Most people have a lot of faith in the fact that their car will get them from A to B – and that makes sense. If you have a fairly well maintained car, young or old, chances are good that you’ll get there. If you follow certain safety precautions, such as securing a booster seat belt cinch to your child’s booster seat, you’ll be prepared for accidents.  But there’s always a chance that your car might leave you stranded without notice. Here’s how to prepare for that just-in-case moment.

Always carry an emergency phone. You don’t need a fancy iPhone, here. There are tons of inexpensive pay-as-you-go phones that fit the bill. Keep one in your purse and always make sure you have available minutes of talk time.

Have the proper equipment. If you live in colder areas, make sure you have a blanket to help keep you warm, and if you live in a warm region, have bottles of water handy.

Keep a flashlight nearby. Don’t depend on your car having headlights or four-way flashers available, and carry a flashlight to help shine the way if it’s dark.

Get the numbers you need. Have a list of emergency numbers for the police or a tow truck handy in the glove compartment. Don’t assume you’ll remember them off by heart should you ever need them.

Carry cardboard and a pen. This is great for writing a sign that you can hold up for help or leave on your car to let people know you’ll be back to pick it up in the morning!

Have some extra cash. Never assume you’ll have the money handy for a tow-truck or taxi if your car breaks down. Hide an envelope with emergency funds inside your car, and you’ll never be caught short.

Know the plan. You should know what you’d do and who you’d call before your car ever breaks down. That way, you can deal with the situation in confidence should it ever occur.

Talk with your kids. It can be scary for children when a car breaks down suddenly, so talk to them before it happens and reassure them you have a backup plan if it ever happens. Make it sound like an adventure!