I've heard mixed stories about digital cards in SD. A friend of mine drives a vintage Mustang and swears by paper copies—he said an officer once gave him grief over his phone screen being cracked, claiming it wasn't "clearly readable." Seems a bit picky to me, but I guess it depends on who you get and their mood that day. Speaking of backups, do you guys keep extra printed docs for your classic rides, or trust digital? Curious how other old-school car folks handle this...
I keep digital copies on my phone too, but honestly, for my old Chevy, I always stash a printed set in the glovebox just in case. Phones die, screens crack (been there!), and some officers prefer paper anyway... better safe than sorry, right?
"Phones die, screens crack (been there!), and some officers prefer paper anyway... better safe than sorry, right?"
Couldn't agree more with this. A couple years back, I was driving my '72 Mustang through rural South Dakota—beautiful drive, but cell reception was spotty at best. Got pulled over for a busted taillight (didn't even realize it was out), and when the officer asked for insurance proof, I confidently pulled out my phone... only to find the battery had drained completely. Talk about awkward.
Thankfully, I'd stashed a printed copy in the glovebox just a few weeks earlier after reading about someone else's similar experience on this forum. The officer seemed relieved too—he mentioned that digital copies are technically acceptable here, but he personally preferred paper since it's quicker and easier to verify without dealing with glare or cracked screens.
Ever since then, I've made it a habit to keep physical copies of all important documents in my glovebox. It's cheap insurance against tech mishaps or unexpected situations. Plus, if you're budget-conscious like me, avoiding potential fines or hassles is always worth the minor inconvenience of printing out a few sheets of paper every six months or so.
Digital is convenient, sure—but sometimes old-school practicality wins out.
I get your point about paper being reliable, but honestly, I've never had an issue with digital insurance cards. Been driving around Sioux Falls and even out toward Rapid City a few times, and every officer I've encountered seemed totally fine with me showing proof on my phone. I keep a portable charger in the car anyway—it's saved me more than once when my battery dipped low.
Also, paper copies can get outdated pretty fast if you're not careful. My insurance updates every six months, and I'm not always great at remembering to print the new one right away. Digital updates automatically, so I don't have to worry about accidentally handing over expired info.
I guess it depends on personal habits and comfort level with tech, but for me, digital's been hassle-free so far. Maybe I've just been lucky...
You're definitely not just lucky—digital insurance cards have become pretty widely accepted in South Dakota these days. I've handled claims from all over the state, and honestly, most officers seem comfortable with digital proof now. A couple of years back, I remember a client who got pulled over near Aberdeen and panicked because his paper card was expired. Luckily, he had the app on his phone and the officer didn't even blink—just glanced at it and handed it right back.
Still, you're smart to keep that portable charger handy. I've seen situations where someone's phone died at exactly the wrong moment (Murphy's law, right?), and having a backup plan is always good practice. But overall, your experience matches what I've been seeing lately: digital is convenient, reliable, and usually hassle-free. Sounds like you've got a solid system figured out already.
