I get the appeal of digital, but I still keep a paper copy in the glovebox just in case. Had a friend whose phone died right as he got pulled over—awkward situation. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but the backup gives me peace of mind.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I actually learned the hard way—got pulled over during a snowstorm outside Pierre, and my phone was buried somewhere under all my winter gear. Officer was patient, but it took forever to dig out my paper card. Ever since, I just keep both handy. Digital’s great until your battery’s toast or you’re in the middle of nowhere with no service... just feels safer to have that backup, even if it’s a little old school.
I’ve run into a similar situation, though not quite as dramatic—just a routine stop outside Rapid City, but my phone was dead and I only had the digital card. The officer was understanding, but it definitely slowed things down. I get the convenience of digital, but honestly, I’m still not convinced it’s reliable enough on its own. Paper might be old school, but it’s never failed me yet... even if it does get a little crumpled in the glove box.
I get the hesitation about going fully digital, but I’ve actually started relying more on my phone for insurance docs—mainly because I’ve had way too many moments where the paper card was out of date or buried under six months of fast food napkins. Here’s my take: I keep the digital card saved in a cloud note AND as a screenshot, just in case I’m out of service. Plus, I still toss the latest paper card in the glove box as backup. That way, if my phone dies or the officer’s not into digital, I’ve got both bases covered.
Honestly, tech’s not perfect, but neither is paper. I’ve had a soda can explode in the glove box before... paper didn’t survive that one. If you set up a system—like updating both versions when your policy renews—it gets pretty painless. Just my two cents, but having both handy has saved me some headaches.
That’s a pretty solid system you’ve got going. I’ve seen folks get tripped up by relying on just one method—either the phone dies at the worst moment, or the paper card is a soggy mess from a leaky water bottle. Having both is smart, especially in places like South Dakota where some officers still prefer the old-school paper. I’ve had clients call me from the side of the road, panicking because their app wouldn’t load. A little redundancy goes a long way. Your “update both at renewal” habit is honestly the best way to avoid those last-minute scrambles.
