Top 7 Things to Keep in Your Glove Compartment

Top 7 Things to Keep in Your Glove Compartment

Yep. It is often the vehicle version of your home's junk drawer. And, despite the name, gloves are probably not one of the top priorities for stocking your glove compartment. So what should you make sure to keep in that box? A few minutes of preparation with that little box can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a full-blown roadside saga.

1. Paperwork. Your vehicle egistration, insurance, and any other required documents should live here permanently, not floating between cup holders or stuffed into a console abyss. When a police officer asks for them, that is not the moment you want to begin an archaeological dig through old receipts and fast-food napkins. 
2. Owner's manual. This can come in especially handy if an ominous light suddenly appears on your dashboard.
3. Pen and a small notepad. You might need to exchange information after a fender bender, jot down directions when your phone battery betrays you, or leave a note that says, “Sorry I tapped your bumper—please call me.” 
4. Flashlight. Phones die, darkness happens, and trying to inspect a tire by the glow of your dashboard is not as effective as you might hope. A small flashlight can also help you locate that thing you dropped between the seats in 2019.
5. Emergency items. A basic first-aid kit can handle everything from paper cuts to mystery scrapes acquired while wrestling groceries out of the trunk. Add a few bandages, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers.
6. Snacks. These may be controversional from a health standpoint, but they can be very practical when hunger strikes when you are in traffic or "in the middle of nowhere". Choose wisely. Granola bars or crackers may be good choices, while chocolate bars may melt in warm weather. Replace these occasionally. They are not meant to last forever.
7. Tissues and wet wipes. These multipurpose friends can handle sneezes, spills, foggy windshields, and that moment when you realize your coffee lid was lying to you. They are the quiet overachievers of the glove compartment world.

You may also find old parking stubs, expired coupons, and a mystery key that opens absolutely nothing. Periodically cleaning out your glove compartment is a good reminder that preparedness beats clutter, and melted candy should never be part of an emergency plan.

In the end, the best glove compartment is one that’s organized, useful, and only slightly embarrassing when opened. If it can help you handle the unexpected without dumping its contents onto your lap, you’re doing it right.

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