Aid Kit. The bag is constructed of water-resistant 600D polyester, which makes it as durable as a soft-sided bag can be. Adjustable buckle straps allow you to secure the bag anywhere inside your car – glove box, headrest, support bar, or just toss it into the trunk.
Inside, the 200 pieces are separated into several labeled compartments that make it easy to find precisely what you need in a hurry. The kit includes all the essential items and high-quality tools. And the large kit includes a 50-piece mini kit in a similar durable bag, perfect for packing into a day bag.
The only downsides are the price and space inside the bag. Unless you remove the mini kit and store it elsewhere, there is no room for additional items you may want to pack. It’s one of the most expensive first aid kits on the market, but considering what you get, it is worth the investment if you frequently travel in your car.
Pros
200 pieces
Water-resistant, 600D polyester bag is durable
Several labeled compartments
Straps for securing in the car
Includes 50-piece mini kit
MOLLE compatible
Includes all essential items
Cons
Expensive
No room for additional items
Best Budget Pick
Johnson & Johnson All-Purpose First Aid Kit
For under $20, this first aid kit includes most of the essential items you’ll need while traveling.
At less than $20, the Johnson & Johnson All-Purpose First Aid Kit is a no-frills, inexpensive first aid kit. Despite the small size, the case is packed with nearly all the essential items you’d want in a first aid kit. And the small case is packable in luggage if you are flying – just remember to put it in your checked bag.
The plastic case leaves a lot to be desired, though. The flimsy hinge will break after repeated use. The case is not leakproof and might lead to ruined contents during an accidental spill in the car. The 160 pieces completely fill the case, leaving no room for additional items.
This is a good option if you want quality items and don’t mind the flimsy case.
Pros
Includes most of the essential items
Inexpensive
Packable in luggage
Cons
160 pieces
Flimsy plastic case
Is not leakproof
No room for additional items
Best Pet Pick
Adventure Medical Kits Dog Series First Aid Kit
This is the only first aid kit specifically for dogs reviewed on this list and one of the only animal-friendly kits available on the market. The kit includes everything you need for dog emergencies on the go in a durable bag that’s easy to pack.
If you travel with dogs, the Adventure Medical Kits Dog Series is a must-have for your car. Inside the durable nylon bag are 48 dog-approved pieces – and there is room for a few more items. The kit includes an irrigation syringe, bandages, and ointments for treating injuries to your dog while traveling.
Although the bag is not specifically designed for dogs – humans can use the same bandages and ointments – this bag alone does not have everything a person needs. That means you’ll need to travel with two first aid kits. And the soft-sided bag is prone to getting crushed in the car.
This is a great first aid kit for dogs with all the essential items your furry friend will need.
Pros
48 dog-approved pieces
Includes irrigation syringe
Includes all essential items for dogs
Room for additional items
Durable bag
Cons
Soft-sided bag
Specifically for dogs
Alternative Best Overall Pick
Be Smart Be Prepared Hard Case First Aid Kit
This kit has the most pieces of any reviewed in this list, and along with the durable hard plastic case and waterproof gasket it’s a great piece of travel gear to always keep in the car.
California-based Total Resources International began in 1991 as a family-owned business for building quality first aid kits. Today, they are one of the largest suppliers of emergency kits to homes, businesses, and schools in the country. The Be Smart Be Prepared Hard Case First Aid Kit is an outstanding product for your car.
Although the hard plastic case is meant to be hung on a wall – and even features tilted bins for easy access to supplies – it also fits nicely in a vehicle. A rubber gasket seals the case and prevents accidental leaks from ruining the contents. Inside, the case is stuffed with 326 quality items that cover all the essentials.
Ironically, the only downside to this first aid kit is that it’s meant to service 100 people. It’s stuffed with too many items for a family or solo traveler! Be prepared to remove about half the contents and store them as refills.
Pros
326 pieces
Durable hard plastic case
OSHA approved
Leak-proof rubber gasket
Includes all essential items
Room for adding more items
Cons
Designed for 100 people
Meant to be hung on a wall
Also Great
Adventure Medical Kits Sportsman Series 400 First Aid Kit
This is the go-to first aid kit of outdoor adventurers and tour guides. The durable soft-sided bag easily packs in your luggage or day pack and includes most of the essential items.
Adventure Medical Kits features a lineup of first aid kits for outdoor enthusiasts and travel guides. The Sportsman Series 400 Outdoor First Aid Kit is one of their best.
200 pieces are stuffed inside the durable soft-sided bag with carry handles. The three main compartments are labeled, but the bag features no other compartments or room to fit your own items. A Comprehensive Guide is included with the first aid kit – an overly detailed field trauma guide. The kit includes a Field Trauma Pak – a small pouch with enough supplies for a one-time use before replenishing.
Pros
Includes 200 pieces
Includes most of the essential items
Durable bag
Packable in luggage
Cons
No extra room for personal items
Expensive
The soft-sided bag is not leakproof
Also Great
Surviveware Comprehensive Medium First Aid Kit
This first aid kit if 1/3 the price of the larger one from Surviveware, but you get 1/2 of the pieces. It comes in the same water resistant, durable bag and is better suited for rental cars.
If the $130 price tag of the Surviveware Large First Aid Kit is too much for your budget, the Medium First Aid Kit is an excellent alternative. At 1/3 the price, the 100-piece medium kit is packed inside the same water-resistant 600D polyester bag as the bigger sibling. The bag features straps on the back for attaching to support rails or backpacks.
Inside, the items are divided into several labeled compartments to make it easy to find what you need quickly. The biggest difference between the medium and large first aid kits is the quantity of like items – fewer bandages and sterile pads, but the same diversity.
The Surviveware Comprehensive Medium First Aid Kit is perfect for your car on weekend adventures. And the smaller bag is packable, allowing you to carry a great first aid kit on your adventures.
Pros
1/3 the price of the larger kit for 1/2 the items
Water resistant 600D polyester bag is durable
Several labeled compartments
Straps for securing in the car
Includes all essential items
Compact
Cons
Only 100 pieces
No room for additional items
Swiss Safe 2-in-1 Hardcase First Aid Kit
This first aid kit includes over 300 pieces packed inside a durable plastic case, and the kit includes a zippered mini case that’s easy to pack.
When it comes to well-stocked emergency kits, the Swiss Safe 2-in-1 Hardcase First Aid Kit has it covered. Impressively stocked with 348 pieces, the first aid kit covers all the essential items like various bandages, scissors, tweezers, ointments, and room to add more. The durable hard plastic case is excellent for stuffing in the car’s trunk and protecting the contents during travel.
The first aid kit is on the upper end of the price spectrum but not the most expensive on this list. The price might be well worth the investment for the number of quality pieces in the durable case. The case, though, is prone to leaking if something is spilled on it in the car.
All around, this is a great first aid kit for your car.
Pros
348 pieces
Bonus 32-piece mini kit in a zippered case
Durable hard plastic case
Includes nearly all the essentials
Extra room for adding more
OSHA approved
Cons
Moderately expensive
The case is not waterproof
THRIAID Premium Trauma Medical Kit
The labeled compartments in this soft-sided first aid kit makes it easy to quickly find what you need. That’s especially helpful with the 330 pieces that includes most of the essential items.
THRIAID makes excellent first aid kits ranging from the compact Mini First Aid Kit to the gargantuan Wall Mountable Trauma Medical Kit. The THRIAID Premium Trauma Medical Kit is one of the best first aid kits for your car.
Although the bag is soft-sided, it’s durable and waterproof to protect the contents while traveling. The compartments are clearly labeled with the contents to help you quickly find what you need. 330 medical-grade items are stuffed into the bag, but you’ll probably want to upgrade the cheap scissors to these trauma sheers.
There’s little room for additional items like personal medication or preferred pain relievers, but otherwise, this is a fantastic first aid kit for your car.
Pros
330 pieces
Labeled compartments
Waterproof and durable bag
Includes most of the essential items
Cons
Soft-sided bag
Little room for additional pieces
Cheap scissors
Be Smart Be Prepared Soft Sided First Aid Kit
This inexpensive soft-sided first aid kit includes most of the essential items, but you may want to add a thing or two to this first aid kit.
The Be Smart Be Prepared Soft-Sided First Aid Kit is a compact, lightweight, inexpensive kit for your car. It’s perfect for packing into your luggage or a day bag. The 200 pieces are good quality and include most essential items for a first aid kit.
But the soft-sided bag is not leakproof, and an accidental spill in the car could ruin the contents. The compartments are not labeled, and some are left open, potentially allowing the items to fall out. There is no room for additional items in the bag, although there is room for remove unneeded items and replace with your own.
This is a great first aid kit if you want something compact that can do double duty as a kit for your car and day bag while traveling.
Pros
200 pieces
Inexpensive
Includes a removable zippered case
Compact design
Cons
Soft-sided bag
Compartments are not labeled, and items can easily fall out
No room for additional items
Thrive Home Essentials First Aid Kit
The only OSHA-approved first aid kit reviewed in this list, this kit has everything you’ll need in a durable rip-stop nylon bag and room to add more items to customize it.
The best part about the Thrive Home Essentials First Aid Kit is the durable rip-stop nylon bag. The thick material will resist punctures and tears while traveling in your car, however, the soft-sided bag is prone to getting crushed.
The bag is full of 291 OSHA-approved items that cover all the essentials – the trauma sheers could use an upgrade. Although the compartments are not labeled, the mesh material makes it easy to find what you need quickly. And the bag is just large enough to have room for additional items for your preference.
With a middle-ground price and durable bag, this is a great first aid kit for the car for casual travelers.
Pros
291 pieces
Durable rip-stop nylon bag
OSHA approved
Includes most of the essential items
Room for additional items
Cons
Soft-sided bag
The bag is not leakproof
Compartments are not labeled
First Aid Kit Essentials
Before deciding which first aid kit to buy for your car, you might want to read through this list of first aid kit essentials. Some first aid kits are stuffed with ineffective items while ignoring the important ones. Be prepared for emergencies by checking to see if the first aid kit you want to buy has these items:
- Absorbent compress dressings
- Adhesive bandages in various sizes
- Adhesive butterfly bandages
- Adhesive cloth tape
- Antibiotic ointment
- Antiseptic wipes
- Breathing barrier
- Cold compress (instant)
- Cotton-tipped swabs
- Eye patch
- Finger splint (aluminum)
- Gauze roll (non-stick)
- Non-latex gloves in various sizes
- Hand sanitizer
- Hydrocortisone ointment
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Scissors
- Sterile gauze pads
- Oral thermometer
- Triangular bandages
- Tweezers
In addition to these essentials, you should also pack travel-size bottles of whichever pain reliever works best for you. This four-pack of aluminum, water-proof bottles is perfect for keeping pills in a first aid kit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
At the very least, you want a first aid kit in the car that carries all the essential items for a first aid kit. If you spend a lot of time traveling in your car or if you have a family, you may want to consider a larger and more comprehensive first aid kit to cover all your emergency needs.
Emergency first aid kits are absolutely worth the investment. The kits are designed for minor injuries like cuts, scrapes, and burns. Getting immediate treatment with antiseptic cleaners, ointments, and fresh bandages can prevent scars and infection.
Yes, you can always keep a first aid kit in the car. And it’s highly recommended that you always have some type of first aid kit in the car.
It is not necessary to have a first aid kit in the car. However, just like having a spare tire, if you ever need a first aid kit and don’t have one, it could leave you in a tricky situation.
