# Can I just carry photos in my phone of my driver's license, insurance, cards, etc? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 15, 2021, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570 "2021-10-15T23:04:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/1 "2021-10-15T23:04:38Z")
If I get pulled over, can I get by with just showing the officer a photo of my driver’s license? Same with proof of insurance? Can I present a photo of my health insurance card to my doctor’s office or hospital? I’m looking to de-bulkify my wallet - maybe carry just a credit card and a small amount of cash. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/2 "2021-10-15T23:08:38Z")
I doubt that would work, especially in the case of the license since I think carrying the license is a condition of driving. I know there are “wallet apps” that are specifically designed for that sort of thing, but whether they’re accepted is another story. You might want to consider putting a credit card on a phone app. It took a while to get me to accept that might be safe, but it is (ironically) safer than using a credit card. Hopefully that will save an equivalent amount of space. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/3 "2021-10-15T23:11:44Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Can I present a photo of my health insurance card to my doctor’s office or hospital? Most health insurance companies now have a mobile app; one of the features of such apps is usually a virtual insurance ID card. So, while a photo of your health insurance card may not work, you likely still can use just your mobile phone for that purpose through your insurance company’s app. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/4 "2021-10-15T23:48:03Z")
Some states are doing that I believe, as well as some insurance cards can be issues that way. However are you sure you want to hand over your phone unlocked to a police officer who my have fat fingers and accidentally hit the wrong buttons and accidentally see stuff you don’t want them to? ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/5 "2021-10-15T23:55:10Z")
Many hotels still require a physical ID to check in. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/6 "2021-10-16T00:05:14Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > If I get pulled over, can I get by with just showing the officer a photo of my driver’s license? Same with proof of insurance? > > Can I present a photo of my health insurance card to my doctor’s office or hospital? I would say: no (drivers license), yes (auto insurance), and yes (health insurance). In the latter two cases a dedicated app might be better. I also have an image of my DL and passport available on my phone as well in case I somehow managed to forget my wallet and absolutely have to have some form of photo ID. My skinny wallet has CCs, ATM card, cash, and my DL. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/7 "2021-10-16T00:17:31Z")
Yes to everything except id and credit cards. But you can put your credit cards in a payment app thing and use that. And having a photo of your identification is definitely better than having nothing. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/8 "2021-10-16T00:18:17Z")
The doctor’s receptionists I deal with generally want to be able to make a photocopy of my insurance card. I suppose I could e-mail them a photograph, although not all of them are tech-savvy enough to deal with that. They are mainly interested in the policy number and the expiration date. Some of them might be willing to take the information verbally. People who want to see a driver’s license generally want to see the physical card. Photographs would be too easy to fake. (I live in a border state, and a state where the drinking age is 21. I am aware of how easy it is to fake the cards. But we take what precautions we can.) ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/9 "2021-10-16T01:40:57Z")
Physical drivers licenses have anti-forgery features such as holographic elements and intricate print overlays. A photo of a hologram is not a hologram. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/10 "2021-10-16T01:46:57Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Yes to everything except id and credit cards. But you can put your credit cards in a payment app thing and use that. And having a photo of your identification is definitely better than having nothing. Not everywhere accepts that app. My hotel does not. You would not be able to check in. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/11 "2021-10-16T01:58:56Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Some states are doing that I believe, as well as some insurance cards can be issues that way. Yeah, Colorado has that. It’s an app that will display an official copy of your license, registration, auto insurance, and COVID-19 vaccination record. I’m ambivalent about it; I don’t like the idea of handing my phone to a police officer. It’s also not valid outside Colorado—and I wouldn’t be surprised to find small-town cops IN our state who would refuse to accept it. I have no idea what would happen if you tried to use it to buy booze (I’m old, so I rarely get carded). ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/12 "2021-10-16T02:22:14Z")
Your drivers insurance company probably has an app with a virtual copy of your insurance card. You’d have to check if it’s legal proof of coverage in your state, but it’s accepted in Arizona, where I live. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/13 "2021-10-16T02:35:51Z")
Not everywhere accepts credit cards, or cash, either. And I don’t think anyone accepts a photo of a credit card, which is the question. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/14 "2021-10-16T02:41:22Z")
I didn’t realize that “skinny wallets” were a thing. Just checked Amazon; I think I’ll go that route. License, proof of insurance, health insurance, and a double sawbuck plus a couple of singles. That should do it. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/15 "2021-10-16T03:04:46Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Not everywhere accepts credit cards, or cash, either. And I don’t think anyone accepts a photo of a credit card, which is the question. You _can_ use something like Apple Pay with a contactless terminal. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/16 "2021-10-16T04:08:50Z")
My insurance company doesn’t even send ID cards unless I specifically request them. They say to open the phone app. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/17 "2021-10-16T04:30:51Z")
The store I work at absolutely will not accept photos of IDs as proof of age for alcohol, tobacco, or other age-restricted products. The ID needs to be present, unexpired, and not perforated or damaged in a way that could lend itself to tampering (e.g. the lamination is peeling). Same goes for photos of debit/EBT cards; we’re not hand-keying in a card unless we can hold it. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/18 "2021-10-16T05:12:02Z")
My state just allowed electronic insurance cards a couple of years ago. The validity of that will vary from state to state. A physical drivers license is still needed. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/19 "2021-10-16T08:14:10Z")
> [@erysichthon](#): > > Yeah, Colorado has that. It’s an app that will display an official copy of your license, registration, auto insurance, and COVID-19 vaccination record. I’m ambivalent about it; I don’t like the idea of handing my phone to a police officer. It’s also not valid outside Colorado—and I wouldn’t be surprised to find small-town cops IN our state who would refuse to accept it. I have no idea what would happen if you tried to use it to buy booze (I’m old, so I rarely get carded). If you tried to buy booze with it in my store we would not be able to accept it. Physical ID’s only. Ditto for anything else requiring proof of age, from certain types of cough syrup to firearm ammunition. Yep, we’ve had confrontations with customers about it. Sorry, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2021, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570/20 "2021-10-16T08:16:20Z")
My Medicare card, supplement card, and RX card all fit in the same pocket in my wallet. I never go to the Drs or pharmacy without my wallet. Or my driver’s license in it. I keep my auto insurance card in a ziplock baggie along with my auto registration in my glove compartment. I can’t imagine needing it when I’m not in my car. But I just checked, I have the app on my phone that shows my proof of insurance. I don’t carry my COVID vaccination card with me. But I have a photo of it stored on my phone. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-just-carry-photos-in-my-phone-of-my-drivers-license-insurance-cards-etc/952570.md?page=2)