What to keep in your glovebox
By Tagwell Auto · Last updated October 10, 2026
The short answer: your registration, proof of insurance, the owner's manual, a pen and paper, a tire pressure gauge, and a card saying who to call. Keep the title and your spare key somewhere else.
The essentials
- Registration. Most states expect you to show it if you're stopped
- Proof of insurance. A paper card, even if your insurer has an app. Phones run out of battery
- Owner's manual. It answers what every warning light means and where the jack goes
- A pen and a small notepad. For the other driver's details after a crash
- A tire pressure gauge. The ones at gas stations are often wrong
- An emergency contact card. Who to call, your roadside number and your insurer's claims number
Worth adding
- A small flashlight
- A phone charging cable
- The wheel lock key, if your car has locking lug nuts
- A few napkins and a spare pair of glasses, if you wear them
- A borrower card, if other people drive the car
What never to keep in the car
- The title. With the title and the car, a thief has most of what they need to sell it
- A spare key or fob. It turns a break-in into a stolen car
- Anything with your Social Security number, and mail with your home address if you can avoid it
- A garage door opener in plain sight, if your registration shows where you live
The rest of the car
A glovebox is small. The jumper cables, first aid kit, blanket and warning triangle belong in the trunk.
Check it twice a year
Insurance cards and registrations expire. Swap in the new ones when they arrive, and throw the old ones away at home.
General guidance. Typical intervals, and your owner's manual wins. If a red warning light is on or the car drives differently, stop safely and get help.
Related: Paperwork in Tagwell Auto
Track this automatically in Tagwell Auto
Tagwell Auto keeps a photo of your registration and insurance card on your phone, reminds you before each one expires, and makes a borrower card for the glovebox. Glovebox mode shows them big and bright for a traffic stop.
Questions
Should I keep my car title in the glovebox?
No. Keep the title at home in a safe place. A thief with the title can sell the car more easily.
Is a photo of my insurance card enough?
Many states accept electronic proof, but not all situations do, and phones run flat. Keep a paper card in the car too.
What should a glovebox emergency card say?
Who to call, your roadside assistance number, your insurer's claims number, and any medical information you'd want a helper to know.