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Energy bars. The ones in the foil wrappers. And water - though during the cold season water may not be as useful as its usually frozen. I know you said you drove mostly highway, but in a fog or other weather feature that causes one of those massive 50 car pile ups, even if your car isn't directly involved you could still be stuck for hours waiting for things to get cleared up.

Proper, real, snow tires... put on seasonally. Not part of the emergency trunk kit, admittedly.... but if you can avoid getting into trouble in the first case then the snow tires have paid for themselves. All Seasons are not snow tires. I live in a temperate part of Canada, where snow is rare. But when it does snow my car with the real snow tires is out and about while the all-seasons are stuck spinning their wheels and using traction aids.

Good Luck.
 
Tire chains, if applicable. An air compressor. Basic tools. Flashlight. Jumper cables. Everything you need to change a tire. AAA card. Blankets, food and water if you might get stuck in cold conditions.

I keep in my glove compartment a rescue knife with a center-punch and seatbelt cutter (cousin of mine almost died in a lake) and an insanely loud whistle I found at REI (but which they don't seem to carry anymore).
 
If you mean you want to leave a binder with your receipts in, in the car, then don't. Don't leave any documentation in the car in case it gets stolen.

Really good things to have are:
  • Some rope or thick twine
  • A couple of bungees
  • Duct tape
  • Torch
  • Wire
  • Small tool kit containing at least: adjustable wrench, combi-screwdriver, knife of some sort, pliers
  • Latex gloves
  • Pen
  • Paper
  • Spare bulbs
  • spare fuses
  • Foot pump (or electric equivalent)

Don't forget your brain. It might help to go on an introductory car maintenance/troubleshooting course. It's very easy to panic and give up when your car refuses to start, but usually it's down to one of a few elementary problems. If you sit back and think it through, very often you can trace the fault and fix it yourself.

You can never have enough rope.
-Boondock Saints
 

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Now days all a person needs is a credit card and a cell phone. When I lived in Wyoming I never left home without most of the stuff listed above and then a bit more.
 
Now days all a person needs is a credit card and a cell phone. When I lived in Wyoming I never left home without most of the stuff listed above and then a bit more.

as long as you have a cell phone that takes pictures and video. I was involved in a hit and run last year. the guy stopped at first, long enough for me to take a photo of him and a video of the scene. the DA was able to prosecute based on the photos and video!
 
I always think of that scene in Innerspace where Meg Ryan goes "Oh, Tuck always keeps extra clothes in the car because he never knows where he's going to wake up."

There are basic items I'd keep in any car: Flashlight (a good one; not those pansy double-A jobs) a first aid kit, etc etc. Emergency stuff should always be first. One of those plug-into-the-cigarette-lighter tyre pumper inflater things.

For posterity's sake a few CDs for backup in case I forget miPod... and don't forget insurance and registration. :) I've heard of a few people who 'forget' to put them in their car...
 
... and don't forget insurance and registration. :) I've heard of a few people who 'forget' to put them in their car...

That's not required in every state. I was stopped once in another state, and the officer asked to see my registration. I simply replied that we weren't required to carry that in our home state, and that satisfied him.
 
That's not required in every state. I was stopped once in another state, and the officer asked to see my registration. I simply replied that we weren't required to carry that in our home state, and that satisfied him.

I've never had to show registration either, just license and insurance card.
 
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