Go outside and pop your trunk. It's all right, I'll wait. Was it filled with old camping equipment? A distressing number of old shoes? A single glove? Those chairs that come in bags – you know the ones? Unfortunately, all the space being taken up by junk in your trunk is space that isn't being used to store more useful items. With all the time you spend in your car, and all the stress it goes through, you need to make sure you're prepared to deal with a variety of potential emergency situations, so make sure your trunk is packed with some basic essentials.

Maintenance quick fixes
Just because you may not be an auto mechanic that doesn't mean you shouldn't have some basic tools on hand for whatever minor maintenance challenges crop up. Even if the world of auto repair is a mysterious black box of fear and complicated machinery, you can still benefit from being prepared. A spare tire and jumper cables are a must, according to MSN Autos. Even if you don't know how to use these tools, having them on hand will enable others to help you more effectively in an emergency. A tire repair kit consisting of an inflater and sealer are good things to keep on hand even with a spare tire. A pressure gauge is a good idea for making sure your tires don't get too deflated and compromise performance and safety. And of course, what DIY maintenance kit would be complete without the ubiquitous duct tape?

Safety first
In the unlikely and unfortunate event of a medical emergency or accident, having the right tools on hand is essential. Nobody's expecting you to turn your car into St. John's Ambulance but a basic first-aid kit can provide you with the resources to contain a potentially disastrous situation until professional help arrives. A flashlight should be a car kit mainstay, as well as orange traffic pylons or flares so that you can keep a safety zone around yourself if you need to pull off to the side of the road. 

If you're in the market for a car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. You'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, a knowledgeable and helpful sales staff and an in-house finance team ready to help you finance the used vehicle of your dreams.