The glove box or glove compartment is the storage unit within the dashboard. Although it was originally meant to store gloves when it was first introduced in automobiles, you can keep different things in this compartment. However, because its space is limited, it’s best to choose items that will come in handy in certain scenarios.
Essential Items to Keep In Your Glove Box
It pays to keep the items on this list in your glove box. However, they probably won’t all fit in the compartment. It’s up to you to decide which to prioritize, but It’s generally recommended to always keep important documents.
It pays to keep the items on this list in your glove box. However, they probably won’t all fit in the compartment.
Important Documents
Some important documents you must always have in your glove box are your car registration, insurance, and driver’s license.
You need to present your car registration if you’re in an accident or are stopped by law enforcement. It serves as proof that you’re legally allowed to drive the vehicle you’re in. Keeping it in the glove box ensures it’s accessible.
First-Aid Kit
There’s always the risk of accidents and injuries whenever you’re on the road. There are nearly 43,000 fatal crashes every year in the US. In 2021, there were over six million police-reported vehicle accidents.
Having a first-aid kit could be the difference between life and death. You can buy emergency kits that come with the essentials from your local pharmacies or you can shop online at Red Cross.
If you’re planning on making a kit, make sure to include bandages, adhesive tapes, gauze pads, antibiotic ointments, scissors, tweezers, and disposable gloves.
Microfiber Cloth
Whether you have kids or just love munching on snacks in your car, there’s always a risk of food or drinks spilling on your carpet or seats. As such, it’s crucial to keep a microfiber cloth or two inside the glove box.
Microfiber cloth is also helpful for dusting the dashboard or drying morning dew from the mirrors. It doesn’t take up much space in your glove box, so you can keep other items in the compartment.
Important Tools
Depending on your ride’s mileage, you might encounter issues that make driving a hassle or dangerous. Natural wear and tear can take a toll on different components and affect their performance.
You can handle many issues if you keep the following tools handy:
Note that not all of these tools will fit in your glove compartment. Some of them are better stored in a toolbox in your trunk, truck bed, or under the seats.
Owner’s Manual
Having the proper tools at your disposal is only the start. As far as dealing with car problems, you’ll need the necessary information and knowledge to fix certain issues.
While looking procedures up online works, having the owner’s manual within reach is the better option. It contains all the information you’ll need to deal with most problems.
Phone Chargers
Smartphones are essential for everything, from entertainment and communication to research and navigation. Keeping chargers in your glove compartment will help you prevent your phone from running out of battery.
Most newer vehicles have built-in USB ports. If yours has such ports, you don’t have to worry about stopping at gas stations to charge your phone. Consider buying an extra USB cord just for your car.
Face Masks
While most people have stopped using facemasks, these masks are still useful in certain scenarios. They can protect you from smoke, fumes, and other contaminants.
They also don’t take much room in the glove compartment. You’ll never know when you might need to pull one out.
If your glove box still has room to spare after you’ve placed the essentials, consider including a pen and notebook, some snacks, and a map.
Pen and Notebook
In terms of practicality, one could argue it’s more efficient to use a mobile phone to take down information. However, there may be times when your smartphone can’t function, whether it’s due to a dead battery or other technical difficulties.
In situations like these, having a pen and notebook to write down any vital information could be a lifesaver, whether that’s jotting down the address of your destination or an important phone number.
Snacks
Let’s face it; long drives are exhausting. They take a toll on you mentally and physically. Short trips could also leave you hungry, especially if you didn’t eat before driving.
As such, some drivers keep healthy and filling snacks in their glove boxes. Some examples of great food to keep in your compartment include granola bars, trail mixes, crackers, and canned goods.
Canned food could also be part of your emergency kit, as it’s a quick meal in case you find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere.
Map
A paper map is quite handy in case technology fails you. It’s incredibly helpful if your mobile device runs out of charge or can’t get a signal in rural places.
Having a map of the area you’re driving in makes it easy to navigate unknown roads. If you’re not in a hurry, relying on a map can make your trip more fun and memorable.
Get Glove Box Essentials Online
Having the right tools and accessories in your glove box can come in handy. Tools like tire pressure gauges, wrenches, or a tire inflator can be useful in a situation where you find your tires with low pressure. Need to get glove box essentials online? Look no further, as CarParts.com is your one-stop shop for all your vehicle’s needs.
CarParts.com offers reliable car care products with excellent performance and good value. You can choose from our selection of tire pressure gauges, wrenches, and tire inflators, among others. Our tools and accessories are sourced from only the best manufacturers in the industry. Shopping for the right tool or accessory for you is as easy as pie since we have search filters that allow you to pick the right price range for you.
Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, including research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. Lisa has written for Car Bibles and The Drive.
The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
