Couldn't agree more with keeping physical copies handy. Digital convenience is great until it isn't—especially when dealing with official documents like insurance. I've seen similar situations at classic car meets: someone pulls up proudly in their restored Mustang or Corvette, and when it's time to verify insurance for event registration, their phone battery is dead or there's no reception out in the field. Awkward moment for sure...
Another thing worth mentioning is that some states, including South Dakota, can have specific rules about digital proof of insurance. While electronic proof is generally accepted nowadays, certain rural areas or older law enforcement officers might still prefer a physical card. It's always best to double-check local regulations and keep a printed copy tucked away in your glovebox or wallet, just to be safe.
Gotta disagree a bit here—I haven't carried a physical insurance card in years and never had an issue, even in rural areas. Cops nowadays are pretty used to digital proof. Sure, phones die, but how often does that actually happen? Maybe at classic car meets it's different, but for everyday driving, seems like overkill to stress about carrying paper around. Just keep your phone charged and you're good...
- Digital proof is convenient, sure, but relying solely on your phone feels risky to me.
- Had a close call once—phone died after a long drive, and I was glad I had the paper card stashed in the glovebox.
- Curious though, anyone know if SD cops accept screenshots as proof, or does it have to be live from the app?
- Had a similar issue last winter—phone battery drained super fast in the cold, and I was stuck fumbling around for my paper copy. Glad I had it tucked away.
- As for screenshots, I've heard mixed things. A buddy of mine showed a screenshot once during a stop near Rapid City, and the officer accepted it no problem. But personally, I'd rather not risk it... cops might vary on this stuff depending on their mood or interpretation of the rules. Better safe than sorry imo.
Had the same thing happen to me once—picture this: freezing night, luxury car (heated seats, check; heated steering wheel, check; working phone battery... nope). Step one: confidently reach for phone. Step two: panic mildly as screen fades to black. Step three: awkwardly rummage through glovebox hoping the paper copy is still there. Lesson learned—screenshots are handy but unreliable. Just stash a paper copy somewhere in your car and thank yourself later.
