Honestly, I get the brain fog thing, but I’m not totally sold on relying just on phone pics. Phones die, or you can’t get into them if you’re frazzled and forget your passcode (been there). I still keep a paper copy in the glovebox, just in case. Maybe old school, but it’s saved me more than once.
I hear you—digital copies are handy, but they’re not foolproof. I’ve had clients stuck on the side of the road with a dead phone and no access to their policy info. Paper backup in the glovebox is still the safest bet, honestly.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from—phones die at the worst possible times. But here’s what I’m wondering: do people actually check their glovebox backups regularly? I mean, it’s easy to toss a paper in there and forget about it for years, but what if your insurance card expired or got buried under old napkins and receipts?
I keep both, just in case, but I’ve definitely found myself digging through a mess looking for that one piece of paper when I needed it fast. Is there a better way to make sure your info’s always up to date and accessible? Or is it just about building the habit to swap out the old docs every renewal?
Also, with Progressive’s roadside help, has anyone run into issues where the tow truck or service needed to see your physical proof before helping out? Or do they just go off your policy number or ID? I’ve never had to use it yet, but I’d hate to be stuck because my phone’s dead and my paperwork’s outdated...
“I mean, it’s easy to toss a paper in there and forget about it for years, but what if your insurance card expired or got buried under old napkins and receipts?”
Honestly, I’ve been guilty of that exact thing—glovebox turns into a black hole for paperwork. What’s worked for me is putting the latest insurance card in a cheap plastic sleeve (like the ones for trading cards) and taping it to the inside of the glovebox door. That way, it’s always visible and doesn’t get lost under random stuff. As for Progressive roadside, last time I needed a tow, they just asked for my policy number over the phone—didn’t need to show anything physical. Still, I’d rather have backup just in case tech fails me at the worst moment...
That’s a clever way to keep your card handy—never thought about using a trading card sleeve, but it makes sense. I’ve seen people stash all sorts of things in their gloveboxes, and honestly, half the time folks can’t even find their registration when they need it. It’s true that most roadside providers, including Progressive, can pull up your info with just your policy number or even your name and address in a pinch. But you’re right, tech can let you down at the worst possible moment... dead phone, no signal, whatever.
One thing I usually suggest is keeping a digital copy of your insurance card on your phone (just snap a pic), but also print out a fresh copy every renewal and toss the old one. Doesn’t cost anything extra, and you’ll always have a backup if something goes sideways. Not everyone likes to deal with paper, but sometimes old-school is just more reliable.
And yeah, I’ve seen expired cards floating around for years in some cars—definitely not ideal if you get pulled over or need proof on the spot. Little bit of organization goes a long way, even if it’s just once or twice a year.
