A car stuck in snow can be a long, cold wait. NHTSA, the US road safety regulator, publishes a short list of what to carry in winter and what to do if you are stranded. Here it is, in plain terms.
What to keep in the car
- For snow and ice: a snow shovel, a broom or snow brush, and an ice scraper.
- For grip: abrasive material such as sand or cat litter, in case the wheels spin.
- For a breakdown: jumper cables, a torch (flashlight), and flares or emergency markers.
- For people: a first aid kit, any medicines you need, blankets, bottled water and food that keeps.
- To call for help: a phone and a car charger.
If you travel with children, the American Academy of Pediatrics adds extra blankets, dry clothes, hats, gloves and snacks.
If you are stranded
- Stay with the car, NHTSA's first rule, and do not overexert yourself digging.
- Make the car easy to see. Tie something bright to the aerial or a window, and keep the interior light on.
- Clear the exhaust pipe. Snow packed around the tailpipe can push carbon monoxide into the car. NHTSA's words: "Clear any snow from your exhaust pipe."
- Run the engine only now and then, just long enough to keep warm, and do not sit for long periods with the engine running and the windows closed.
- Call for help and say where you are.
Carbon monoxide has no smell or colour. The warning signs and what to do are in carbon monoxide in cars.
Before you set off
Check the weather and the roads, put off trips that can wait, keep the fuel tank close to full, and tell someone your route and when you expect to arrive. The full pre-winter check of the car is in the winter car safety checklist.
Quick answers
What should I keep in my car in winter?
NHTSA lists a snow shovel, broom and ice scraper; sand or cat litter for grip; jumper cables, a torch and flares or emergency markers; a first aid kit and your medicines; blankets, water and food that keeps; and a phone with a car charger.
What should I do if my car gets stuck in snow?
Stay with the car, make it easy to see with something bright on the aerial or window and the interior light on, clear snow from the exhaust pipe, and run the engine only occasionally, just long enough to keep warm.
Is it safe to run the engine while stuck in snow?
Only for short periods, and only with the exhaust pipe clear of snow. A blocked exhaust can let carbon monoxide into the car. Avoid sitting with the engine running and the windows closed for long periods.
More winter safety
- Winter car safety checklist: what to check before the cold
- Carbon monoxide in cars: warming up, garages and snow-blocked exhausts
- Winter coats and car seats: why the puffy coat comes off
Sources
- NHTSA: Winter driving tips
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): Winter car seat safety tips
- CDC: Carbon monoxide poisoning basics
Published 7 November 2026 by A.I.T. Multiverse Consulting Ltd, Nicosia, Cyprus. CarsMultiverse is an independent site, not an authority: the advice above is the named official bodies' own, reworded, and their pages are the ones to rely on.