What to keep in your Glove Compartment
The glove compartment is not an essential component of a car. If the glove compartment breaks, the car won't suddenly break down with it. Life goes on if a driver decides to never use their glove compartment. Failing to do so, however, is neglecting a very useful storage tool.
Why? Because a glove compartment is convenient. A glove compartment is, with some work, orderly. Indeed, a glove compartment is always at your fingertips, and can be readily accessed in a pinch. If nothing else, the glove compartment is the perfect place to store all the little things that would otherwise be floating around the car. In an emergency, knowing where everything is can be vital to a successful resolution of the crisis.
So what should go in a glove compartment? Below is a quick list essentials that take precedence over everyday junk.
Registration Forms
Watch a cop show on TV. Whenever police officers pull over motorists, they ask for license and registration. A driver's license is best kept in a wallet or purse; registration papers, however, should go in the glove compartment. The quicker you can produce a registration form when requested, the better. Remove any old registration from the car as soon as new forms are available.
Insurance
Accidents happen, and when they do, it's important to be able to swap accurate insurance info with the other driver(s). Keep some proof of insurance in your glove compartment, typically attached to your registration. Again, dispose of old or outdated insurance information the moment it becomes useless.
Emissions Forms
Many states and provinces require semi-regular emissions testing. Keep the results of those tests in the glove compartment in case of an inspection.
Notepad and Disposable Camera
Insurance or criminal claims during accidents or hit-and-runs hinge on the accuracy of the information you provide in the aftermath. Keep a notepad and a working pen or pencil in your glove compartment to quickly copy down pertinent info. This may include the license plate number of a car that's fleeing the scene. A disposable camera is particularly useful for insurance claims, as the damage will likely be worked out of the car's superstructure before the claim goes through. Take a series of snapshots shortly after the accident, and file them alongside your claim.
Owner's Manual
Ninety-nine percent of the time, you won't need the car's manual. When that one percent comes along, however, you'll be quite happy to have the manual stored in a convenient space. Occasionally reviewing the manual is also recommended.
Flashlight
Not every accident happens during the day, and trying to sort out a damaged or malfunctioning car can be a nightmare in the dark. Buy a small, sturdy, reliable flashlight and reserve it solely for your glove compartment. Turn it on occasionally to make sure it's still working. Buy a pack of spare batteries in case the flashlight goes out.
Emergency Information
Insurance and registration forms include some personal information, but not all. It's a good idea to keep a list of emergency contacts, as well as a form indicating medical conditions and problems, handy in your glove compartment. If you get into an accident and are somehow knocked unconscious, this information will prove invaluable to any would-be rescuers.
Cell Phone
Call it karma or call it simple bad luck, but accidents and breakdowns seem to happen in the worst places. A cell phone will allow you to get in touch with a towing company and set things right. If you aren't a cell phone user, store some extra change or a phone card in the glove compartment to ensure you can use pay phones.
That covers the essentials. Should anything else go in a glove compartment? Potentially yes - so long as it doesn't become too cluttered. A full, messy glove compartment is no more useful than the space beneath your seat.Other handy items to take along include:
- Ice scraper - always clean it before putting it back inside
- A book of maps
- Snack bars and a well-sealed bottle of water - check to make sure the water hasn't frozen during winter months
- Plastic bags for trash
These items should be a secondary concern. If possible, keep them stowed in a container in your trunk or back seat rather than in the glove compartment.
It's been hinted at numerous times, but maintaining a clean glove compartment is essential. Check the compartment once every month to make sure it's not becoming cluttered with junk. The more orderly it is, the less trouble you'll have when you're on the road and suddenly need something important.
