I get the urge to have backups, but honestly, I’ve never had an issue just keeping the digital version handy. Maybe I’m just lucky, but every time I’ve been pulled over, the officer just glances at my phone and moves on. I do wonder, though, if we’re making things more complicated by carrying so many copies. Isn’t the whole point of digital docs to make life easier? That said, I’ve had DMV folks side-eye my phone more than any cop ever has... maybe it’s just a matter of who you run into.
- I hear you, but I’ve had a cop once who wanted the actual paper. No joke—he said his scanner “didn’t like screens.”
- Digital’s great until your phone’s dead or you’re in a spot with no service.
- I keep a paper copy in the glove box, just in case. Feels old-school, but it’s saved me some hassle.
- DMV folks? Yeah, they act like you’re showing them a UFO if you hand over your phone...
- Maybe we’re not making it more complicated, just covering our bases? I dunno, I’d rather be over-prepared than stuck arguing roadside.
DMV folks? Yeah, they act like you’re showing them a UFO if you hand over your phone...
That made me laugh—so true. I’ve had that exact look from a DMV clerk, like I was trying to pay with Monopoly money or something. But honestly, is it just me, or does it feel like every agency has their own “preferred” way of seeing your docs? One cop’s fine with digital, another wants the paper, and the DMV seems allergic to anything but hard copies.
I get why people keep a paper copy in the glove box. I do too, even though it feels a little paranoid sometimes. But after my phone died on a road trip in the middle of nowhere (naturally, right when I got pulled over), I’m not risking that again. Is there any official rule about what’s actually required, or is it just luck of the draw depending on who you get?
Feels like we’re all just guessing and hoping we’ve got the right version handy. Anyone ever had both copies and still gotten grief?
Never fails—had both digital and paper once, and the officer still acted like I was handing him a menu instead of insurance. Here’s my take:
- I keep a printed copy in the glove box, even though it feels old-school.
- My phone’s always charged, but tech fails at the worst times.
- Rules seem to depend on who you get—some just want to see *something*, others nitpick.
Honestly, with what I pay for insurance on my car, you’d think they’d make it easier... but nope. Still feels like a gamble every time.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve had an officer squint at my phone like it was a magic trick, then ask for the paper anyway. Honestly, keeping both feels like overkill, but it’s saved me more than once. The rules are all over the place—sometimes I wonder if they even know what counts half the time. At this point, glove box paper is just insurance for my insurance... ridiculous, but it works.
