I get the worry about tech failing at the worst time, but honestly, I’ve never actually needed a paper copy in years of commuting and road trips. My insurance app lets me download the card right to my phone, so even if I’m offline or out in the boonies, it’s still there. I get the “just in case” mindset, but for me, keeping track of one less piece of paper is worth a tiny bit of risk. Maybe I’m just too trusting of my phone… but it hasn’t let me down yet.
“keeping track of one less piece of paper is worth a tiny bit of risk”
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’m the same way—my glove box used to be a disaster zone with old forms and expired cards. The digital card on my phone has saved me so much hassle. I figure, if my phone ever does fail, it’s probably because something way bigger is going wrong anyway. For me, the peace of mind from decluttering outweighs the what-ifs.
I hear you on the digital card convenience—my center console used to be a graveyard for outdated paperwork too. I’ll admit, I’m still a bit wary about relying solely on my phone, especially after it died on me during a road trip once. Still, the clutter is real, and having everything in one place does make life easier. I keep a backup paper copy tucked away, just in case, but I get why you’d want to ditch the mess. It’s a trade-off, for sure.
I totally get the hesitation—phones are great until they aren’t. I’ve had mine die at the worst times, too. Keeping a paper backup seems like the safest bet for now. Ever tried one of those little document wallets? They’re not perfect, but at least it keeps things from floating around everywhere.
Document wallets are handy, but I always end up stuffing too much in them and then can’t find what I need fast. I’ve tried the slim ones with clear pockets, but those get bulky after a few months. Ever had an issue where you needed your insurance docs on a trip and realized you left them at home? I’m curious if anyone’s found a system that actually works for both digital and paper—seems like there’s always a catch.
