How to Jump a Car (and What to Keep in Your Trunk)

How to Jump a Car (and What to Keep in Your Trunk)

Your battery’s dead. You’re stuck in a parking lot. Now what?
If you’re a new driver—or the parent of one—this guide is for you. Jump-starting a car is one of the most essential skills for drivers to know, and it’s easier than you might think.

Below we’ll walk you through:

  • Exactly how to jump a car (step-by-step)

  • What safety tips you need to know

  • What to keep in your trunk so you’re never stranded again
    Plus, grab a free printable Jump-Start Guide at the end!

⚠️ What You’ll Need

Before you begin, you’ll need:

  • A working car with a charged battery

  • A set of jumper cables

  • A safe place to park both cars close together (but not touching)

👉 Optional but helpful: gloves, a flashlight, and a printed step-by-step guide.

🔌 Step-by-Step: How to Jump a Car

1. Position the Cars

Park both cars close together with hoods facing. Turn off both engines and set the parking brakes.

2. Open the Hoods

Locate the batteries in both vehicles. You’ll see two terminals on each battery:

  • Red = Positive (+)

  • Black = Negative (–)

3. Attach the Jumper Cables (In This Exact Order!)

  1. 🔴 Red clamp to dead car’s positive (+) terminal

  2. 🔴 Red clamp to working car’s positive (+) terminal

  3. ⚫ Black clamp to working car’s negative (–) terminal

  4. ⚫ Black clamp to unpainted metal surface on the dead car (not the battery!)

⚠️ Don’t let the clamps touch each other during this process!

4. Start the Working Car

Let it run for 2–5 minutes. This charges the dead battery a little.

5. Try Starting the Dead Car

If it works, let both cars run for a few more minutes. If not, wait longer—or your battery may need replacing.

6. Remove the Cables (In Reverse Order!)

  1. ⚫ Black from metal surface on dead car

  2. ⚫ Black from working car

  3. 🔴 Red from working car

  4. 🔴 Red from formerly dead car

7. Drive the Restarted Car

Drive for at least 15–20 minutes to recharge the battery fully. If it dies again, the battery may be bad.

🚗 What to Keep in Your Trunk

If you’re a new driver, we recommend keeping a basic emergency kit that includes:

  • Jumper cables

  • Flashlight with batteries

  • Work gloves

  • Emergency contact card

  • Car charger or power bank

  • First aid kit

  • Blanket or jacket (for cold climates)

Want a printable version of this checklist? Grab it inside the New Driver Car Care Kit 👇

🧾 Free Download: Jump Start Guide

Get our easy-to-follow 1-page printable to keep in your glovebox or car binder.

📥 Download the Free Jump-Start Guide here

🛠 Related Resources:

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