Guides

What to keep in the glovebox (and what not to)

Published 15 September 2026 · Last reviewed 3 October 2026

A glovebox tends to collect everything. A few things in it are genuinely useful at the roadside; one of them should never be there.

Worth keeping in the car

• Proof of insurance - paper or digital, whichever your insurer and local rules accept.
• The vehicle's registration certificate, if you are required to carry it while driving (many places require it, some accept a copy).
• A blank accident report form and a pen. Filling it in calmly at the scene is much easier than reconstructing events a week later.
• The roadside assistance card with the policy number.
• A card with emergency contacts and any medical information a first responder should know.
• A current inspection certificate where one is required.

Keep on you, not in the car

• Your driving licence and ID. If the car is stolen you still need both.
• Spare keys. A spare key in the car turns a break-in into a theft.

Never in the glovebox

The ownership document (title, or whatever your country calls the paper that proves who owns the vehicle). Together with the car it makes resale of a stolen vehicle far easier. Keep it at home with your other important papers.

Digital copies

Photograph every document once and keep the photos in a folder on your phone that works offline. They will not replace the originals where originals are required, but they make reporting a loss or filling in a claim much quicker.