Keeping one of the best torches in the car is probably not the most burning concern of your winter car products list of things. After all, cars have their own lights, we carry mobiles with flashlights and the vast majority of the UK’s roads are arguably well-lit.
In the event of a breakdown, however, a torch will be one thing you’ll thank yourself for leaving in the car. Being stranded on a dark, isolated road, in wintry cold and wet conditions isn’t anyone’s idea of fun, and using up your phone’s battery could leave you unable to call for assistance.
In the season of Christmas trees and ice scrapers, you don’t want to suddenly appear in your worst nightmare and make the wait for the emergency roadside assistance service longer than any human being should have to endure.
The best torches at a glance:
Editor’s pick: NEBO Slyde King 2000 – Buy from Amazon.
Best build quality: Ledlenser MT10 – Buy from Amazon.
Best stylish torch for your car: Maglite AA LED – Buy from Amazon.
Like de-icer products, torches are incredibly useful, depending on which one you pick. Here’s a list of the best in-car torches to save you from breakdown misery.
The best torches to keep in your car
Editor's pick
Rrp: £47.80
Rrp: £47.80
You can even slide back the handle and convert it into a work light. So if you need to have a look underneath your car or behind the shelves at home, this is the torch for you. It even has a magnetic base, so you can stick it on your bonnet to illuminate the engine bay.
Pros
- Beam stretches out far
- Good build quality
Cons
- Could be too large for areas of your car
Best build quality
Rrp: £66.24
Rrp: £66.24
Not only does it shine incredibly brightly, but it lasts for a fair while too. 144 hours is your lot, although naturally, this varies depending on the mode that you're in.
Pros
- 7-year warranty
- Incredible build quality
Cons
- The packet it comes in can be a faff
Best budget torch
Rrp: £29.99
Rrp: £29.99
A potentially lifesaving feature is the scalloped bezel that's designed to shatter glass in the event of an accident. That combined with the SOS beam (part of five modes) means that in the event of an emergency, having the Anker rattling around in the glovebox could potentially save your life.
Pros
- Outstanding construction
- Powerful LED lights
Cons
- On/off switch not where you'd expect
| Max lumens | 900 |
| Weight | 175g |
| Dimensions | 6.2cm x 16xm x 6cm |
| Waterproof rating | IP65 |
| Extras | 5 light modes, wrist strap |
Best for roadside repairs
NEBO do claim that it's both water and impact-resistant, but there's no IP rating provided. Beyond that, the Big Larry 2 features a traditional flashlight and a flashing red emergency light. It's a little larger than the Anker which may make storage a bit more difficult, but it's well-made and very versatile.
Pros
- Versatile product
- Well-made
Cons
- The light isn't as powerful
| Max lumens | 500 (200 flashlight) |
| Weight | 211g |
| Dimensions | 19.7cm x 2.5cm x 3.2cm |
| Waterproof rating | N/A |
| Extras | Both torch and work lamp functions, red emergency light |
Best small torch
It may not boast the features of other torches here, but it's no bigger than a pen and would find home in even the smallest of car interiors without any bother.
Pros
- Tiny size
- Exceptional quality
Cons
- Not rechargeable
| Lumens | 120 |
| Weight | 55g |
| Dimensions | 5.5cm x 0.6cm x6cm |
| Waterproof capacity | N/A |
| Extras | N/A |
Best premium torch
It features four light settings as well as a strobe light for emergencies and comes with a simple rotary switch for increased reliability. For total peace of mind, it's an outstanding option, it's just that it costs a small fortune.
Pros
- Bulletproof reliability
- Powerful
Cons
- Overkill for some
| Max lumens | 3000 |
| Weight | 300g |
| Dimensions | 13.4cm x 3.3cm x 3.3cm |
| Waterproof rating | IP68 |
| Extras | N/A |
Best stylish torch for your car
Pros
- Simple design
- Robust construction
Cons
- Not rechargeable
| Max lumens | 127 |
| Weight | 118g |
| Dimensions | 16.8cm x 25.4cm x 25.4 |
| Waterproof rating | IXP4 |
| Extras | Case, two AA batteries |
Best compact powerful torch
It has a magnetic base as well, so you can have all the lighting power while being able to work on your own car. These capabilities make it useful in camping situations too, if that's your thing. On top of all of that, it boasts amazing value as well compared to some of the other torches on our list.
Pros
- Usefully compact size
- Utilises a lot of power
Cons
- Run time is relatively short
What we look for in torches:
Like a glass squeegee, the size is important. Smaller options may hide away in your car’s stowage spots easily, but may have reduced battery life. Larger units may get in the way on the other hand, especially in smaller cars. Lumens measure the quantity of light coming from the torch which means the higher the number, the more intense and powerful the light. Battery life will also be crucial during a breakdown. It doesn’t matter if your torch could light up a football field if the battery won’t last at least a couple of hours. Remember, these will spend most of their lives languishing neglected in a glovebox so it’s important they have a decent battery attached to them.
What about my smartphone?
Every smartphone ships with a torch nowadays so it may be tempting to skip the torch and rely on that instead. In the same way that you might skip snow socks for a set of decent tyres. The issue is, these torches are often quite underpowered compared to even a cheap standalone torch and it’ll also drain your phone’s battery, a crucial tool during a breakdown.
Tyre inflators often feature a torch function, primarily to aid with finding the tyre valve during a night time flat tyre. They can be used in a pinch but will often be too unwieldy to use as a proper torch. Modern battery boosters will often work far better as a torch thanks to lower weight and smaller sizes. However, much like with a set of snow chains, it’s probably a good idea to keep this as a last resort and instead use a dedicated torch to prevent draining the battery.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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