Documents you should keep in your car
Last updated December 8th, 2023
Although you are not legally required to keep any documents in your car, it can be helpful to keep certain paperwork in your vehicle. In this guide, we will explain which documents you should keep in your car – and which should be left in a safe place at home.
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What documents are you legally required to keep in your car?
Whilst you are not legally required to keep any documents in your car, if you are pulled over by a police officer, you might be asked to produce one of the following documents:
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Driving licence
Keeping your driving license in your car or wallet can be beneficial. If a police officer requests it and you are unable to present it immediately, you might be required to produce it at your local police station within a 7-day period.
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A valid insurance certificate
You may also be asked to produce a valid insurance certificate. Once more, if you don’t have this document to hand, the officer may ask you to bring it to your local police station within 7 days.
Driving anywhere without insurance is illegal. At a minimum, you must have a third-party car insurance policy.
If you are caught driving without valid insurance, you could receive a fine of £300 or more and six points on your licence. (If the case goes to court, you could face an unlimited fine and disqualification from driving.)
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Valid MOT certificate (if applicable)
You may also be asked to produce a copy of your MOT certificate – or bring it to your local police station within 7 days. If you don’t have a copy to hand, you can print out your MOT certificate at home for free.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your car always has a valid MOT certificate (unless it is MOT exempt). To find out when your current MOT expires, enter your reg number into our free MOT check tool. Need to get your motor MOT ready? Refer to our comprehensive MOT checklist.
What other documents might I want to keep in my car?
Service book: When the time comes to sell your car, prospective buyers may ask to see its full service history. Therefore, you may wish to keep the service book in a convenient place (such as the glove compartment) until you need it. You should also make sure you have all the documents needed to sell your car.
Breakdown cover document: Breakdown cover enables you to call a qualified engineer to attend to your car if it breaks down. It can be helpful to keep your breakdown cover documentation in your car, just in case you need to contact an engineer.
Owner’s manual: This document contains helpful information about your car, such as the correct tyre pressure, how often to service your car - and its oil and fuel capacity. Therefore, it’s a good idea to keep the owner’s manual in the glove compartment, just in case you need it.
Documents you shouldn’t keep in your car
There are certain documents that you should refrain from keeping in your car, including:
- Your V5C logbook.
- Personal letters.
- Your passport.
- Bank statements.
If stolen, these documents could be used to commit identity fraud. You should keep these documents in a safe place at your home.