There are a few documents you should always have in your car. While they are generally valuable to keep track of, these precious papers are also important because you may need to turn them over if you are pulled over by a police officer. What do you need to show police if you are pulled over? Learn the top three important documents (and why you might need to show them) below.
What Should You Do If You See A Car Accident?
If you are unlucky enough to see a car accident (but lucky enough to avoid it yourself) your first thought might be “What do I do now?” It seems like you should have to do something, right? Most states, including Texas, don’t have any rules about whether or not you stick around at an accident you have witnessed. If you are in an accident, you must call the police and fill out an accident report (or else it will be considered a hit-and-run), but as a witness you have options.
What do you need to show police if you are pulled over?
If you are pulled over by a police officer, the best rule of thumb is to provide the documents that they request. Three things you should always have handy when you are driving are your vehicle registration, your proof of insurance, and your driver’s license.
Why should you have your vehicle registration and proof of insurance in your glove box?
The vehicle registration shows that your car is registered to drive, and shows whether or not you are the owner of the vehicle. While police can check much of this digitally now, sometimes it is good to get confirmation, or have the paper backups. Likewise, it is not legal to drive without car insurance, so it’s important to keep your cards in your car somewhere easy to reach (this is also useful if you need to exchange information after a car accident).
Having a valid driver’s license, and being able to show it to a police officer, is also vital if you are pulled over.