"ever had your car's digital dash glitch out in freezing temps?"
Yeah, I've seen that happen too—super frustrating. But honestly, physical docs can have their own issues. Once, I spilled coffee all over my glovebox, and my insurance papers turned into a soggy mess. Digital backups on my phone saved me that day. I think the best bet is probably having both options handy...just in case one fails. As for emergency items, jumper cables and a blanket are must-haves in my book.
Had that happen once during a brutal cold snap—my dash looked like it was trying to communicate with aliens. Took me a minute to realize the temp gauge wasn't actually reading "-999°F," haha. Totally agree on the blanket and cables, though I'd also throw in a flashlight. Curious, does anyone know if South Dakota officially accepts digital insurance cards, or is it still strictly paper here?
Digital cards are totally fine in South Dakota now. They updated the law a couple years back, actually—finally catching up with the times, haha. I've had clients show digital proof during traffic stops without any hassle. Just make sure your phone's charged... wouldn't want it dying right when you need it most (been there, done that).
And man, your "-999°F" dash reading reminded me of the time my car insisted my tire pressure was "0 psi," even though they looked perfectly fine. Turns out sensors aren't big fans of extreme cold either. Good call on the flashlight though—can't count how many times I've dropped something important under the seat at night and regretted not having one handy.
Digital cards seem convenient, but I still don't fully trust 'em yet. Maybe I'm just old-school, but I always keep a paper copy tucked in the glovebox—just in case the phone decides to bail on me mid-stop (and yeah, that's happened at least once). Good to hear SD caught up though, finally.
And speaking of sensor weirdness, my classic Mustang once insisted the engine was overheating...in the middle of winter, barely five minutes after startup. Turns out the gauge had a mind of its own when temps dipped too low. Sensors and extreme weather just don't mix well, digital or analog.
Definitely second the flashlight idea—saved me more times than I care to admit. That and keeping a small toolkit handy. You never know when you'll need to tighten something under the hood or give a stubborn starter a gentle tap...
"Digital cards seem convenient, but I still don't fully trust 'em yet."
I get the hesitation, but honestly, digital insurance cards have been pretty reliable for me. Had a paper copy get soaked once when my windshield leaked during a storm—talk about bad timing. Ever since then, I've kept a digital backup on my phone, and it's saved me a couple times already. Sure, phones can glitch out, but paper isn't exactly foolproof either.
Also, about sensors acting up in cold weather...I've had analog gauges go haywire too, especially older cars with mechanical speedometers that bounce around when it's freezing out. Digital sensors aren't perfect, but neither are the old-school ones. It's more about quality and maintenance than analog vs digital, IMO.
Definitely agree on the toolkit though—can't count how many times a simple wrench or screwdriver has gotten me back on the road.
