How to ready your car for any emergency

There’s nothing like a busted light bulb to put the skids on a journey. Whether it’s just died or you’ve had a minor run-in with a carpark bollard (we won’t tell), it’s going to mean constant flashes from other drivers or an unwelcome chat with law enforcement.

Luckily, if you search for car lightbulbs on eBay, it’ll prompt you to enter your car details to make it less like finding a needle in a haystack – and while you’re there, buy a few spares and store them with any other emergency parts or tools in your car. If you haven’t changed a car bulb before, there’s a whole host of short YouTube videos to help you.

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You know how some menial tasks seem that much more difficult when you have an audience? Pumping your tyres using the air machine at the petrol station must surely rank high on that list, but thanks to eBay, you no longer need to worry about nervously eyeing up the three drivers behind you waiting to use it.

You’ll find a range of tyre inflators with different attachment options and even handy features to make it as straightforward as possible, whether you’re at home or out and about. You can also  find cordless inflators that will save you catching the wire from the 12V socket on various obstacles as you race to fill your tyres quickly.

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That sinking feeling of “oh no, I’m going to be here for a while” is familiar to every single driver. Whether it’s the rattle and thud of an engine followed by an eerie silence, or the unwelcome sight of row upon row of stationary brake lights up ahead, each journey is in the lap of the gods.

Of course, it’s inevitable that if you drive enough miles you’ll get caught up in something you can’t control, which could lead to long waits in all sorts of weather. But when that time comes, the more prepared you are, the more bearable it will be.

As the UK’s biggest marketplace, eBay can help you find everything you need to ready yourself for any unplanned bumps in the road. The platform has 50 million live listings for great-value car parts and accessories alone, so read on to see how it can help you emergency-proof your next journey.

A lot of motoring contingency items can be found amongst things you already own – it always pays to have a spare blanket in case you break down in the cold or get caught in a weather-induced traffic jam. Other essentials like a freshly filled water bottle are common sense, but especially if you break down on the motorway or an A road, a full emergency kit is the way to go.

Many of these bundles include hi-vis clothing, which is especially helpful when you break down at night or in heavy fog, reflective triangles to warn other road users, tow ropes, basic first aid kits and much more. For the perfect all-in-one solution to suit your needs, eBay has plenty of low-cost options for you to browse.

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Get everything you need for your car on eBay

In a crisis, it’s often tempting to throw money at the problem and call out assistance, but in some scenarios eBay can help you avoid unexpected costs at the roadside. Flat tyre? Provided you have a spare, you can save yourself the physical effort of winching the car up and wrenching the nuts off the wheel with a mechanised kit from eBay. Some feature an automatic jack that can lift up to 5 tonnes, and an impact wrench that will screw off wheelnuts in just seconds, allowing you to channel your inner F1 mechanic.

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Whether you’ve got a battery nearing the end of its life or you haven’t used the car for a significant period, it’s likely you may need a jump start. To save you having to desperately flag down other motorists, eBay has an impressive range of jump start kits, including jump leads and portable battery chargers. The Tool Tech model even comes with a DC socket and an inbuilt tyre inflator.

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Naturally, it’s always best to be prepared, and you can save yourself from even having to jump start your car with a serviceable battery tester. You’ll find a quality range on eBay, each with simple-to-read digital displays. You can also find what you need easily, as you can shop by either voltage or brand, including Sealey, TOPDON and Snap-on among many others.

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