Mobile phone displaying the State Farm mobile app with the option for a digital id card.

Obtain an electronic proof of insurance card

You can keep rummaging through your glove compartment. Or you can choose a better option: a digital insurance card.

Proof of auto insurance — that small, usually perforated ID card that arrives in the mail along with your insurance declaration — is designed to be slipped into your car's glove compartment. But it can just as easily slip your mind. If it does, and you're stopped for even the most minor infraction, the consequences could run to hundreds of dollars in fines. A digital insurance card can be substituted for the paper card in 49 states, with New Mexico being the exception. It’s also a good idea to check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to help stay informed on proof of insurance card requirements. As a State Farm® customer you may easily get your auto ID card emailed to you by providing your phone number and date of birth.

Who needs to see my insurance ID card?

There will be times when an insurance ID card is needed — whether in paper or digital form.

DMV: You'll need to provide it every time you renew your license plate.

Police: No matter the reason, if stopped you need to show license, registration — and that little ID card. Without it, you're likely to receive a stiff fine.

Claimants: After an accident, both the other person involved and the officer on the scene will want to see your insurance ID.

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Are there substitutes for the ID card?

Unfortunately, nothing can take the place of that little ID card — not your declaration page, not even your most recent insurance payment receipt. Just about everywhere in the country, the law requires that you carry proof of insurance in the vehicle you're driving — and are able to present it to authorities when asked.

How can I get my insurance ID card?

The State Farm Mobile App, which provides an electronic insurance card, was created especially for those who are prone to file away insurance ID cards along with their insurance declaration — or else overlook them both in the mail pile by the front door. It gives you instant access to electronic insurance ID cards, along with many other helpful and convenient functions. You can even add your electronic insurance card to your Apple Wallet.

In addition to our State Farm mobile app, there are two additional ways to obtain your State Farm auto ID card.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with State Farm® (including State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates). While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. State Farm is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.

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