Haha, I hear you on the paper thing, but honestly, I've had the opposite experience. Last summer, we were road-tripping through South Dakota—kids in the backseat fighting over snacks, wife navigating (or trying to), and me just trying to keep my sanity. Anyway, somewhere near Sioux Falls, I got pulled over for speeding (I swear it was barely 5 mph over...but whatever). The officer asked for insurance, and I confidently handed him my printed copy. He glanced at it, squinted suspiciously, and then asked if I had a digital version instead because apparently my printout looked "a bit outdated." Seriously?!
So there I was, fumbling with my phone, kids giggling in the backseat, wife giving me the "I told you so" look. Finally got the app open and showed him the digital card. He nodded approvingly and let us go with a warning. Ever since then, I've been strictly digital—no more crumpled papers in the glove compartment for me.
I guess it really depends on the officer you get or maybe even their mood that day. Or maybe it's just my luck...but honestly, I'd rather just keep both handy from now on. Can't hurt to have backup, right?
Interesting experience, never had an officer prefer digital over paper myself. Makes me wonder, is there actually an official rule in South Dakota about digital vs. printed insurance proof, or is it just officer preference? I've been pulled over a few times (yeah, I know...) and they've always accepted my beat-up paper copy without question. Maybe the officer thought your printout looked suspiciously homemade or something? Now I'm curious if other states have similar quirks—could be useful to know before my next road trip.
I've had similar experiences, and from what I've gathered, South Dakota officially accepts digital proof of insurance—it's actually stated clearly on their DMV site. But officers might still have personal preferences or suspicions about authenticity. I've traveled through several states, and honestly, most accept digital copies these days, but it's always safer to keep a printed backup handy. You never know when your phone decides to die at the worst possible moment...
Totally agree on the printed backup. I learned that the hard way driving through Wyoming last summer—my phone overheated and shut down right when I got pulled over for a busted taillight. Officer was cool about it, but definitely seemed skeptical when I couldn't immediately pull up my digital insurance. Thankfully, he let me restart the phone, but lesson learned. Now I always stash a paper copy in the glovebox—cheap, simple, and saves a ton of hassle if things go sideways.
Yeah, digital is handy until it isn't. Had a similar thing happen last winter—phone battery tanked in the cold, and I was stuck fumbling around trying to explain myself. Officer was patient enough, but it felt awkward as heck. Now I just print out a fresh copy whenever I renew my policy. Costs basically nothing, and it's one less thing to stress about. Plus, paper doesn't randomly die on you...
