What I do now is keep a printed card in the glovebox, and—just in case—I take a screenshot of my insurance info when I get the renewal email. That way, if the app’s down or there’s no signal, I can still pull it up from my photos.
I totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve had my fair share of “technology fails me at the worst possible moment” situations. There was this one time, maybe two winters ago, I was driving back from my cousin’s place in the sticks and my phone just straight up died. Not even a low battery situation—just froze solid from the cold. I remember thinking, “Well, this is how horror movies start.” I had the app, but what good is that when your phone’s a brick?
I used to think having everything digital was the way to go, but after that, I started keeping a little folder in my glovebox with all the basics—insurance, registration, even a list of emergency contacts. Maybe it’s old school, but it’s saved me more than once. I don’t think it’s overkill at all. If anything, it’s just being prepared.
Funny thing is, I never thought to screenshot the insurance info. That’s actually a smart move. I’ve always just relied on the physical card, but now that you mention it, there’s been a couple times I couldn’t find the card right away (glovebox gets messy, you know how it is). Having a backup in your photos makes sense, especially if you’re like me and can never remember where you put stuff.
One thing I’m still not sure about—does anyone actually use those little keychain cards some companies send? I always lose those within a week. Maybe I’m just not organized enough for that kind of thing.
Anyway, I guess the moral is: tech is great, but a little paper backup never hurts.
I’m new to all this and honestly, I’m kind of paranoid about losing stuff or my phone dying at the wrong time. I keep both the paper card and a screenshot, just in case. Those keychain cards? They seem handy but I’d probably misplace them too. Not sure they’re worth the hassle for me. Having backups feels safer, even if it’s a bit old-fashioned.
Having backups feels safer, even if it’s a bit old-fashioned.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I used to carry a folder in my glove box with every insurance doc known to man—my wife teased me for being “prepared for the apocalypse.” But, turns out, I actually needed it once when my phone died on a road trip and I had to call Progressive’s roadside help. Paper card saved the day. Those keychain cards are clever, but honestly, I’d probably lose them faster than my keys. Old-school backups might not be flashy, but they’ve bailed me out more than once.
