I learned the hard way about not having a backup. Last winter, my phone froze up right as I was pulled over outside Rapid City. The officer was patient, but it was awkward fumbling with a dead screen. Since then, I keep a paper copy in my glove box—though I do worry about it getting lost or torn. Updating both at renewal is a habit I’m still working on, but it really does save stress. South Dakota’s mix of tech and tradition keeps you on your toes.
Never fails—tech always craps out when you need it most. I’ve seen folks get tickets just because they couldn’t pull up proof of insurance on their phone. I tell people, keep a paper copy, even if it’s a little crumpled. Honestly, the “old school” way still works best out here.
Honestly, the “old school” way still works best out here.
Can’t argue with that. I learned the hard way a couple winters back—phone froze up, couldn’t show my insurance, and the officer wasn’t having it. Got a warning, but still... Now I keep a ratty old copy in my glovebox, just in case. Not fancy, but it’s saved me more than once. Tech’s great till it isn’t, especially with spotty service around here.
Honestly, I see this all the time—folks relying on digital proof and then getting caught out when tech fails. Paper copies might seem old-fashioned, but they’re still the safest bet, especially in places where winter can kill your phone battery in minutes. I always tell people: keep a current printout in the glovebox, even if you think you’ll never need it. It’s not about being paranoid, just practical. Digital’s convenient, but it’s not foolproof, especially out here where service drops and weather’s brutal.
I get where you’re coming from about paper copies, but honestly, I’ve always leaned digital just for the convenience. My car’s got a built-in hotspot and wireless charging, so I figured I was covered... until last December when my phone froze up after being in the car for ten minutes. Had to dig around for a crumpled old insurance card in the trunk—felt pretty dumb.
I’m curious though: is there an actual rule in South Dakota that says you *have* to have a paper copy, or will they accept a digital version if you can show it? I’ve heard different things from different folks—some say officers don’t care as long as you can pull it up, others swear they got a warning for not having the physical card. Would love to hear if anyone’s had a run-in with law enforcement on this lately. Just trying to figure out if I really need to start printing these out again or if my phone’s still good enough most of the time...
