Is my emailed certificate "real"?

Yes — an electronically signed certificate from an authorized insurer is a valid legal document.

Can I just show it on my phone if I stop?

No. You must show a printed copy. Digital-only copies are not accepted yet.

The law requires the certificate to be generated in black and white; this does not affect its validity.

What has changed

Your motor certificate (and any cover note) now carries a computer-generated electronic signature instead of an original, handwritten ("wet ink") signature.
Certificates can now be emailed to you as a document to print, or printed for you as before.
The old printed certificate "jackets" and holders are being phased out.
Certificates may now be printed in black and white (a colour copy is fine, and we recommend one). On the certificate, the electronic signature appears next to the words "Examined by".

Is this legal? Yes.

Under the Electronic Transactions Act (Section 16), an electronic signature is just as valid and enforceable as a handwritten one.
ATTIC (the insurance companies' association) and IBATT (the insurance brokers' association) signed a formal agreement to adopt electronic signatures across the insurance industry, effective 1 January 2025. This covers proposal forms, policy contracts, endorsements, motor certificates, and claim forms.
The two associations also briefed the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service on this move to "jacketless," electronically signed certificates.

Important: you must still print and carry your certificate

By law (the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) Act, Chap. 48:51), you must keep a printed certificate in your vehicle and produce it when asked.
A certificate shown on your phone, tablet, or other device is NOT accepted by the police or the Licensing Authority.
So if we email your certificate, print it, and keep the printed copy in your vehicle. If you don't have a printer, just ask us, and we'll print it for you.
The industry plans to ask the Government to change the law later so that showing a digital copy on a device would be allowed — as already happens in the US, UK, and Canada — but that is not yet law.)

How to know your certificate is genuine (and avoid fraud)

A genuine certificate is issued by a Central Bank–authorized insurer through their secure system, and an emailed certificate carries a stamp showing the date, time, and the issuer.
ATTIC has introduced "Cover Vault," a system that lets police instantly verify whether a motor certificate is genuine.
Always buy insurance from — and make payments to — a Central Bank–authorised insurer or broker. You can check who is authorised on the Central Bank's website (link below).
If anything looks off, contact us before you rely on the certificate.

What you need to do — quick checklist

Print your certificate (a colour copy is recommended).
Keep the printed copy in your vehicle at all times.
Check the details are correct: your name, vehicle, policy/certificate number, and the period of cover.
Don't rely on a copy stored only on your phone.
No printer? Ask us — we'll print it for you.