Having completed the Credit Reports and Credit Cards, Personal, and Home Ownership categories, we have reached the last category in Box 1 of our important documents.

This last category holds all the documents related to our vehicles. I use the 3 remaining file openings in Box 1 for our vehicle paperwork.

Per Suze Orman’s Protection Portfolio (the program from which I have organized my documents), these are the documents included in this category:

Vehicle Checklist

• Automobile titles and/or leases
• Automobile insurance policies
• Automobile loan documents*
• Recreational vehicles titles*
• Recreational vehicles insurance policies*
• Recreational vehicles loan documents*
• Boat titles*
• Boat insurance policies*
• Boat loan documents*

Items with an (*) indicate items not included in my filing system.

Beginning next week, I will explain the documents I keep in my filing system. As you organize your important documents, please adjust this system to fit your needs. The goal is to have a place for each of your documents to save you money, energy, and time when retrieving your paperwork. Happy organizing!

Question: What kind of filing system are you using? If using an accordion system, do you have enough room for all your documents? To add your answer, please leave a comment.

Last week, I shared the checklist of items housed in the vehicles category of our important documents. Since our family owns 2 vehicles, 0 recreational vehicles, and 0 boats, I have our documents housed in 3 file slots.

1. Car #1
2. Car #2
3. Miscellaneous vehicle documents

If you have numerous cars, recreational vehicles, and boats, then you might consider a slot per item or per type of item. Depending on your preference, you might need another file or larger file to hold these documents.

Whatever system you choose, be sure to label. You will then be using time wisely as you quickly retrieve your documents. 🙂

Having filled the first nine slots in our accordion filing system, I will now concentrate on the tenth file opening which houses documents for our newest vehicle. The first set of documents includes:

1. Current Insurance Receipt

In case there is a discrepancy, I keep a copy of our receipt showing payment for the current policy.

2. Current Insurance Policy

This document shows our dates of coverage and lists our limits and the premiums.

3. Current Declarations Page

My page actually consists of 4 pages. This record itemizes the coverage limits and explains what is covered under each premium section. This document will be needed if a claim needs to be made against this policy.

4. Previous Insurance Receipt

Since I pay semiannually, I choose to keep one year’s worth of documentation in my file for proof of continuous coverage.  I can also compare the renewal notice with the last two receipts to identify any changes.

5. Previous Insurance Policy

To verify that our coverage remains the same, I keep the previous 6-month notice for comparison.

6. Previous Declarations Page

Sometimes the details change at the time of renewal, so I like to have a reference of the current policy vs. the change.

7. Guaranteed Renewable Policy letter

Having been with the same insurance company for over 10 years (actually around 17 years), I have earned the following discounts:

• A 10-year accident-free discount. This discount amounts to a 20% discount on at least one of our vehicles.

• Guaranteed Renewable Policy. Our car insurance policy will be renewed regardless of our future accident record, and includes all vehicles insured with our insurance company (State Farm).

In case you are wondering if I have shopped around for car insurance rates. Yes, I have. Since we are insured with State Farm Mutual, we get the lowest prices on our premium. I have not found an insurance company that can offer the same coverage for the price we pay. State Farm continues to serve us well.

8. Privacy Policy Information

Each year State Farm sends a copy of their privacy policy. I keep this policy with my insurance paperwork.

All these items are paper clipped together and housed in this tenth file slot of my accordion filing system. Keeping the insurance documentation together for this vehicle allows me to quickly find the information I need.  For example, I quickly found my vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) when filling out the claim paperwork from hitting the pot hole.

With all my important documents together, I just need to find the correct category and slot to get the items needed. Keep using time wisely by getting these documents organized.

Question: What type of filing system is working for you? Please add your answer to the comments.

Last week I shared eight insurance-related documents kept in the tenth file slot of Box 1 of my important documents. In addition to the insurance documents, I also keep the DMV (Division of Motor Vehicles) records for car #1 in this file opening.

Our DMV records consist of two documents:

Registration

After paying our vehicle property taxes, I receive our registration in the mail. Before separating this document from the instructions, I make a copy. Once the registration has been removed from the paperwork and placed in my glove compartment, I will place the copy in this file opening behind the insurance documents.

License Plate Decal

When I receive our registration, the license plate decal is usually included. Again, I make a copy of the document before removing the decal and placing it on our license plate. The copy will be then be placed in this file slot with the copy of the registration.

These two documents are either stapled or paper clipped together, and placed behind the insurance documents for our vehicle #1. Next week, I will share the last set of documents for car #1 housed in this tenth file opening under the vehicle category.

Question: Does your registration and decal arrive at the same time? To add your answer, please leave a comment.

The time has come to finish the tenth file slot in the accordion filing system. In my filing system, I keep the records for our 2 vehicles in separate file openings. This tenth file slot houses our insurance, DMV, and the following additional documents related to this vehicle:

Title or Loan Paperwork

Our original title and a copy of our title are the first two documents in this remaining set of paperwork. If I had a loan on this vehicle, I would place those documents here.

Extended Warranty Contract

Having purchased our vehicle brand new, we also included the extended warranty. This contract consists of:

1. Cover letter. This document highlights the main points of the contract.

2. Contract. The detailed four-page document which lists all the coverage and procedures for filing claims.

Alarm Documentation

Our vehicle was available without an alarm system. After purchasing our vehicle, we had an alarm installed and acquired the following documents housed in this file:

• Receipt. Proof of purchase with the date of purchase, price, and store identified.

• Owner’s guide. Directions for reprogramming the system.

• Copy of owner’s guide. When a mechanic disarmed my alarm, I had to get the system reprogrammed. I kept detailed notes on this copy which I keep for future issues.

The title, extended warranty, and alarm paperwork concludes the documentation housed in my tenth file slot for this first vehicle. Your documentation will likely be different depending on your situation. Remember, your file does not need to look like mine. My goal is to help you get organized, so you can be using time wisely.

Question: What additional documents for your vehicle do you keep? Please add your answer to the comments.