PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
Will a police officer accept a picture as proof of a valid driver's license?
Will a police officer accept a picture on my phone or a photocopy of my license as proof that I have a valid license? I always seem to be forgetting my wallet or losing it somewhere. My license is active, I just don't want to be hassled if get stopped one day.
Shannon Martin · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
A police officer may use a picture of your
driver’s
license as a way to run the license number to see if it is valid, but this is not common. A driver is required to keep an active license with them any time they are driving a car.
The concept of an mDLs (mobile driver’s license) is still in its infancy and isn’t accepted anywhere just yet. Currently, Iowa and Florida are the only states working on a contract to get this initiative up and going.
In the meantime, if you do seem to forget your license a lot, keeping a copy on your phone is a great idea. Depending on the situation, the officer may use the number to verify that the license is active and you will be on your way.
This would be a courtesy and in most cases, drivers get a ticket for not having the license on hand and for the reason they were pulled over.
Rather than just keeping it in the photo section of your phone, another great option is to download the
Jerry
. The Jerry app has a great feature where you can upload photos and documentation to view them in the app whenever they are needed. This would be a secure place to store a picture of your driver’s license just in case and let the
officer see that you also have valid insurance
all in one place.View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
Browse More Content
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies