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How long do I have to keep car insurance papers?

I have switched car insurance policies a few times in the past two years. I am spring cleaning and would like to shred some of my older documents. How long do I need to keep my car insurance papers?

avatar
Emily Maracle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Spring cleaning is always a great idea! It’s usually recommended that you keep some record of your past
car insurance
policies for as long as possible. To reduce clutter, you could hold on to just your policy declaration page or
insurance card
so that you have a record of your dates of coverage, the insured vehicle, and your policy number.
These records can serve as
proof that you had insurance
during a particular period of time, which will definitely come in handy if you switch insurance companies in the future and want to be eligible for a prior insurance discount.
If you’ve already gotten rid of or can’t find these documents, don’t stress! You can also:
  • Keep a note of your old policy numbers and coverage dates
  • Save old emails with records of your previous policy details
  • Access accounts on your old insurance company’s website or app (if available)
Should you decide to switch companies again in the future, consider using
Jerry
. Jerry is an app that finds you the best insurance rates and keeps track of your policy details, meaning you won’t have to worry about keeping insurance papers again!
View full answer 
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