Winter is here. After a warm December period snow, rain and wind is expected to batter much of the country over the next few days.

Lower temperatures and the risk of ice and snow means drivers will have to be extra careful on the road and are advised to keep basic equipment with them in the event of an emergency.

We have rounded up the five best winter car kits around for you to keep in your motor when the winter weather strikes.

AA winter car kit

The 'fourth emergency service' is going to be busy during poor weather, but it does sell a range of kits to keep drivers safe while they wait for their breakdown service.

As you would expect the AA has winter covered with a wide selection of winter car kits and accessories for motorists. A standard AA Winter Car Kit costs £17.99 and comes with a folding snow shovel, an adult's high visibility vest, emergency foil blanket, LED torch and a canvas carry bag.

At the other end of the scale an Ultimate Winter Car Kit for £69.99 comes with snow shovel, high-vis vest, snow and ice grips, a tow rope, 3-in-1 emergency beacon, blanket, frost shield and carry bag. You also get de-icing salt in the top-of-the-range kit.

AA winter car kit

RAC winter car kit

The RAC is another breakdown service and as a result offers its own winter driving kit - and at the moment there's a sale on.

The RAC Winter Driving Kit is priced at £11.24 at the time of writing, down from £14.99. For that you get de-icer, screenwash, a windscreen frost cover, 3-in-1 scraper, de-mist pad and nylon storage bag. You have to move up to the Advanced Winter Kit (£22.49) to add a snow shovel, foil blanket, wind-up torch and high-vis vest.

The RAC's Ultimate Winter Car Kit (£37.49) adds a snow brush, two hand warmer packs, another foil blanket, show grips and a heavy duty boot bag.

RAC winter car kit

Halfords winter car kit

From bicycles to car accessories, Halfords is a busy place on any bank holiday or winter weekend. Step away from the car mats and air fresheners and you'll find a couple of winter car kits to keep you warm.

Halfords stocks the AA's in-car winter kits, but also offers an affordable six-piece Winter Essentials Kit of its own aimed at people who have trouble getting their car ready to go in the morning. The £10 pack gets you de-icer, lock de-icer, night before de-icer, screenwash, squeege and sponge, and a Chamois demister.

While the kit won't help you with a breakdown, it's excellent for getting you ready for the morning commute.

Halfords winter car kit

Evaq8 winter car kit

Online emergency kit expert Evaq8 has a £76.50 package with everything from thermal blankets to emergency food rations. Designed for those who are taking to the road in poor winter conditions, the kit has plenty of equipment should you get stranded in winter weather and contents are customisable.

If you're as prepared as Bear Grylls when the snow comes, you'll be buying this kit.

The Evaq8 Winter Car Kit includes a thermal blanket, wind-up torch, shovel, ice scraper, de-icer, high-vis vest and emergency whistle.

There's also long life drinking water, emergency food rations, a first aid kit, light sticks, hand warmers and foil blankets, all packed into a survival bag.

Evaq8 winter car kit

Profile Autones winter car kit

Available on Amazin, Profile Autones offers an 'Intermediate' winter car kit for £24.99. The kit has all the basics you will need for bad weather including an ice scraper, screen wash and de-icer.

The kit also comes with a high-visibility jacket, warning triangle, snow shovel, thermal blanket, first aid kit and wind-up torch.

The winter kit is one of the least expensive on our list and is also the only one to come with a fire extinguisher included in the price.

Profile Autones winter car kit