[Socalstarter]

Hi every one. Let me start by telling you the story. I got a car accident (nothing bad) last month and on the day of the accident I did not have my insurance card on me but my car was insured any way. I got the ticket for no insurance that day. I went to the court room thinking it was a fixer ticket but I was told there that I have to pay 490 dollars truebecause I had no prove of insurance when the accident happened. The person who helped me in the court told me that I must have the prove of insurance in my car or in mme and give it to the police officer when they stop me. Is this true? Thanks for your help

[talaniman]

It is in Texas and most other places in America. After that it's up to a discretion of the judge. I keep mine in my wallet.

[Socalstarter]

The police has the equipment to check our criminal record in seconds, what about our driving records. Aren't they able to find out if the car is insured? Is there a written law that states the prove of insurance card must be fisically shown?

[joypulv]

Such laws go by state. Of course you can fight them at the state level and if you lose, you can keep going through federal district courts until you get to the US Supreme Court.

(I would fight it! I would use the argument that anyone can fake a paper proof of insurance. And they DO.)

3 years ago I slid on ice over a stone wall and ended up perched on the edge like a seesaw. A cop called in to see if I was insured because the paper proof I had was old. My state doesn't even let you renew your registration without insurance, although of course people let it lapse.

[talaniman]

If a cop ask for your proof of insurance you better have it, and it better be current. That's the law. There are many people who skirt the law and allow their insurance coverage to lapse after they have gotten their required documents for their vehicle. Cops cannot verify private company information, so the onus is on drivers to prove they have the required documents for the cops.

Did the cop find you had fault for the accident in any way? That would be the only way I can see a judge not letting you slide on this. Or he wanted to teach you an expensive lesson.

DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT YOUR PROOF OF INSURANCE.

[Fr_Chuck]

In many states, yes that is the law, that you must carry proof in your car. That is why most people keep it in the glove box.

Normally when you go to court, you show you had insurance, a statement from your car insurance company and your insurance car and the judge will just dismiss it.
But they do not have to, as most laws are written as "proof" of insurance not insurance

[ma0641]

The only thing they ask for in GA is your DL. That is because we have mandatory insurance and they can tell right away from your tag if you do/do not. I have never been asked to show Proof of Insurance. It would be smart to have in case of an accident, as you found out.

[smoothy]

I own a bunch of vehicles... so sometimes I forget to grab the right ones because I can't carry all of them all the time, and leaving them in car is bad idea in case it gets stolen.

But I've always been able to go into police station to show proof later that day in the last 2 I've lived... but then, I guess some States are more strict than others.

[ebaines]

Is there a written law that states the prove of insurance card must be fisically shown?

As noted by others, it depends on the state. In all states (I believe) you must have a minimum amount of liability insurance. As to whether you must have physical proof of insurance with you: I know in Illinois and NJ you must carry proof of insurance with you, and I suspect most other states are similar. I'm guessing based on your user name that you are from CA, and yes, in CA you are required to carry proof of insurance with you. There is very good reason for this - if you are in an accident with another vehicle the driver of the other vehicle will need your insurance info in order to start his own claims process. The form of the proof varies by state - in NJ you must have an original printed document as issued by the insurer; in IL you are allowed to have a computer print out of a PDF file; in other states they allow proof via smart phone app (I believe CA allows this).

As for the wisdom of leaving the proof in the glove compartment of your car: I have always done that, as I don't see much risk to me if the car is stolen. Same with the car registration.