That glovebox museum sounds familiar—mine’s a jumble of registration slips, insurance cards, and a few mystery receipts. I’ve always wondered if the paper copy has to be the most current one, or if having last year’s card is enough as long as your policy’s active. Anyone ever actually get fined for showing an expired card but having valid coverage? I keep both just in case, but it feels like overkill sometimes.
I’m in the same boat trying to figure this out—just got my first policy and I’m paranoid about not having the right paperwork on hand. I totally get why you’d keep both cards, but honestly, it feels like a lot to keep track of when you’re just trying to stay legal and not get dinged for something technical.
I was reading through some threads and it sounds like, technically, you’re supposed to have the current proof of insurance, not last year’s. But then, if you actually have coverage and can pull it up online or whatever, would a cop really write a ticket for an old card? Seems kind of harsh. I haven’t heard of anyone getting fined if they could prove their policy was still active, but I guess it depends on the officer’s mood or how strict they are.
I’m leaning toward just keeping the latest card and maybe a digital backup on my phone. Feels like a good balance between “prepared” and “not carrying a paper avalanche.”
I totally get the paranoia—I've gotten burned before for not having the right card on me, even though my coverage was active. The cop still gave me a ticket and said it's all about what you can show in the moment. I keep my current card in the glove box and snap a pic for my phone, just in case. Haven't had issues since, but I wouldn't risk carrying old cards... too easy to mix them up when you're stressed. Digital backup's saved me once already.
Honestly, it’s wild how picky they can be about the actual card. I got pulled over last winter and the officer wouldn’t even look at my email proof—had to be the physical card or nothing. Now I just rotate out the old ones religiously. Glove box is basically my mobile file cabinet at this point...
Yeah, South Dakota’s rules are kind of strict about this. Physical proof of insurance is still the standard here, even though a bunch of other states accept digital cards now. I’ve heard of a few officers being flexible, but technically, they’re allowed to insist on the paper version. It’s a hassle, especially if you’re used to just pulling up an app or email in other places.
I do the same thing—swap out the old cards every renewal and keep a couple spares in the glove box. It’s not just for the police, either. If you’re ever in an accident, having the card on hand is way easier than trying to dig through your phone while you’re stressed out. Plus, sometimes your phone’s dead, or you don’t have service... then what?
One thing I’ve noticed is that the state law says you have to “display” proof, but doesn’t specifically say it has to be paper. Still, most officers want to see the actual card, and arguing on the side of the road isn’t worth it. I’ve heard of people getting tickets they had to fight later, just because they only had electronic proof.
It’s kind of old-school, but until they change the law or update their policy, best bet is to keep that little card handy. Not ideal, but it beats the headache if you get stopped.
