Family Exemption
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 2, 2020 QUESTION We have a title in the mother and sons name. The mother wants her name off the title loan is paid off. Does the son now have to pay sales tax on the car?
CAR Bulletin No. 1097 – Guidance for Servicing Carriers and Exclusive Representative Producers during the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis
CAR Bulletin No. 1097 – Guidance for Servicing Carriers and Exclusive Representative Producers during the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis According to Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers (CAR) Bulletin 1097, the Registry of Motor Vehicles has requested that CAR issue a bulletin to advise industry participants of the RMV’s new Registration and Title Application (RTA).
RMV Extends Registrations by 60 Days for March/April Expirations
RMV Extends Registrations by 60 Days for March/April Expirations Effective immediately, the RMV has extended all passenger plates/registrations that expired in March and that are due to expire in April for 60 days. Customers who have not renewed a registration that expired on March 31, 2020 have been extended until May 31, 2020. Customers who…
PAN or AHN
PAN or AHN This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 10, 2020 QUESTION I have a client who has welded a slide-on camper to his pickup truck. I’ve been informed the slide-on does have a running toilet. Is this pickup truck now a camper that will…
Event Cancellation – Coronavirus
Event Cancellation – Coronavirus This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 10, 2020 QUESTION I am looking to find coverage for a one-day event if it were to get a canceled due to the Corna virus. My insured is planning an engagement party in May at…
E&O Risk Management: What Agents Should NOT Say About Coverage
E&O Risk Management: What Agents Should NOT Say About Coverage This E&O Risk Management Alert from Utica National gives advice for agents and producers to help avoid E&O claims: “During this time of crisis, it is imperative that insurance agents and producers do not make any statements or representations to their clients regarding the potential…
FFCRA & CARES Act: Resources for Independent Agents
FFCRA & CARES Act: Resources for Independent Agents The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act open up many new avenues of assistance to help prevent more workers from losing their jobs and small businesses from going under. These resources will help you understand and benefit from…
InsurBanc Will Work with Eligible Agencies to Obtain PPP Loans
InsurBanc Will Work with Eligible Agencies to Obtain PPP Loans As you know, Congress recently approved $350 billion through various SBA lending programs to help small businesses survive and recover from losses suffered during this crisis. InsurBanc is prepared to work with eligible agencies to obtain the emergency financing offered through the Paycheck Protection Program. This program…
WCRIBMA Issues Changes to Workers’ Comp Rates & Codes
WCRIBMA Issues Changes to Workers’ Comp Rates & Codes On March 31, the Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau (WCRIBMA) issued four Circular Letters (Nos. 2362-2365) on the following workers’ compensation topics: General Revision of Rates Applicable to New and Renewal Business; Changes in Manual Rates by Class; Manual Rates and Rating Values; and COVID-19…
Spread Positivity! #19ActsofKindness
Spread Positivity! #19ActsofKindness Venmo coffee money to a friend who’s a nurse, doctor or first responder. Leave essential products on your porch for delivery drivers. Those are just two ideas from a list of 19 Acts of Kindness developed to create positive experiences during the COVID-19 crisis. MAIA is joining with the Big “I” Young…
New Vehicle – No Title
New Vehicle – No Title This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 11, 2020 QUESTION Quick question for you. I have an insured that called me last week & said he was getting a 2018 truck. He picked it up Friday 2/7/20 & I haven’t received the…
FEMA Extends Grace Period for Flood Insurance Renewals
FEMA Extends Grace Period for Flood Insurance Renewals To help serve its National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) customers who may be experiencing financial hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic, FEMA is extending the grace period to renew flood insurance policies from 30 to 120 days. This extension applies to NFIP flood insurance policies with an…
Doordash
Doordash This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 12, 2020 QUESTION I have a client who is looking into part-time with Doordash. How is personal lines client addressing using personal vehicle for doordash? Any thoughts?
SD.2888 and Other Proposed Legislation to Cover COVID-19 BI Claims
SD.2888 and Other Proposed Legislation to Cover COVID-19 BI Claims As the legislative and regulatory landscape continues to shift day by day, MAIA and our national association, The Big “I,” are working hard to ensure that independent agents are well represented. Many of you have reached out with questions about the highly publicized bills being…
RMV to Mail IRP Renewals in Monthly Batches Starting in April
RMV to Mail IRP Renewals in Monthly Batches Starting in April MAIA spoke to the RMV today (Friday, March 27), and they are still on point to start mailing IRP renewals, but will be changing the process this year. Instead of mailing all renewals at once, they will separate the renewals into three groups and…
RMV Enforcing No Walk-In Policy
RMV Enforcing No Walk-In Policy Effective Friday, March 27th, the RMV will be enforcing a strict no walk-in policy at its eight Service Centers open to the general public. The only transactions that will be processed at service centers are those that require an in-person transaction, including Commercial Driving Licenses or Permits (CDLs / CLPs), some new…
RMV: 60-Day Extension Now Applies to Both Commercial and Non-Commercial Vehicle Inspections
RMV: 60-Day Extension Now Applies to Both Commercial and Non-Commercial Vehicle Inspections The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is implementing a 60-day extension to commercial vehicle inspections expiring in March and April. The RMV announced the 60-day extension for non-commercial vehicle inspections on March 20th. These initiatives recognize the importance of commercial vehicle drivers…
Surcharge
Surcharge This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 19, 2020 QUESTION If a client hits a barrel that falls out of the back of a truck on the highway, can they be surcharged? Thank you!
RMV Springfield Will Accept B2B/IRP Transactions for Drop-Off Service
RMV Springfield Will Accept B2B/IRP Transactions for Drop-Off Service Beginning Thursday, March 26, the Springfield RMV Service Center will be open for B2B/IRP drop-off transaction processing. (The B2B/IRP-dedicated service centers at Milford and Wilmington also remain open for drop-off services.) These facilities and services will be for drop-off transactions/bundles only. You will not be allowed to…
Roommates
Roommates This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 19, 2020 QUESTION Personal auto policy, individual rents a room with several other “housemates”/Roommates. He doesn’t speak to them, no idea who they are. Carrier is asking to be added to his auto policy. There a ruling on…
E&O Reminder: Don’t Say, “It Isn’t Covered”!
E&O Reminder: Don’t Say, “It Isn’t Covered”! MAIA’s Number One Agency would like to remind you that it is the carrier’s responsibility to determine coverage, not the agent’s. Please be careful when questioned by an insured about coverage. We suggest that it is okay to offer your opinion, but with the disclosure that it is truly up…
RMV Branches Limiting Numbers of Customers
RMV Branches Limiting Numbers of Customers The RMV branches that are open are swamped, so they have determined how many customers they can serve in a day and are giving out numbers to people waiting in line as a trial process. Once the numbers are gone, that will be all that is serviced that day.…
RMV Makes Temporary Policy Change Re Insurance Stamps
RMV Makes Temporary Policy Change Re Insurance Stamps The RMV is temporarily amending the current proof of insurance policy to allow insurance companies and agents to send a scanned or faxed copy of the RTA, RMV-2 form, or the Section 5 registration application, rather than requiring a rubber stamp. The copy must be legible and…
RMV: Appointment-Only Online Reservation System & Other Measures
RMV: Appointment-Only Online Reservation System & Other Measures The RMV continues to take steps to minimize customer volume at physical locations, and has implemented an online reservation system for making appointments to conduct certain “necessary and required” in-person transactions at the eight open and operating RMV Service Centers. These essential transactions include certain CDL transactions…
Condo
Condo 9is question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 3, 2020 QUESTION Question, if a condo master policy includes earthquake coverage but the HO6 policy does not, if there was an earthquake loss, would the loss assessment apply or does it have to be a covered loss….…
Yes, the Governor Deemed Insurance an Essential Business – No, That Does Not Mean Your Agency Must Stay Open
Yes, the Governor Deemed Insurance an Essential Business – No, That Does Not Mean Your Agency Must Stay Open In our March 23rd Special Bulletin, we reported Governor Baker’s decision to include “insurance services” among the list of “essential” businesses that are exempt from his mandatory shutdown order. This announcement generated many questions from members,…
It’s Official: Insurance Licenses ARE Extended
It’s Official: Insurance Licenses ARE Extended If your MA insurance license in good standing has expired or will expire during the COVID-19 state of emergency, it will remain valid until 90 days following the termination of the state of emergency. After receiving conflicting reports (and issuing a “Correction” earlier this week that turned out to…
Boston Software Providing FREE Tool to Create, Stamp & Submit RTAs to the Registry from Home
Boston Software Providing FREE Tool to Create, Stamp & Submit RTAs to the Registry from Home With so many agencies transitioning to work-from-home arrangements, Boston Software, in partnership with the RMV and MAIA, is providing free access to its SinglePoint Forms tool and carrier eStamps to allow agents to submit copies of Registration and Title…
DOI Asks Carriers for Flexibility to Ensure Continuation of Coverage
DOI Asks Carriers for Flexibility to Ensure Continuation of Coverage The MA Division of Insurance (DOI) on March 23 issued Bulletin 2020-05 to all insurance carriers and self-insurance groups that provide coverage in Massachusetts. The Bulletin outlines the DOI’s expectations for carriers to “provide as much flexibility as is reasonably possible” with regard to collection…
Trailer Only Policies
Trailer Only Policies 9is question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 5, 2020 QUESTION We are being told by our carrier that their new company portal will no longer support “trailer only” policies, so they are going to be non renewing the policies unless we add a…
Special Bulletin: Insurance Agents ARE Essential
Special Bulletin: Insurance Agents ARE Essential For more recent information, please read this post from 3/24/20: Yes, the Governor Deemed Insurance an Essential Business No, That Does Not Mean Your Agency Must Stay Open Governor Baker this morning (3/23/20) mandated that all non-essential businesses in MA shut down. However, MAIA has just confirmed that insurance…
Commercial Driver’s Licenses and Commercial Learner’s Permits
Commercial Driver’s Licenses and Commercial Learner’s Permits Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) and Commercial Learner’s Permits (CLPs) expiration dates have NOT been extended. However, the RMV recognizes the importance of commercial vehicle drivers to the supply chain during the State of Emergency declaration, and will continue to prioritize reducing customer volumes in physical locations. The Milford RMV…
What the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Means to Employers
What the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Means to Employers Among the provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which will take effect April 1, are two acts that apply to employers with fewer than 500 employees: Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act Emergency Family and Medical Expansion Act. [Please see updated information below] Affinity…
Rear End Collision and Glass
Rear End Collision and Glass 9is question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 5, 2020 QUESTION Have an insured who was rearended. He filed a claim through the other carrier. They are paying for the damage to his bumper, but the collision also caused drivers side window…
RMV Extends Deadlines on Non-Commercial Vehicle Inspections
RMV Extends Deadlines on Non-Commercial Vehicle Inspections To help customers maintain proper social distancing, Massachusetts RMV is extending expiration dates on annual motor vehicle safety and emissions inspections and newly registered vehicle inspections for non-commercial vehicles as follows:
Milford & Wilmington RMVs Doing CDL Transactions Exclusively
Milford & Wilmington RMVs Doing CDL Transactions Exclusively Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) and Commercial Learner’s Permits (CLPs) expiration dates have NOT been extended. However, the RMV recognizes the importance of commercial vehicle drivers to the supply chain during the state of emergency, so effective immediately, the Milford RMV and Wilmington RMV will exclusively perform commercial license/permit transactions.
Commercial Auto and SDIP
Commercial Auto and SDIP 9is question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 5, 2020 QUESTION We have a client that has both a personal auto policy and a business auto policy with us. The insured backed into a snow bank and caused damage to the truck that…
Special Bulletin: COVID-19 Updates for Thursday 3/19/20
Special Bulletin: COVID-19 Updates for Thursday 3/19/20 Dear Members,While we don’t want to be like the TV news media with “Breaking News” interruptions every five minutes, we want to keep you up to date on important topics in a timely fashion. With the understanding that some of this information may actually change within five minutes,…
Are Insurance Agencies Essential Businesses? Or, “What Should My Agency Do?”
Are Insurance Agencies Essential Businesses? Or, “What Should My Agency Do?”
Stamped RTA and Coverage
Stamped RTA and Coverage 9is question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 6, 2020 QUESTION I hope you have been well. Question for you – if we stamp an RTA, is coverage for that vehicle considered bound? Ie. If we forget to send a change request to…