By Marc Deiter on July 26, 2021 in Insurance Basics
Let’s start out with a hypothetical example. Let’s say you get pulled over. You were going 10 miles over because you were too busy belting out your favorite song while cruising on the highway. You didn’t realize you were going too fast at the time, but the sirens behind you let you know you're busted.
The cop asks for your proof of insurance, and you start digging through your glove box for your most recent car insurance card. You know you have your insurance id card, but it's mixed in with all the old cards you forgot to throw out. You’re sitting there trying to figure out which is the newest, your heart is racing as the cop stands at your window waiting for you.
If you have a digital insurance card, this process is not nearly as nerve-wracking. It’s as easy as pulling your ID card up on your phone and letting the officer review it.
Why insurance ID cards are important
You always need to have your proof of insurance card on you in case you get pulled over or get into an accident. Most states require it (including all Say states). It’s a way to show that you have some kind of car insurance coverage and are able to pay for damages or medical expenses if you do happen to get into an accident. That all depends on what types of coverages you have, of course.
What is a digital insurance card?
A digital insurance card (or digital insurance ID) is an electronic copy of your proof of insurance. It has all the same information that the typical printed version has - your name, policy number, vehicle type, how long the card is valid for, etc. You can use this digital insurance card when you need to provide proof of insurance to anyone. And that includes the DMV or Department of Revenue.
What happens if you don’t have your auto insurance card?
If you don’t show proof of insurance to, say, a police officer, they can issue you a ticket or fine. Because you’re required to carry them in most states, you can be ticketed for not having your car insurance card.
Another reason why having a digital insurance card can be really helpful. You won’t ever have to worry about not having it with you. Because let’s face it, you probably always have your phone with you, and in turn, your insurance ID card.
Do any states not accept digital insurance cards?
The majority of states are just fine with a digital insurance card rather than a printed copy. There are only two exceptions:
- Massachusetts
- New Mexico
If you happen to be traveling to or through either of those, we suggest printing out a copy before you hit the road, just in case.
Say’s digital insurance cards
Our goal at Say is to always put the customer first. Our digital ID card is meant to make it easy on you and cut out the need to carry around a paper copy of your insurance. We don’t want you to have to deal with that stomach-turning situation of digging through your glovebox for your ID card. A digital insurance card is an easier way to keep track of your proof of insurance. And at the end of the day, we are here to help make insurance easier.
Your Say digital ID card is always accessible in your My Say account from wherever you are. Some people feel more comfortable with a printed copy, and that’s fine. You can hop into your account and print it whenever you’d like. Others like to download it and keep the file on their phone. This way, they don’t have to log in if they ever need to show it.
And from Say’s perspective, a digital insurance card helps us keep our costs low so we can keep your rates low. That’s a win-win from our view!