Tech Talk: Water Backup and Sump Pump Overflow Coverage and the Homeowner
Tech Talk: Water Backup and Sump Pump Overflow Coverage and the Homeowner By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW An interesting question: Does everybody need a Water Backup and Sump Pump Overflow endorsement or does nobody need it? (And what does it do?) I was modifying an outline for an…
Important Steps Agents Can Take to Avoid Registry Delays
Important Steps Agents Can Take to Avoid Registry Delays As we’ve written before, we hear your frustrations with the RMV, and are actively advocating on our members behalf. While not all of the current Registry issues (such as understaffing) have a quick and easy fix, one factor that we can control right now is the…
RMV Checks Should Be Made Out to MassDOT
RMV Checks Should Be Made Out to MassDOT Checks or money orders provided to the RMV by customers should be made out to MassDOT. Certain other names are acceptable if the check or money order has already been written. However, it must be one of the names on the following list: Commonwealth of Massachusetts…
CDL Medical Certificates Extension
CDL Medical Certificates Extension The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued an additional waiver for CDL Medical Certificates (DOT Medical Cards). Certificates that expire between March 1, 2021 and August 30, 2021 will expire on August 31, 2021. The RMV has updated customer records in ATLAS. Affected customers will receive an email informing…
Reminder: RMV Can’t Process Incomplete RTAs
Reminder: RMV Can’t Process Incomplete RTAs MAIA has learned that RMV Service Centers are still receiving a lot of incomplete Registration and Title Applications (RTAs). They really are working hard to process agent transactions quickly, but if the package is incomplete, they have to bounce it back! We’ve provided a link to the RTA Instruction…
Form 2290 No Longer Required for Initial Heavy Highway Vehicle Registrations
Form 2290 No Longer Required for Initial Heavy Highway Vehicle Registrations Effective immediately, proof of Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax payment (IRS Form 2290/ Schedule 1) for vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more is NOT required for initial vehicle registrations. It is only required during registration renewals. This reverses a…
CAR Votes to Raise Agent Commissions for Taxi, Limousine & Car Service Classifications
Another “pocketbook win” win for MA agents! The Governing Committee of the Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers (CAR) has voted to raise and set the agents’ commission rate for the Taxi, Limousine and Car Service classifications to 8.34% of premium! This will be a significant increase from the 2020 rate year commissions, which were just 2.37% of…
MAIA Joins MA Business Coalition to Help Address Skills/Talent Gap
We are pleased to announce that MAIA has joined the Massachusetts Business Coalition on Skills (MBCS). The MCBS is a partnership of MA chambers of commerce and business associations, whose goal is to originate and advocate for statewide policies to ensure that every MA resident can acquire the skills needed to thrive in their careers,…
We Hear Your Registry Concerns and We’re On It!
Many members have contacted MAIA to express frustration with the COVID-related changes at RMV service centers. Common complaints include agents/runners having to travel unreasonable distances to designated drop-off centers; not being able to process live transactions and review documentation; inaccurate pickup notifications; and the return to the 7-day transfer law when the RMV system cannot…
What Policy Pays – Owner or Driver
Question What Policy Pays – Owner or Driver? This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 18, 2021 If a person driving another person’s vehicle (with their own insurance), has a fender bender, is it the driver’s insurance that the claim would be filed or the vehicle insurance? …
Garaging for Commercial Vehicles
Question Garaging for Commercial Vehicles This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effecton June 10, 2021 I wanted to see if you or someone in your office knows the answer to this. We have a client who has his commercial vehicles garaged in Bellingham in the registry. His mailing address…
MAP and Listed Home Health Aids
Question MAP and Listed Home Health Aids This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 10, 2021 Please clarify, we have an insured that has aids which are listed drivers under the automobile policy. They are full time and or part time employees of the named insured and there…
Cannabis Couriers and Operators
Question Cannabis Couriers and Operators This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 14, 2021 Hope this email finds you well. Regarding insurance how are Cannabis Couriers and operators treated? Are couriers TCN’s? Are Couriers and Operators considered commercial? Do you need commercial plates or livery plates? What insurance…
Damage to a Loaner Vehicle
Question Damage to a Loaner Vehicle This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 14, 2021 We have a client who took his 07 Infiniti to a dealer to be worked on. The dealership gave him a “loaner” vehicle to use in place of the 07 Infiniti. Insured got…
Out-of-State Vehicle Purchase (3)
Question Out of State Vehicle Purchase This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 14, 2021 Good Morning Irene, I have an insured who just purchased a vehicle in GA and wants to drive it back to MA. The dealer there gave him all the paperwork and temporary plates. …
Maine Registered Trailers (2)
Question Maine Registered Trailers This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 15, 2021 I have an insured who has a boat trailer and plans to register the trailer in Maine with Maine recreational trailer plates. The insured plans to pull the trailer with his Truck that is registered…
Operator Exclusion (4)
Question Operator Exclusion This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 19, 2021 Could you please confirm If the company pulls up a household member and there is no license so you need to exclude them does that exclude them only as a driver or does it exclude them…
Umbrella (3)
Question Umbrella This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 19, 2021 Insured doesn’t have a personal auto. They only have a commercial auto. If they have DOC on the commercial auto, will the personal umbrella respond to a claim? Answer Irene Morrill: That is a question that you have…
Diminished Value (2)
Question Diminished Value This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 21, 2021 Does the insurance carrier have to pay diminished value on a vehicle especially if it is a leased vehicle and they are telling the insured they are responsible for that amount when vehicle is turned in?…
Commercial Auto Cancellation
Question Commercial Auto Cancellations This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 26, 2021 Everyone in our office believed that you could cancel an auto policy (personal or commercial) within the first 30 days and it would be prorated. We did cancel a client’s Commercial auto policy within the…
Domestic Partner and the MAP
Question Domestic Partners and the MAP This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 26, 2021 I am hoping you can help me with a question one of our insureds has asked us. She is a listed operator on her domestic partner’s Massachusetts auto policy and she will be traveling…
Listed Operators and HHMs
Question Listed Operators and HHMs This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 25, 2021 I’m looking for some advice on a couple of things regarding MA auto. Let me first say that I’m not looking for coverage determination, purely just how MAIA would look at these scenarios. We…
Florida Temporary Plates
Question Florida Temporary Plates This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 29, 2021 Question: If we stamp an RTA for a client that is purchasing a car down in Florida and they get a Florida temporary plate and drive back on the Florida temporary plate any issues? Company…
Umbrella Coverage – Side Business
Question Umbrella Coverage – Side Business This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 29, 2021 If someone is doing dump runs – side business – with his personal truck and also has a commercial liability policy… if a personal umbrella is in place, would it cover him if…
Definition of Private Passenger Vehicle & 15 Passenger Van
Question Definition of Private Passenger Vehicle and 15 Passenger Van This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 30, 2021 My son is renting a 15 passenger van. I know his PAP follows him. I checked with the underwriter though (not my regular underwriter) as it was such a…
Is This Fraud
Question Is This Fraud This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 06, 2021 Trying to help a client and this situation arose: She said she got a quote from Liberty Mutual for auto but never agreed to a policy. Liberty Mutual is saying they have her on a…
Claim with Rental Vehicle
Question Claim with Rental Vehicle This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 13, 2021 Customer rented auto with Enterprise and got in accident. Enterprise vehicle has a MI registration and customer was told that because the vehicle was rented in MA that the MA limits of 5k…
Claims Determination re: Road Debris
Question Claims Determination re: Road Debris This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 06, 2021 Does the association have any Tech Talk or other type of advisory articles regarding claim determination when it comes an auto striking road debris and the companies determining it should be an…
Non-Profit Has Employee Use Own Vehicles for Work
Question Non-Profit Has Employees Use Own Vehicles This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 07, 2021 We insure a non-profit where employees will often use their own cars to transport their clients to doctor’s appointments, run errands etc. They recently had a fender bender and the Carrier…
RMV Check Policy
Question RMV Check Policy This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 28, 2021 MAIA Bulletin regard RMV checks Thank you for providing this information every week. It is difficult to keep up with all the changes this past year and your Registry news section is so helpful.…
Farm Tractor on the Road
Question Farm Tractor on the Road This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 28, 2021 One of our clients, has asked about a Farm Tractor, it goes less than 25 miles an hour and he wants to travel on the Road between his two properties. Is there…
Glass – Collision or Comprehensive
Question Glass – Collision or Comprehensive This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 09, 2021 I wanted to see if an insured having their mirror hit and damaged would be considered comprehensive or collision? I was under the impression that glass was the only part of comprehensive…
Construction Vehicles
Question Construction Vehicles This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 20, 2021 One of our insureds has bought a 2011 Case Construction vehicle. I know rules are different for personal vs. commercial. They are planning on driving it to other properties rather than leaving it on their…
Lack of Offering Flood Can Lead to EO Claims and Broken Hearts
Lack of Offering Flood Can Lead to E&O Claims and Broken Hearts Failure to offer proper coverage is one of the top reasons for E&O claims. And that includes the failure to offer flood. Here’s a true scenario of a love triangle gone wrong: A Condo Association purchases a flood policy from an Agent. The…
Hospitality Product News! Package Policy & Pay As You Pour
Hospitality Product News! Package Policy & Pay As You Pour MAIA’s Number One Agency would love to talk to you about some great new options from Hospitality Mutual! Their new multiline Package Policy combines Commercial Property, General Liability, and Liquor Liability into a single policy. And the new Pay As You Pour Program helps clients…
Campers and Travel Trailers
Question Campers and Travel Trailers This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 12, 2021 A question just recently came up regarding general Liability exposure for Camper trailers (Fifth wheels and travel trailers). We know that liability is extended to camper trailers while they are attached to the…
MAIA Advocates for Exclusion of PPP Loans from Taxable Income
MAIA Advocates for Exclusion of PPP Loans from Taxable Income Going to bat for agents after hearing their concerns, MAIA contacted several members of the MA House/Senate leadership to express our support for SD.172, An Act providing financial relief to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation would allow for critical financial relief to…
Learner’s Permit Practice Exams Available on RMV Website
Learner’s Permit Practice Exams Available on RMV Website Class D Learner’s Permit exams are now available on mass.gov/RMV in the Exams section when a customer logs in to MyRMV. Users have 25 minutes to answer 25 random questions. This will help them know the type of questions to expect on the real exam, and…
Trailer Proof of Ownership
Question Trailer Proof of Ownership This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 26, 2021 As far as we’re aware, the MA RMV requires the prior registration of the seller to register a trailer. Is that always the case? What if that is not available? Is there a…
Altering an Acord Form
Question Altering an Acord Form This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 13, 2021 Hi, I believe back in 2019 or 2010 the rules/regulations by Acord changed which we were no longer able to type 30 day notice of cancellation, 10 for non-payment on the certificates. Can…