Agency Owners: Are You Ignoring These 7 Risks to Your Business?

Agency Owners: Are You Ignoring These 7 Risks to Your Business? Oftentimes, agency owners are so focused on their clients’ needs that they neglect their own, placing their business at increased risk. In case you missed it, a recent issue of The Standard featured an article by InsurBanc’s David Tralka discussing seven risks you need…

MAIA’s Inclement Weather Policy for Education Programs – Updated

MAIA’s Inclement Weather Policy for Education Programs – Updated  

What the New Hands-Free Driving Law Means for Your Clients

What the New Hands-Free Driving Law Means for Your Clients Here are a few details that your MA auto clients should know about the new Hands-Free Driving Law:  It takes effect February 23, 2020. It will be illegal for drivers to do anything other than tap their cellphone once to activate hands-free mode – and…

Driver’s Manual Updated

Driver’s Manual Updated A new 11/2019 Driver’s Manual (English version) is now in the RMV warehouse and will soon be distributed to all RMV Service Centers. It is already available on the RMV website (www.mass.gov/rmv). The new version has a burgundy cover that features an image of cars driving down a country road.

CAR Updates Manual of Administrative Procedures

CAR Updates Manual of Administrative Procedures Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers (CAR) has released Bulletin No. 1092-Updates to the Manual of Administrative Procedures, announcing that the manual has been updated to reflect changes in the following sections: Chapter I-Overview; Chapter II- Servicing Carrier Appointment; Chapter III; Servicing Carrier Responsibilities; and Chapter X- Servicing Carrier and Exclusive Representative…

CAR Electrical Shutdown, December 11 at 2:00 PM

CAR Electrical Shutdown, December 11 at 2:00 PM Due to a planned electrical shutdown in its data center, CAR’s websites, mainframe, and telephones will be unavailable on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, from 2:00 PM to approximately 6:00 PM. During the shutdown, producers will be unable to process any policy applications or make any assignments through…

Tech Talk: Loss Assessment … Coverage … E&O … Ethics Dilemma

Tech Talk: Loss Assessment … Coverage … E&O … Ethics Dilemma By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, LIA, CRIS, CPIW  — VP of Technical Affairs 

WCRIBMA’s Special Bulletin No. 11-19

WCRIBMA’s Special Bulletin No. 11-19 The Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau has issued Special Bulletin No. 11-19, dated November 19, 2019, and titled 2018 Voluntary Assessable Premium. To access this Special Bulletin, please use the following link:

Title & Lienholder Inquiry Changed Back to The “Old” Way

Title & Lienholder Inquiry Changed Back to The “Old” Way The RMV recently released this statement: “We understand that a recent change to title inquiries through our Online Service Center may have made it difficult for you to obtain necessary information from the RMV. Prior to our new system implementation (ATLAS Release 2) on November 12, users…

ATLAS Q&A, Straight from the RMV (UPDATED)

ATLAS Q&A, Straight from the RMV (UPDATED) UPDATED Q&A as of 12/9/19!(Includes all previous questions, plus several new ones.) CLICK IMAGE: MAIA’s Member Relations Advocate Kathy Cormier continues to field your ATLAS questions, seeking clarity from the MA RMV as needed. She has updated the list of ATLAS Q&As, and created a downloadable PDF that…

RMV ‘Get Ready” Service Streamlines Registration & Title Transactions

RMV ‘Get Ready” Service Streamlines Registration & Title Transactions With ATLAS Release 2, the RMV is offering a new ‘Get Ready’ web service that allows users to start registration and title transactions online. The web service sends the data into ATLAS, which flags any missing or incorrect information. Once approved, the user can print a…

Excise Tax Non-Renewal on Your Record? No Registration Transactions for You

Excise Tax Non-Renewal on Your Record? No Registration Transactions for You Effective immediately, as part of ATLAS Release 2, no registration transactions can be processed for applicants who have excise tax non-renewal marks on their records. This is an existing provision of MGL Chapter 60A, Section 2A. The Registry’s former ALARS system did not have…

ATLAS Plate Cancel

ATLAS Plate Cancel QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on November 12, 2019

Really Old Plates

Really Old Plates QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 25, 2019

Number One’s WC Appetite is Ready for a Feast!

Number One’s WC Appetite is Ready for a Feast! As Thanksgiving approaches, MAIA’s Number One Agency has expanded our WC Market with multiple carriers, and they’re hungry for business with a standard premium range of $1,000 to $25,000 and higher. And do they like pool business? If premium is $1,500 or higher… YES, THEY DO!…

Cutoff Date for Old RMV-1 & RMV-3 Forms is December 13th

Cutoff Date for Old RMV-1 & RMV-3 Forms is December 13th The new Registration & Title Application (RTA) form has replaced the old RMV-1 and RMV-3 forms. Use of the new form will be mandatory as of Monday, December 16, 2019, and it is highly recommended that you use new RTA form for all transactions…

ATLAS is Live! Where to Find Help if You Need It

ATLAS is Live! Where to Find Help if You Need It The much-anticipated launch of ATLAS Release 2 took place on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, and the transition from ALARS to ATLAS is complete! The RMV has provided links and email contacts for a variety of issues and questions that may arise as you attempt…

Why You Should Consider a Staged Internal Perpetuation Strategy

Why You Should Consider a Staged Internal Perpetuation Strategy  

Boost Your Agency’s Digital Presence at 30% Off

Boost Your Agency’s Digital Presence at 30% Off  

Setting Up Company in RMV

Setting Up Company in RMV QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 25, 2019

ATLAS and NADA

ATLAS and NADA QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 25, 2019

MAIP: Refusing to Take Assignment

MAIP: Refusing to Take Assignment QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 28, 2019

Fleet Renewals

Fleet Renewals QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 30, 2019

Do I Need USDOT

Do I Need USDOT QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 28, 2019

Commercial Registration

Commercial Registration QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 30, 2019

What Comes with That Liquor Liability Policy?

What Comes with That Liquor Liability Policy? When you get a Hospitality Mutual liquor liability policy through Number One, it comes with lots of resources from the carrier to support your insured, such as:

Delivery Apps

Delivery Apps QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 23, 2019

Estimated Premium

Estimated Premium QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 24, 2019

Glass Coverage

Glass Coverage QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 28, 2019

Compulsory Coverages

Compulsory Coverages QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 30, 2019

MAIA President Testifies in Support of Compulsory Auto Insurance Bills S.368/H.118

MAIA President Testifies in Support of Compulsory Auto Insurance Bills S.368/H.118 Last week, MAIA President & CEO Nick Fyntrilakis testified at the State House on our members’ behalf, requesting support for the increased compulsory auto insurance limits in Bills S.368 and H.118. These bills propose increasing the compulsory bodily injury insurance limit for injury or…

Deceased Persons Low Number Plate

Deceased Persons Low Number Plate QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 10, 2019

Registry News – October 30, 2019

Registry News – October 30, 2019   How to Prepare for a Massachusetts Salvage Inspection Once a salvage-titled vehicle has been repaired to a safe operating condition, it must pass a vehicle salvage inspection before the vehicle can be registered and legally driven. And before a salvage inspection appointment can be made, customers must obtain…

Are We Required To Write Minimum Limits

Are We Required To Write Minimum Limits QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 15, 2019

Out-of-State Dealers

Out-of-State Dealers QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 15, 2019

Insurance Certification Non-DRIVE Dealers

Insurance Certification Non-DRIVE Dealers QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 15, 2019

ALS Plate

ALS Plate QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 04, 2019

Newly Acquired Vehicles

Newly Acquired Vehicles QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 04, 2019

Tech Talk: Waiver of Subrogation and The Condo Policy

Tech Talk: Waiver of Subrogation and The Condo Policy By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, LIA, CRIS, CPIW  — VP of Technical Affairs 

BAP and Spouse Use

BAP and Spouse Use QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 08, 2019