# Why do Americans have to keep their car documents with them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 25, 2007, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977 "2007-10-25T15:58:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/61 "2007-10-26T15:23:00Z")
> [@](#): > > US title = UK registration, US registration = UK tax disc. (Edit: and even the UK registration is only two pages long and is supplied neatly folded, anyway.) US titles vary from state to state, of course, but most aren’t very large, either. Sometimes called the “pink slip” in CA and some other states, a lot of them are a single medium size sheet, and not necessarily pink. The current CA title is a multicolored affair that looks like this (some guy scanned the title on his Corolla and put it on his web site. I wouldn’t do that.): [http://old.soliton.net/old/images/corolla/pinkslip.jpg](http://old.soliton.net/old/images/corolla/pinkslip.jpg) The older form WAS pink. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/62 "2007-10-26T15:38:45Z")
**TheLoadedDog** , in some US states auto insurance is not required, but many do require it. In California you are required to carry a minimum of $30,000 of liability insurance per car; anything above and beyond that is optional. This covers personal injury and property damage. It doesn’t have to be through an insurance company, if you’re swimming in cash you can put $30,000 in a bond and carry proof of that instead. In order to legal operate the car, it must be registered with the state (or another state if passing through) and the associated fee must be paid. As was said above, the papers (“proof of insurance” and “registration”) are simply receipts showing you’ve taken care of those two requirements. Police here will check both of these, but may not necissarily run it through their computer. ---
**Author:** ![RGVChicano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@RGVChicano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RGVChicano)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/63 "2007-10-26T15:45:32Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] One thing I don’t get about the American system - if you’re keeping your proof of insurance in your car, what about if you’re covered to drive other cars? [/QUOTE] Using my insurance company as an example, basically you get multiple copies of a card or letter sized document with your name and the cars you are insuring. You keep one copy per car. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/64 "2007-10-26T15:53:31Z")
Up until last year, this is what Virginia required you to have with you when driving – 1. Valid license plates with current year’s sticker affixed in the proper places 2. Valid driver’s license 3. Proof of insurance 4. Vehicle registration card 5. Annual safety inspection sticker (stuck on windshield) 6. Annual personal property tax sticker (stuck on windshield) Last year, they eliminated No. 6 – you still have to pay the tax, but you don’t have to have the sticker. My question is – aren’t the license plates and the registration card somewhat duplicative? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/65 "2007-10-26T16:03:02Z")
[QUOTE=acsenray] … My question is – aren’t the license plates and the registration card somewhat duplicative? [/QUOTE] Well, the license plate only carries minimal information - a plate number and current year sticker, usually. The registration card has the VIN number, car make/model, and owner’s name, as well as the plate number. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/66 "2007-10-26T16:11:21Z")
And you had to go and bring up “safety inspections”. I was just waiting for somebody to muddy the waters by throwing those into the mix. THAT does strike me as redundant documentation which could be folded into the registration process and not require a separate sticker, but states that have safety inspections seem to stick to a tradition of having a window sticker. CA doesn’t have safety inspections, but if they did, it could be handled the way smog certification is. If your car is due for smog testing, you simply have to go get that done and pass before the DMV will issue your new registration. You could do the same thing with safety inspections. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/67 "2007-10-26T16:21:00Z")
I got pulled over a few months ago, and because my glove compartment is a mess, I was unable to find my proof of insurance card right away. I did find my old (expired) one, and gave it to the officer explaining that I still had the same policy. As he continued to write my ticket (why do I never get just a warning?) I found my current card and gave it to him. He said that since I had found it, he was going to cancel the additional fine he was in the process of giving me for not having it. ---
**Author:** ![RGVChicano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@RGVChicano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RGVChicano)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/68 "2007-10-26T16:25:56Z")
[QUOTE=yabob] And you had to go and bring up “safety inspections”. I was just waiting for somebody to muddy the waters by throwing those into the mix. THAT does strike me as redundant documentation which could be folded into the registration process and not require a separate sticker, but states that have safety inspections seem to stick to a tradition of having a window sticker. . [/QUOTE] Since I live in Texas, we do have annual vehicle safety inspection stickers. They could make the whole system rolled into one, but that would mean that the registration place would also need a mechanic or someone “certified” to the check the car to see if it passes muster. I’m not sure how it works in other states, but I rather like the convenience of the system separating the registration and the vehicle inspection. In Texas, any mechanic certified by the state can do the vehicle inspection and give you the sticker. So. The process is usually pretty fast. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/69 "2007-10-26T16:44:14Z")
[QUOTE=RGVChicano] Since I live in Texas, we do have annual vehicle safety inspection stickers. They could make the whole system rolled into one, but that would mean that the registration place would also need a mechanic or someone “certified” to the check the car to see if it passes muster. I’m not sure how it works in other states, but I rather like the convenience of the system separating the registration and the vehicle inspection. In Texas, any mechanic certified by the state can do the vehicle inspection and give you the sticker. So. The process is usually pretty fast. [/QUOTE] Not much difference once the processes are combined. The registration place doesn’t have to do the inspection - the mechanic who does it just issues a certificate you have to present as part of your registration process, there’s a part of the registration form for them to fill in and sign, or it’s done electronically. I haven’t registered a car in person in years. I’ve either done it online or through the mail. These days, once the smog tester certifies you, they flag you as “tested” in the state DB, and your registration simply goes through. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/70 "2007-10-26T18:06:27Z")
[QUOTE=yabob] CA doesn’t have safety inspections, but if they did, it could be handled the way smog certification is. If your car is due for smog testing, you simply have to go get that done and pass before the DMV will issue your new registration. You could do the same thing with safety inspections. [/QUOTE] Yeah, in Virginia, you have to get the emissions test certification and present it to the DMV in order to renew your registration. I wonder why they don’t handle safety inspections that way. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/71 "2007-10-26T18:24:03Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Aha, we have a breakthrough. And _that_ part of the US system is a bit nutty (IMO). What exactly is it? Can’t they be peeled off? Our cars’ license plates are usually unchanged for life (there are exceptions, but that’s the norm). [/QUOTE] Tsk, tsk, it’s licen **C** e Dear me jjimm you disappoint. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/72 "2007-10-26T18:24:04Z")
I think there’s been some slight misinformation. Title = proof of ownership Driver’s license = Proof the driver allowed to operate a motor vehicle. Registration = Proof taxes have been paid that allow that car to drive on public roads. Only the second two must be carried in the car, the license typically in the drivers wallet, just in case he needs to drive a vehicle he doesn’t own, or has more than one car. Elwood Blues, having only one car, kept his license on the visor. And yeah. I couldn’t get last year’s sticker off with a chisel, so I just put the new year’s sticker on top. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/73 "2007-10-26T21:39:59Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] While your point is basically valid, and it’s the reason for some standardisation across the EU (e.g. on driving licence format), you maybe have a slight misunderstanding of the British system. If I get stopped for speeding on Shetland, I don’t have to make the 1200-mile round trip to fetch my documents, only produce them to any police station within X days (not sure how many it is). And if I fail to do so within that time scale, and have a justifiable delay (e.g. I wasn’t able to fetch them) but do so as early as possible, the reasonable cause for the delay would be accepted by a magistrate. [/QUOTE] Isn’t that what I said? 😕 :smack: ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/74 "2007-10-26T21:57:08Z")
On re-reading, yes :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/75 "2007-10-27T02:00:50Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] So imagine if you were in Ohio, and you never drive out of Ohio (kinda like **Balthisar** in Michigan) [/QUOTE] Just for the record, I _did_ say originally that the law in Michigan requires these documents, and that even if it weren’t so, I’d still carry them because of my frequent travels out of state, including Canada, Ohio, Indianapolis, and Illinois, let alone family road trips which could be anywhere. Now that I think of it, I got pulled over entering Wisconsin from the Minnesota state line (new limit, trucks didn’t let me see new state line, cop let me go). I had an expired license (the printed document, electronically I was good), and it never came up in our discussion. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/76 "2007-10-27T10:19:18Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Tsk, tsk, it’s licen **C** e Dear me jjimm you disappoint. [/QUOTE] Arse biscuits! ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/77 "2007-10-27T10:44:37Z")
Hob Nobs? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/78 "2007-10-27T10:50:30Z")
Gingernuts. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/79 "2007-10-27T10:51:01Z")
Guess what I ate ten minutes ago… ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977/80 "2007-10-27T11:04:42Z")
**chowder** ’s hob nob? And/or his ginger nuts? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-to-keep-their-car-documents-with-them/423977.md?page=5)