What do I put in our car?

DH and I just purchased our car (ok, it was a couple weeks ago, but we're just really behind with all this beautiful weather!)

We have our insurance, and got that paperwork in the mail.  It says we're not to put the proof of insurance in the car because the information can be stolen... this is opposite to the states where you should have it in your car at all times...  I have a brochure stating the number for claims, as well as the RAC breakdown thing (we signed up for that at the same time).  Is there something else I should put in there?  Should I have my policy number and such written down in my wallet?

Second question... We received our registration certificate in the mail today.  Is that to be kept in the car, or should I file it away somewhere?

Cheers

We always keep a copy of the insurance policy, current MOT certificate and road tax in the glove box.

(When I first read this I thought it was a thread about diesel or petrol- sounds like the kind of thing I would do- buy a car and not know what it takes....)

Hello Hep_Cat
Personally I never carry or leave anything in the car itself document wise.
If you are stopped by traffic police you get time 7 days? to take any documents to you local police station for inspection such as MOT certificate etc. But I think these days the traffic police can check up on you directly with DVLA.
The registration doc should just be kept safely filed at home as you'll not need it anytime soon, although garages are now asking to see it when a vehicle get its MOT (after a car is 3 years old)
Your road tax disc must be displayed on your front windscreen so it can be read easily there is a fine for not displaying the disc even if you have one.

as stated by the poster above, i dont keep any documents in the car apart from the tax disc, and the phone number for insurance claims and roadside assistance.

i keep a copy of insurance certificate in the car.  i also keep the roadside assistance card thingy.  the tax disc is attached to the car.

Hi there

Legally, I think you are only meant to show/display the road tax disc on the car at all times. If you wish to carry a photocopy of your MOT cert., insurance cert, drivers license etc then it's up to you. There are advantages to this -

when I was a little lad, just passed my test and all that, I'd get stopped by coppers quite alot - something about Brown boys in BMW's & Mercedes & Audi's etc!!

I used to keep copies of everything to prove that I was driving legitimately and 99% of the time the cops wouldn't give me a 'producer' (notice to produce your doscuments within 7days at a nominated police station)

So, I advise you do the same if you ever get stopped, you can plead that you are getting used to the UK road system as you're an American !

Hope this helps!

Dennis! West London & Slough UK!

The law regarding the MoT certificate, proof of insurance, and driver's license is rather curious.  There's no law which says you must have them with you in the vehicle at all times, but there is an act which makes it an offense if you cannot produce them on the demand of a police officer.    So strictly speaking, you're breaking the law if you get stopped and can't show them.

As Dennis pointed out though, in practice all that happens is that you're given a  "producer" ticket which lists the documents you need to present at the local police station for inspection within 7 days.  So long as you show up with them within the required time, nothing else will happen.   (If you don't, of course, then you can expect a summons to follow in due course.)

The vehicle excise license, or "tax disc" as it's more commonly called is a different matter though.  The law requires you to display a valid tax disc on the left-hand corner of the windshield, or on an adjacent side window (e.g. if you have an older-style quarter-pane vent on the door) at all times when the vehicle is on a public road (even if just parked).

I normally carry the MoT certificate, registration, and proof of insurance in my car all the time anyway. 

paul... do you carry the orginals or copies?  since having my car broken into twice in the last 3 years, i'm a bit parinoid about leaving docunments actually in the glove box...

also... as you seem to know loads of random things- i have a leased company car- they'e given me the insurance certificate but i don't think i have the MOT or registration as the car isn't registered to me.   

paul... do you carry the orginals or copies? 

Originals.  I keep the rest of the insurance documents (policy schedule etc.) at home with all the reference numbers, and a note of the MoT certificate number. 

since having my car broken into twice in the last 3 years, i'm a bit parinoid about leaving docunments actually in the glove box...

Despite all the warnings from some quarters, I don't see that having the documents in the car is that much of a problem.    Anybody can apply for a replacement registration document in a new name at any time, so if a thief steals the car, having the registration with it isn't going to make that much difference.   

also... as you seem to know loads of random things- i have a leased company car- they'e given me the insurance certificate but i don't think i have the MOT or registration as the car isn't registered to me.   

I've never had a car on such terms, but I understand it's not unusual for the company to retain the documents in such cases.  If you got stopped and asked for the MoT certificate, you would have to obtain it from the company and take it to the police station.   You're most unlikely to be asked to produce the registration document, as all the data on it can be accessed from DVLA via the police computer anyway.   In fact, the new computerized MoT system which is rolling out at the moment may well mean that in a year or two the police will stop asking for the actual certificate and just check via the computer directly.