I’ve seen it done, but I’m convinced those people are wizards or something. Mine’s basically a receipt graveyard with a side of expired gum.
Haha, same here—my glovebox is a disaster zone. I always wonder if the digital proof thing is more hassle than it’s worth, though. Like, what happens if your phone’s dead or you can’t get a signal? Has anyone actually had an officer refuse to accept the digital version? I’ve heard stories but never seen it firsthand.
I totally get where you’re coming from. My glovebox is basically a black hole for random paperwork and half-melted mints. I tried going digital with my insurance card once, thinking I was being all modern, but then my phone decided to freeze up right as I needed it. Ended up awkwardly scrolling and apologizing while the officer just waited. He was cool about it, but I felt like a total mess.
I’ve heard Illinois is supposed to accept digital proof, but I’m always paranoid about tech failing at the worst moment. Honestly, I still keep a crumpled paper copy somewhere in the chaos just in case. It’s probably expired, but it makes me feel better. I don’t think you’re alone in worrying about this stuff—seems like most people are just winging it and hoping for the best.
Honestly, I wouldn’t trust just a digital copy either—phones die, apps glitch, you name it. I always recommend keeping a current paper card tucked somewhere easy to grab. If you update your insurance, swap the old one out right away. It’s not glamorous, but it saves a lot of stress if you ever get pulled over or need to file a claim. Digital is great when it works, but paper’s still the safest backup in my book.
I hear you on the paper backup—my glove box is basically a graveyard of expired insurance cards and half-eaten granola bars. But has anyone actually had a cop accept just the digital version in Illinois? I always wonder if I’m risking it when I forget to swap out the old card. Feels like every time I clean out the car, I find three different “current” cards... none of them actually current.
I’ve actually had to show my insurance on my phone once in Illinois—got pulled over for a busted taillight last year. Cop didn’t even blink, just looked at the screen, checked the dates, and handed it back. I think as long as it’s got all the info and isn’t some blurry screenshot, they’re fine with it. Honestly, I stopped stressing about swapping out the paper cards after that. The glove box is just where old paperwork goes to die at this point.
That said, I’ve heard some folks say they ran into an officer who wanted the paper version, but I’ve never seen it myself. Law says digital is fine, but you know how it goes—depends on who you get. I’d keep a current card in there just in case, but I wouldn’t lose sleep over it. If you’ve got the app or a PDF handy, you’re probably covered.
