This checklist covers everything worth keeping in the glovebox or center console for a multi-day road trip, built from actual road trips rather than a generic packing list. It splits into four groups: documents and paperwork, roadside emergency items, comfort and snack items, and phone or navigation backups.
Documents and paperwork include your license, registration, proof of insurance, a printed copy of your route in case your phone dies, and any rental agreement paperwork if the car is not yours. Roadside items include a tire pressure gauge, a basic tool kit, jumper cables or a portable jump starter, a flashlight, and a physical paper map of the region as backup, since cell service disappears in exactly the places you need it most.
Comfort items are the ones people forget until hour six: a phone charger cable long enough to reach the back seat, sunglasses for both drivers, a small trash bag, and non-messy snacks that survive heat. For navigation backup, download offline maps for your full route before you leave cell coverage, and keep a written list of the phone numbers you would need if your phone itself failed, since most people no longer memorize numbers at all. Pair this with my golden hour trip-prep worksheet before you go, and browse the full itineraries page for road-trip-friendly routes.