If you’re lucky (and take proper care of your car), you could go years without having to jumpstart a vehicle. If you’re ever in the position of needing to jump your own car, you’ll be happy you know how to do it.

Not knowing could how could leave you stranded for hours. Don’t let this critical skill be forgotten.

Park

Park the cars close to one another, without touching. Make sure both vehicles are completely off.

Prep

Pop the hoods, and locate the batteries. Make sure the jumper cables are unwound and untangled.

Attach

Hook the red (+) clamp to the positive terminal of the dead battery. Then, attach the red (+) clamp to the positive terminal of the working battery. Clamp the black (-) to the negative terminal of the working battery. Finally, attach the remaining black (-) to an unpainted metal surface of the dead car.

Start ‘er up

Start the working car. Start the dead car.

Remove:

Remove the cables in the reverse order you attached them.

Let ‘er run

Let the revived car engine run for several minutes at least or drive for at least 15 minutes if possible.