Faxing is like the cockroach of paperwork—it just won’t die. But about digital copies, I actually did get some side-eye from a state trooper once. He still took my phone, but muttered something about “old school.” Also, I hate to say it, but I’ve had an insurer ask for gas receipts... during a claim after someone rear-ended me and there was mileage confusion. I thought it was overkill, but apparently, they do dig deep sometimes. Maybe we’re not being paranoid enough?
I’ve had an insurer ask for gas receipts... during a claim after someone rear-ended me and there was mileage confusion.
That’s wild, but honestly, I’m not surprised. I had a claim where they wanted dashcam footage, phone records, and even proof of my last oil change. They’ll dig for anything if it means paying less. I keep every scrap of paper now, just in case. Paranoid? Maybe, but I’d rather be overprepared than stuck fighting them later.
Yeah, I get it—insurance companies will ask for anything if they think it’ll help them pay less. Here’s what I do now: keep a folder in the glove box with receipts, oil change records, and even photos of the car every few months. It sounds over the top, but after one claim dragged out for weeks because I couldn’t prove my mileage, I’m not taking chances. They’ll use any excuse to stall or deny. Better to have too much than not enough when they start digging.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I think keeping a whole folder in the glove box is a bit much for most folks. I’ve owned a couple of classics and daily drivers, and in my experience, insurance companies in Illinois aren’t always as nitpicky as people make them out to be.
“They’ll use any excuse to stall or deny. Better to have too much than not enough when they start digging.”
Maybe with some companies, but I’ve had claims go through with just basic paperwork—registration, proof of insurance, and a few photos from my phone. Mileage was never a big issue unless it was a stated value policy or something unusual. I do keep digital copies of receipts and service records, but I’d rather not leave all that in the car. If it gets stolen, that’s just more hassle.
Guess it depends on the insurer and the type of coverage. For collector cars, yeah, documentation is everything. For regular stuff? I’d say don’t stress too much unless you’ve had issues before.
Yeah, I hear you. I’ve got three kids and a minivan that’s basically a rolling snack bar—if I had to keep every receipt and record in the glove box, I’d never find the registration under all the Goldfish crackers. For regular cars, as long as you’ve got the basics, you’re probably fine. The digital backup is smart though… just don’t ask me to remember my cloud password.
