Honestly, I’d push back a bit on that. Had a buddy who thought digital was enough, but when his truck got rear-ended, the adjuster wanted hard copies of some stuff—photos weren’t cutting it. Maybe overkill to keep every oil change, but I still toss the big-ticket stuff in the glove box, just in case. Cloud’s great till you’re locked out or your phone’s dead. Never hurts to have a backup, especially if you’re out in the sticks.
Yeah, I’ve seen that happen more than once—sometimes digital copies just don’t cut it, especially if there’s a dispute or the claim gets escalated. A few things I’d add:
- Original receipts for major repairs or aftermarket parts can speed up claims.
- Some insurance companies still want “wet” signatures or physical docs for certain stuff.
- If you’re in a rural area, spotty cell service can make cloud access a pain.
Honestly, a folder in the glove box with the essentials isn’t overkill. It’s saved headaches for a lot of folks I’ve worked with.
Keeping paper copies in the glove box has bailed me out more than once. Had a fender bender last winter, and my phone was dead—couldn’t pull up my insurance app or anything. The officer actually asked for the physical card, which I hadn’t bothered to update. Lesson learned. Now I keep a folder with the basics, just in case. Digital’s great until it isn’t... especially out here where service drops off fast.
Yeah, I hear you on that. I always thought the digital cards would be enough, but after my brother got pulled over and couldn’t get a signal, he got a warning about not having a paper copy. Guess it’s just safer to have both. South Dakota seems to still want that physical proof, especially in more rural areas. Doesn’t hurt to toss the latest card in the glove box, even if it feels a bit old-school.
Honestly, I used to think digital was the way to go too, but after hearing stories like your brother’s, I’m not risking it. Here’s how I do it, step by step—because I’m not about to get stuck on the side of the road arguing with a trooper about cell service.
1. Print out the latest insurance card as soon as I get the email. Doesn’t matter if it feels “old-school”—it’s just easier.
2. Stick it in the glove box. Not in the cupholder, not in the door pocket (learned that one the hard way when it slid under the seat).
3. Keep the digital version on my phone anyway, just in case. Sometimes they’ll accept it, sometimes they won’t. Depends on who you get.
4. If you’re switching cars or borrowing someone’s ride, double-check their glove box too. People forget.
“Doesn’t hurt to toss the latest card in the glove box, even if it feels a bit old-school.”
Yeah, it’s not cool or high-tech, but neither is getting a ticket for something dumb. South Dakota’s rules are kind of stuck in the past, but until they catch up, I’m not taking chances.
