Garaging Business Vehicles
Question Garaging – Business Vehicles This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 29, 2021 We are having a problem with one carrier regarding garaging on vehicles registered to a business entity. They won’t change garaging on the business auto policy unless the insured changes it in the RMV…
OOS Purchase – Camper and Coverage
Question OOS Purchase – Camper and Coverage This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 22, 2021 Late breaking client no notice purchase! We have a client getting a $75K camper van in Ohio and driving it back on a dealer plate. Will be for personal use. If we…
Solar Panels
Question Solar Panels This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 23, 2021 We’re receiving more and more calls on solar panels and have a question. We’ve been advised by at least one carrier that if the solar panels are owned by the insured the HO3 perils apply and…
Blank Checks with RMV
Question Blank Check with RMV This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 26, 2021 We wish to thank you for all your help with the registry. We do have a question on what the registry is currently doing. If an insured buys a vehicle from a non-dealer you…
New Features Make RLI’s Personal Umbrella Even Easier
New Features Make RLI’s Personal Umbrella Even Easier Who needs a personal umbrella? In a word, EVERYBODY. Anyone who has a job, a car, or property can lose everything if they are found liable in a lawsuit. Judgments often go well above the limits of underlying policies, with potential results ranging from selling assets, to…
New Features Make RLI’s Personal Umbrella Even Easier
New Features Make RLI’s Personal Umbrella Even Easier Who needs a personal umbrella? In a word, EVERYBODY. Anyone who has a job, a car, or property can lose everything if they are found liable in a lawsuit. Judgments often go well above the limits of underlying policies, with potential results ranging from selling assets, to…
2021 Outstanding CSR of The Year Award State Winners!
2021 Outstanding CSR of The Year Award State Winners! Big congratulations to Debra Gerraughty, CISR, CRIS, CPIA, PWCAM, of C&S Insurance, on being named the 2021 Outstanding CSR of the Year for Massachusetts! Presented by The National Alliance, OCSRY Awards honor customer service representatives and account managers who have made significant contributions to the insurance…
Ever Dreamed of Becoming a MAIA Instructor? Now’s Your Chance!
Ever Dreamed of Becoming a MAIA Instructor? Now’s Your Chance! MAIA has instructor openings coming up, and we’re actively seeking new candidates! If you’ve got the insurance knowledge and experience, we’ve got the training to help get you started! Our Train-the-Trainer sessions start in September so don’t delay! Apply now! Send your qualifications to MAIA’s Education Director, Lynne…
RMV Low Number Plate Lottery Kicks-off!
RMV Low Number Plate Lottery Kicks-off! The MA RMV is now accepting online applications for the 2021 Low Number Plate Lottery. Applicants must apply by August 27. Winners will be notified after the virtual drawing September 8. There is no fee to apply. The complete list of plates, including eligibility and rules, can be found HERE.
RMV Low Number Plate Lottery Kicks-off!
RMV Low Number Plate Lottery Kicks-off! The MA RMV is now accepting online applications for the 2021 Low Number Plate Lottery. Applicants must apply by August 27. Winners will be notified after the virtual drawing September 8. There is no fee to apply. The complete list of plates, including eligibility and rules, can be found HERE.
Easthampton, Lowell & Southbridge Open for ALL Transactions on 8/2
Easthampton, Lowell & Southbridge Open for ALL Transactions on 8/2 On Monday, August 2, the Easthampton, Lowell, and Southbridge RMV Service Centers will open for appointments for all transaction types. They will all have hours of 9am-5pm. Lowell will also remain a fulfillment center. For a full list of open service centers, hours, and transactions:…
Easthampton, Lowell & Southbridge Open for ALL Transactions on 8/2
Easthampton, Lowell & Southbridge Open for ALL Transactions on 8/2 On Monday, August 2, the Easthampton, Lowell, and Southbridge RMV Service Centers will open for appointments for all transaction types. They will all have hours of 9am-5pm. Lowell will also remain a fulfillment center. For a full list of open service centers, hours, and transactions:…
Travel Trailer Purchase/Used in Florida
Question Travel Trailer Purchased in Florida 07/21/21 This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 29, 2021 We have a client purchasing a travel trailer in Florida. He is going to title it in Massachusetts where he lives. The dealer is going to deliver the travel trailer to a…
RMV eServices Administrators – New Functionality
RMV eServices Administrators – New Functionality As of July 19, 2021, eServices Administrators only will have the ability to reset a user’s web logon two-step authentication, and will no longer need to reach out to the RMV for this authentication reset. The two-step authentication is the method by which a user receives the security code…
2021 Low-Number Plate Lottery Is Now Open
2021 Low-Number Plate Lottery Is Now Open The 2021 Plate Lottery began on July 16, 2021 at 5:00 PM. Customers can enter the low-number plate lottery online using the myRMV Online Service Center. The lottery is online only. The deadline to enter is August 27, 2021. This year there are 201 plates available. Available plates include…
Canceling Revoked Plates – Reminder About New Procedures
Canceling Revoked Plates – Reminder About New Procedures Since January of this year, ATLAS no longer requires proof of insurance to cancel a revoked plate. The $50 reinstatement fee must first be collected, and the plate will remain in revoked status. When the Cancel Registration transaction is completed, the insurance requirement will be satisfied by…
RMV eServices Administrators – New Functionality
RMV eServices Administrators – New Functionality As of July 19, 2021, eServices Administrators only will have the ability to reset a user’s web logon two-step authentication, and will no longer need to reach out to the RMV for this authentication reset. The two-step authentication is the method by which a user receives the security code…
NEW! PDFs for MAIA Classes Can Be Downloaded Directly!
NEW! PDFs for MAIA Classes Can Be Downloaded Directly! MAIA’s Education Team is pleased to announce that you may now download the PDF book or handout for a class directly from your MAIA account, one week prior to the class start date. In the past, after registering for a class, you had to wait for…
2021 Low-Number Plate Lottery Is Now Open
2021 Low-Number Plate Lottery Is Now Open The 2021 Plate Lottery began on July 16, 2021 at 5:00 PM. Customers can enter the low-number plate lottery online using the myRMV Online Service Center. The lottery is online only. The deadline to enter is August 27, 2021. This year there are 201 plates available. Available plates include…
Canceling Revoked Plates – Reminder About New Procedures
Canceling Revoked Plates – Reminder About New Procedures Since January of this year, ATLAS no longer requires proof of insurance to cancel a revoked plate. The $50 reinstatement fee must first be collected, and the plate will remain in revoked status. When the Cancel Registration transaction is completed, the insurance requirement will be satisfied by…
Is a DOC Needed?
Question Is a DOC needed? 07/20/21 Personal This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 30, 2021 If a customer has a commercial auto policy where their vehicle is registered in the company name but also has a personal policy where another vehicle is registered in their own name,…
Revised Medical Affairs Forms
Revised Medical Affairs Forms The MA RMV has revised four Medical Affairs forms to remove the option to submit them by email. They should only be submitted by mail or fax to Medical Affairs. The revised forms are: Medical Evaluation Form (MAB106); Request for Medical Evaluation (MAB107); Loss of Consciousness Evaluation Form (MAB108); and Psychiatric…
Don’t Push Good WC Clients into the Pool!
Don’t Push Good WC Clients into the Pool! The Worker’s Comp (WC) assigned risk pool is not meant for everyone! It is intended to be a market of last resort for high-risk policies, where the insured cannot obtain voluntary offers directly from insurance carriers. Before putting someone in the pool, always check with MAIA’s Number…
Revised Medical Affairs Forms
Revised Medical Affairs Forms The MA RMV has revised four Medical Affairs forms to remove the option to submit them by email. They should only be submitted by mail or fax to Medical Affairs. The revised forms are: Medical Evaluation Form (MAB106); Request for Medical Evaluation (MAB107); Loss of Consciousness Evaluation Form (MAB108); and Psychiatric…
Don’t Push Good WC Clients into the Pool!
Don’t Push Good WC Clients into the Pool! The Worker’s Comp (WC) assigned risk pool is not meant for everyone! It is intended to be a market of last resort for high-risk policies, where the insured cannot obtain voluntary offers directly from insurance carriers. Before putting someone in the pool, always check with MAIA’s Number…
Trailer with Kubota Digger
Question Trailer with Kubota Digger This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 30, 2021 Insured wants to pull a Kubota digger (owned in a company name) on a trailer in a personal name. He said he will use the kubota for personal things like digging and leveling dirt…
DOC or Use of Other Auto
Question DOC or Use of Other Auto This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 30, 2021 We have a Massachusetts insured who does not currently own a personal auto. The only vehicle owned by this household is owned & registered under a corporation. This vehicle is insured on…
Accident in Commercial Vehicle and SDIP
Question Accident in Company Vehicle and SDIP This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 30, 2021 Sorry to bother you but one of my insureds had asked if their employee had an accident in a company vehicle, would their personal insurance be surcharged? She didn’t give me much…
WC and Volunteers
Question WC and Volunteers 07/14/21 – Commercial This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 7, 2021 I was always of the mindset that volunteers were provided coverage under the employers’ liability section of the policy only. I have read there may be an exception for high school students…
Tech Talk: DOC Endorsement vs. Use of Other Auto Endorsement vs. PUP
Tech Talk: DOC Endorsement vs. Use of Other Auto Endorsement vs. PUP What Do I Need and Why? By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW VP Technical Affairs, MAIA I’ve had questions regarding the Drive Other Car (DOC) endorsement, the Use of Other Auto endorsement, and the personal umbrella policy…
MA 2020 Property-Casualty Insurance Marketplace Summary: A New MAIA Member Benefit!
MA 2020 Property-Casualty Insurance Marketplace Summary: A New MAIA Member Benefit! MAIA is pleased to provide our members with a customized summary of the 2020 property and casualty (p-c) insurance marketplace. Using data from AM Best, the report offers relevant content beginning with a MA premium and distribution summary across all lines of business (LOBs),…
Tech Talk: DOC Endorsement vs. Use of Other Auto Endorsement vs. PUP
Tech Talk: DOC Endorsement vs. Use of Other Auto Endorsement vs. PUP What Do I Need and Why? By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW VP Technical Affairs, MAIA I’ve had questions regarding the Drive Other Car (DOC) endorsement, the Use of Other Auto endorsement, and the personal umbrella policy…
Is Flood Confusing You and Your Staff?
Is Flood Confusing You and Your Staff? FEMA’s new Risk Rating 2.0 is coming out later this year, and many agents are dreading the changes. But flood doesn’t HAVE to be complicated! Roll your flood book over to MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency and let our Flood Concierge team service your accounts! You’ll be kept…
Is Flood Confusing You and Your Staff?
Is Flood Confusing You and Your Staff? FEMA’s new Risk Rating 2.0 is coming out later this year, and many agents are dreading the changes. But flood doesn’t HAVE to be complicated! Roll your flood book over to MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency and let our Flood Concierge team service your accounts! You’ll be kept…
RLI Coverage for the Things That Keep your Clients Up at Night
RLI Coverage for the Things That Keep Your Clients Up at Night We’ve all experienced those scary 3:00 AM thoughts. What if I (or my kid!) accidentally injures someone? What if I get hit by an uninsured driver? What if I get sued? Who will pay for it? You can help your clients by offering…
RLI Coverage for the Things That Keep your Clients Up at Night
RLI Coverage for the Things That Keep Your Clients Up at Night We’ve all experienced those scary 3:00 AM thoughts. What if I (or my kid!) accidentally injures someone? What if I get hit by an uninsured driver? What if I get sued? Who will pay for it? You can help your clients by offering…
Ignition Interlock Devices Now Required for Certain 1st-Time OUI Offenders
Ignition Interlock Devices Now Required for Certain 1st-Time OUI Offenders Effective July 1, 2021, the Ignition Interlock Device (IID) obligation now extends to certain first-time OUI offenders who took a breathalyzer at the time of arrest with results of .15 or above and seek a hardship license at the RMV. Additionally, all IID Program participants…
Ignition Interlock Devices Now Required for Certain 1st-Time OUI Offenders
Ignition Interlock Devices Now Required for Certain 1st-Time OUI Offenders Effective July 1, 2021, the Ignition Interlock Device (IID) obligation now extends to certain first-time OUI offenders who took a breathalyzer at the time of arrest with results of .15 or above and seek a hardship license at the RMV. Additionally, all IID Program participants…
RMV Responds to MAIA’s Letter About Agents’ Concerns
RMV Responds to MAIA’s Letter About Agents’ Concerns MAIA continues to work closely with the RMV, advocating for our members. In response to MAIA’s correspondence and recent meeting about issues that have been undermining agents’ efforts to serve clients, we received a letter from the RMV’s Acting Registrar. In it, she shares that the RMV will…
MA Young Agents Thank You All For Another Successful Golf Tournament!
MA Young Agents Thank You All for Another Successful Golf Tournament! The Young Agents Committee wrapped up yet another successful Golf Tournament on June 16, once again hosted at Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth, MA. After over a year of social distancing, it was a pleasure to see old faces test their swings, network with…