Honestly, I think you nailed it—the system’s just not ready to go fully digital yet. I’ve had a trooper in Minnehaha County who was fine with my phone, and then a sheriff out by Wall who looked at me like I was trying to hand him a spaceship. It’s wild. I keep both, even though it feels like overkill, just because the hassle isn’t worth it. One of these days maybe South Dakota will catch up and make it less of a guessing game... but until then, glove box full of expired cards and all.
You’re not alone with the glove box full of old cards—mine’s practically a filing cabinet at this point. I’ve run into the same thing, where one officer is totally fine with a digital copy and the next one acts like it’s some kind of scam. It’s frustrating, but honestly, I’d rather have too much paperwork than get stuck on the side of the road arguing about what counts as proof.
I do think we’ll get there eventually, but South Dakota seems to move at its own pace with this stuff. Until then, I just keep a current paper card tucked in with the rest, even if it feels a bit silly. At least it saves me from any extra headaches if I get pulled over. Maybe someday we’ll be able to ditch all the paper, but for now... better safe than sorry, right?
mine’s practically a filing cabinet at this point
Same here, except mine’s more like a junk drawer—old cards, fast food napkins, random receipts... it’s chaos. I’ve tried showing the digital proof before and got a look like I was trying to pull a fast one. Honestly, I don’t get why it’s so inconsistent. You’d think by now they’d all be on the same page. I keep the paper card too, just in case, but it feels like carrying around a pager in 2024.
I keep the paper card too, just in case, but it feels like carrying around a pager in 2024.
Honestly, I feel that. I just got my first insurance and already lost track of which card is current. Tried the app once and the clerk acted like I was showing a fake ID. Why is this still so confusing?
Honestly, I get why you’re frustrated. Insurance cards are like socks in the dryer—one always goes missing. Here’s what I do: snap a pic of the current card and stash it in a “wallet” folder on my phone. That way, if the app glitches or the paper card’s MIA, you’ve still got proof. Some clerks are just old school and want to see the physical thing, but most places should accept a digital copy. South Dakota’s rules are a bit behind, but having a backup never hurts.