Auto Claim Payment Requiring an SSN?
This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of May 2025. Question One of our insureds is going through their carrier as a claimant for damage to their vehicle. His daughter was hit in Colorado, and the other party (insured with the same carrier) was at fault. They offered…
Understanding Automatic Additional Insured Endorsements & Why Contract Privity Matters
June 23, 2025 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA Automatic Additional Insured endorsements are often used to streamline risk transfer in construction contracts. However, not all endorsements work the same way, and understanding who the contract is with is essential to determining whether…
Use of Other Auto Endorsement and UM/UIM Coverage
This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of May 2025. Question Hope all is well. I was curious what the benefit of buying the Use of Other Autos endorsement and including it for Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist would be if you have a company vehicle in MA? Would it only…
2025 Massachusetts Annual P&C Marketplace Summary
You are being provided this 2025 Massachusetts Annual P&C Marketplace Summary covering the Massachusetts property and casualty (P&C) insurance marketplace as a benefit of your membership in the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents. What follows is a graphic and numeric presentation of the Massachusetts P&C industry data from an independent insurance agent’s perspective (independent agent).…
MAP Trailer Liability – Business-Use Consideration
This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of May 2025. Question It’s trailer season! Wondering if we need to be concerned about GVW and/or the use of our clients’ trailers? For example, we have a client who purchased an ice cream trailer. They wish to put the trailer…
FlexCar Coverage
This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of May 2025. Question Do you have any information on FlexCar and coverage? Answer Laura Poulin: It appears that Flexcar positions itself as a month-to-month car subscription service, not as a Transportation Network Company (TNC) like Uber or Turo. Flexcar operates…
Symbol 19, MM 20 11, and the Mobile Equipment Myth in Massachusetts
May 27, 2025 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA Massachusetts agents frequently ask whether they should be using Symbol 19, Mobile Equipment Subject to Compulsory or Financial Responsibility or Other Motor Vehicle Insurance Law Only, or the mobile equipment endorsement MM 20 11 to address…
Tenant Discrimination
This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of April 2025. Question If a landlord is accused of discriminatory practices (such as not renting to Section 8 or similar), would having personal injury coverage on their policy provide any protection? I have read of there being separate coverage for…
Workers’ Compensation – Max Payroll for Officers
This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of April 2025. Question Hope all is well. I was referred to you as an expert who may be able to help me with the following question. I contacted the Bureau, and they don’t have an answer. I tried DIA but…
DOC with Out-of-State PAP
This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of April 2025. Question I have a quick question for you. If a business owner has a personal auto policy in another state, do they still need DOC coverage on their commercial auto policy in MA? I appreciate the feedback. Thank…
Understanding the State Statute Box on the Certificate of Insurance
April 28, 2025 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA When reviewing a Certificate of Insurance (COI) for Workers’ Compensation (WC), one of the most frequently misunderstood elements is the “State Statute” box. This box, when checked, indicates that the insured has statutory Workers’…
HO4 with Pet Damage
This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of April 2025. Question If my client has a tenant with an HO4 policy, and their pet cat causes damage to the property, will the HO4 pay for the damage? Answer Laura Poulin: The ISO HO-4 provides Coverage E – Personal…
Non-Owned Policy & License Requirement
This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of April 2025. Question I have a question about auto insurance, and I would appreciate it if you could share some of your knowledge with me. Is a Massachusetts driver’s license required for a non-owned auto policy? To be more specific,…
2025 Massachusetts Storm Events Summary
As a benefit of your membership in the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents, you are receiving this 2025 Massachusetts Storm Events Summary. This exclusive membership benefit is designed to deliver to you easy access to historical state and national weather data from a credible and public resource that has been tailored to be specific to…
Plate Swap
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of March 2025. Question We have a large commercial account that has a personal plate on a truck that needs to have a commercial plate. For a swap, I understand an RTA needs to be completed, but do they need to…
Registration Amendment – Trailer Weight
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of March 2025. Question I have an insured who is looking to renew a registration on their trailer. Looking to change the total gross weight due to how she is using it. If I send the RTA for renew registration, and…
Just What Is TRIA Coverage?
March 24, 2025 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA Under federal law, insurers must offer Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) coverage for commercial property & liability policies; however, there is a difference between TRIA and Terrorism coverage. TRIA and standard Terrorism Coverage both…
Camper Trailer & the Auto Policy
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of February 2025. Question This is a first for me. I’m working with an insured to add a camper trailer to their auto policy. I’m wondering if there is a resource you can advise for camper trailers that talks about where…
Death of Insured – Follow-Up
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of February 2025. Question With regard to the “death of insured” QOW 2/5/25, here is something I wanted to share with you. This is an email I sent to the carrier with regard to a client and fire claim that just…
Coverage for Golf Carts in Gated Communities
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of February 2025. Question I am sending you an insurance question below. I have run it by my underwriter, but no one seems confident about a response. Would you please share your thoughts with me on this? “We are spending a…
The Changing Landscape of Rental Car Reimbursement in Auto Claims
February 24, 2025 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA As insurance carriers adjust their handling of rental car reimbursement claims, Massachusetts agents encounter new challenges when assisting clients involved in auto accidents. Traditionally, claimants who were not at fault could file vehicle damage…
MAIP & Ride Share
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of February 2025. Question Could you tell me if MAIP would insure a vehicle that was being used in a peer-to-peer rental service like Turo? And if not covering for the Turo usage, would MAIP write the policy but exclude the…
Out-of-State Accident
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of February 2025. Question I have an Insured whose daughter was involved in an accident in Rhode Island last year. They went to court for it, and the Insured stated that the case was dismissed and they have some paperwork regarding…
Death of Insured
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of January 2025. Question I need your help clarifying some issues that have come up with customers who have passed away. Is there a time limit on how long it takes a spouse to reregister a vehicle in their name from…
Understanding Homeowners Coverage for Fuel Oil Spills
January 27, 2025 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA The Act Preventing Oil Spill Pollution” commonly referred to as the 2010 Homeowner Oil Heating System Upgrade and Insurance Law (Chapter 453 of the Acts of 2008), was enacted to address environmental and financial…
Flood: First Floor Height
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of October 2024. Question Did FEMA change the rules to determine the number of floors? In the past, if the house had a basement, the basement was considered the 1st floor. We called the insurance company because it seemed the number…
2024 Q3 Quarterly P&C Marketplace Summary
You are being provided this 2024 Q3 Quarterly P&C Marketplace Summary covering the Massachusetts Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Marketplace as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). This report provides up-to-date property and casualty (P&C) data, offering you a “real-time” view of trends in the Massachusetts insurance marketplace.…
Lightning Struck a Tree
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of October 2024. Question Laura, I’m just a little confused. I mostly do auto insurance. I want to make sure that I understand this. I know this is a lightning issue, but what about wind? I guess it’s a big question:…
Named Non-Owner Policy
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of October 2024. Question I have a customer looking to have a person who borrows his car to have their own liability policy. The person doesn’t own a car or a home or apartment (or I would try and obtain an…
Compulsory Auto Limits Increase Bill Becomes Law!
December 24, 2024 I’m writing with exciting news from the Massachusetts State House. Governor Maura Healey signed into law MAIA’s priority legislation for the 2023-2024 legislative session: H. 5111 – An Act relative to motor vehicle insurance. This legislation will increase compulsory bodily injury limits in Massachusetts for the first time in nearly 40 years…
What Is A WISP? And Why Does It Impact An Agency & Their Insureds?
December 16, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA The adoption of a WISP is not only a regulatory requirement but also a best practice for safeguarding sensitive information in today’s digital landscape. For insurance agencies, it reinforces their commitment to protecting client…
Titling & Sales Tax
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of November 2024. Question I’ve been googling and checking out MAIA for the answer to how long someone has to request a title and/or pay sales tax on a purchased vehicle. I believe the 10 days for both is the best…
2024 November Other Liability (Occurrence) P&C Insurer List
You are being provided this 2024 November Other Liability (Occurrence) P&C Insurer List as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). MAIA is providing you with this list to give you speedy access to information on the Other Liability (Occurrence) marketplace in Massachusetts. Don’t forget that you also have the…
Minor Rules & Regulations
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of November 2024. Question We have an insured who has a child who is 17 years of age, already graduated high school, and is working every day part-time. The child’s license is now being suspended for going 10 miles over the…
2024 November Workers’ Compensation P&C Insurer List
You are being provided this 2024 November Workers’ Compensation P&C Insurer List as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). MAIA is providing you with this list to give you speedy access to information on the Workers’ Compensation marketplace in Massachusetts. Don’t forget that you also have the general…
Cancellation and/or Non-Renewal of HO, DP, MAP and BAP in Massachusetts
November 18, 2024 Written By: Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW – Consultant, Technical Affairs, MAIA Massachusetts has laws regarding the legal/proper way of non-renewing or canceling voluntary homeowners, dwelling fire, personal auto, and commercial auto. These laws have not changed since the beginning of my insurance career in September 1975.…
2024 November Commercial Auto P&C Insurer List
You are being provided this 2024 November Commercial Auto P&C Insurer List as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). The reason MAIA is providing you with this list is it lets you have speedy access to information on the Commercial Auto Insurance marketplace in Massachusetts. Do not forget…
Odometer Reading
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of November 2024. Question We have a registration for an antique vehicle out of Maine. Our customer bought it. He dropped a brand-new engine in it. He would like us to register/title the car in MA with “0” as the odometer…
HO-6 Policy
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of October 2024. Question I was wondering if you could clarify something for me. I have a client who is purchasing a condo policy, and I am putting together the HO6. It was an older three-family converted ted to condos, and…
The Evolution of Cyber Insurance
October 29, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA The earliest computer viruses date back over 40 years. Insurers developed cyber clauses to be added to existing policies because the precise wording in existing policies was often not developed with modern online threats…