Accident Forgiveness

Accident Forgiveness QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 10, 2019 Accident Forgiveness…how do we know now the carrier filed with the Division of Insurance? This may sound stupid on my part but if I have a customer who has the accident forgiveness on their auto…

Motorcycle Question

Motorcycle Question QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 02, 2019 Do you know of any verbiage for Mapfre/Commerce -where I can find that there is no Annual Mileage credit on motorcycles ?

SDIP Question

SDIP Question QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 03, 2019 I was curious if you could answer a question for me.  We have a policyholder whose current policy has a 3 point surcharge on it and would be a points 98 at renewal come 03/2020. …

Proof of Citizenship/Lawful Presence and Name is not an Exact Match

Proof of Citizenship/Lawful Presence and Name is not an Exact Match If a customer applying for a REAL ID presents a document for Proof of Social Security Number (SSN) with a name that does not exactly match the name on the document presented as Proof of Lawful Presence, the SSN document can be accepted in…

Reminder: No License Renewals/Reinstatements after Two Years Without Active License

Reminder: No License Renewals/Reinstatements after Two Years Without Active License Class D & M driver’s licenses cannot be renewed or reinstated after a customer has been without an active license for two years or more for any reason.  This could be because the license expired, was suspended/revoked, or was surrendered.

Commercial Lettering on Passenger Vehicle

Commercial Lettering on Passenger Vehicle QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 03, 2019 Good afternoon Irene, Hope you are well. I was hoping you might be able to help me understand eligibility for a MAP if a vehicle has commercial lettering on it but not…

MPIUA Announces Revisions to Assessment and Valuation Program

MPIUA Announces Revisions to Assessment and Valuation Program The Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (MPIUA), has updated its risk assessment and valuation program to CoreLogic RCT Express version 4.5. This upgrade has been in use in the voluntary market being received with positive review. RCT Express version 4.5 contains several updates which make it both…

Binder Language for Auto

Binder Language for Auto QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 03, 2019 I am told you are a wiz in the industry and would likely provide the best answer to my question. When stamping an RMV-1 for a dealership and providing a binder, should there…

Proposed MA Millionaire’s Tax is a Tax on Your Retirement Fund

Proposed MA Millionaire’s Tax is a Tax on Your Retirement Fund Supporters of MA House Bill No. 86 and Senate Bill No. 12, the proposed Fair Share Amendment (a.k.a., millionaire’s tax), want to add a 4 percent surtax on income over $1 million. What they neglect to mention is what it will mean for non-millionaire…

Appeal of Surcharge Points

Appeal of Surcharge Points QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 07, 2019 We have an insured who was surcharged for an accident and at the time liability was determined I questioned it as I thought 50/50 was appropriate for this situation but the adjuster did…

Claims Question on Body Shops

Claims Question on Body Shops QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 08, 2019 I have an insured who has gone third party for his physical damage claim and the carrier will not accept a direction to pay from the body shop because they are not…

Rental of a U-Haul

Rental of a U-Haul QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 09, 2019 Is there a tech talk regarding rental of U-Hauls under a MA auto policy

Registration for 26,000 lb Truck and Permits

Registration for 26,000 lb Truck and Permits QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 13, 2019 If we have a vehicle with a GVW of 26,000 lbs. and travels in more that one state can we register Commercial without having to get trip permits when it…

Does Legal Cannabis Make the Restaurant and Bar Business More Risky?

Does Legal Cannabis Make the Restaurant and Bar Business More Risky? In this recent blog post, Richard Welch, Jr. of Hospitality Insurance Group shares important insights about the new liability risks arising from the legalization of marijuana. “While bartenders and servers are trained to spot people who are inebriated,” he points out, “identifying someone who…

5 Things MA Employers Need to Know about MPFL TODAY

5 Things MA Employers Need to Know about MPFL TODAY By Joseph J. Lawler, CEBS

Proof of Residency Documents from the Same Source

Proof of Residency Documents from the Same Source To apply for a REAL ID drivers’ license or ID card, a customer must present two documents to prove Massachusetts residency.  There has been some confusion on whether these two documents can be from the same source.  This training update serves as a clarification on the RMV’s…

Summer/Winter Swap

Summer/Winter Swap QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 13, 2019 Not sure if you can help me or someone else ? I tried finding this in the Registry but couldn’t find out the answer on What situations would you use the Summer/Winter swap box on…

NFIP Extension Through Sept. 30 Awaits President’s Signature

NFIP Extension Through Sept. 30 Awaits President’s Signature On Monday, June 3, the Big “I” released the following statement by Charles Symington, Big “I” senior vice president of external, industry & government affairs, on the Congressional reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP):  “The Big ‘I’ thanks the House of Representatives for passing the…

Principal Place of Business Form

Principal Place of Business Form QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 28, 2019 Regarding Principal Place of Business Certificate Form-I have a guy with a Ceded CL Auto Policy and his vehicle is registered to himself-he lives in Newburyport and his vehicle is garaged there.…

Garage Risk

Garage Risk QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 08, 2019 I have a client that has a DLN plate but most of his revenue is derived from repairs. Since he works on heavy and x-tra heavy trucks, it would go to CAR. Does the %…

Commercial Policy and Trailers

Commercial Policy and Trailers QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 11, 2019 Does a BAP automatically extend liability coverage to a trailer(14,000 GVW), not listed on the policy, that is owned by the same person? I was always told that commercial policies need to have…

Tech Talk: MAP and Renting an Auto: Let’s Dispel This Ugly Rumor Once and For All

Tech Talk: MAP and Renting an Auto: Let’s Dispel This Ugly Rumor Once and For All By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, LIA, CRIS, CPIW  — VP of Technical Affairs, MAIA  

Got Lawyer Clients? Get Number One’s LPLI Program

Got Lawyer Clients? Get Number One’s LPLI Program Agents: If you insure a lawyer for their auto, home, or business but not their professional liability… ask yourself why. (And then ask them to let you quote their LPLI policy!)

And the Award Goes to… Massachusetts Agents!

And the Award Goes to… Massachusetts Agents! L-R:  Nick Fyntrilakis, Joe Leahy, John Koegel, Ray Gallant Massachusetts again received the National Championship Award for the most contributions of any state to InsurPac. John Koegel, Chairman, MAIA; Ray Gallant, National Director and InsurPac National Chairman; and Nick Fyntrilakis, MAIA President and CEO accepted the award on…

Additional Insured vs. Named Insured

Additional Insured vs. Named Insured QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 11, 2019 Should a person that is listed on a deed but doesn’t reside in the residence be listed as a named insured or additional insured?

Company Refusal to Add Driver – Can they do this

Company Refusal to Add Driver – Can they do this QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 11, 2019 We have a client who recently bought an additional car. Their son had an injury and is disabled. The additional car was bought for their son’s friend…

Diminished Value

Diminished Value QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 12, 2019 I have a client who is filing a diminished value claim against a carrier. The claim rep for the carrier stated the Massachusetts has stopped diminished value claims against insurance carriers effective 12/2017. Please advise…

Commercial Truck and Personal Trailer

Commercial Truck and Personal Trailer QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 18, 2019 Our client has a business auto policy in his and his wife’s name and DBA which covers a truck registered in his name using the business tax id #. He is not…

Total Loss and Federal Excise Tax Reimbursement

Total Loss and Federal Excise Tax Reimbursement QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 30, 2019 I was wondering whether you or someone at your office could assist me with the following dilemma that I am having with settling a claim for one of my insureds……

No Auto? No Problem! RLI is the Answer You’ve Been Looking For!

No Auto? No Problem! RLI is the Answer You’ve Been Looking For! Do you have clients that do not own a personal vehicle, but would like the coverage of an umbrella over their property? RLI will provide coverage for clients with no personal auto, as long as they agree to carry the underlying coverage if…

Rental and CDW

Rental and CDW QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 30, 2019 Good Morning, My co-worker and I are disagreeing on what coverage transfers from a MA auto policy to a vacation rental car. She feels that if the vehicle on the policy is old it’s…

Partners Insurance Group Continues Their Support for the Philanthropy Factory

Partners Insurance Group Continues Their Support for the Philanthropy Factory Partners Insurance Group, LLC and Arbella Insurance Foundation have supported “Gifts to Give” once again. Partners Insurance Group, presented two checks in the amount of $1,000 to “Gifts to Give,” continuing a tradition of support for the “philanthropy factory” in Acushnet, Massachusetts, where young people…

Kit Car Coverage

Kit Car Coverage QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 1, 2019 I called this afternoon and was directed to email you to pick your brain as a benefit of membership. I’m hopeful you can point me in the right direction.  We have an insured who…

UM/UIM Coverage on Umbrella

UM/UIM Coverage on Umbrella QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 1, 2019 I have an insured that is inquiring about UM/UIM coverage on umbrella policy. He currently has his limits maxed out on his auto policy but he wants more coverage! His friend was in…

Trailers Parked for Season

Trailers Parked for Season QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 1, 2019 My insured has a fifth wheel that he keeps at a campground for the summer. I know under the auto policy, it states if used as residence it is not covered. It also…

Vehicle Sale to a Minor

Vehicle Sale to a Minor QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 29, 2019 We have an Insured who is 16 and has a valid mass drivers license.  He was trying to purchase a vehicle and the dealership is telling him he cannot register the vehicle…

MAIA Meets with MA Congressional Delegation at Legislative Conference in DC

MAIA Meets with MA Congressional Delegation at Legislative Conference in DC A contingent of more than 20 MAIA members has returned from the 2019 Big “I” Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, with renewed excitement and determination. The group visited the offices of our Massachusetts delegation to discuss Big “I” legislative priorities. Pictured are MAIA board…

MAIA Board Seeks 3 Members

MAIA Board Seeks 3 Members

Patrick Dempsey Named InsurPac Young Agent of the Year

Patrick Dempsey Named InsurPac Young Agent of the Year In a ceremony at the Big “I” Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, last week, MAIA Board Member Patrick Dempsey was named the InsurPac Young Agent of the Year. The award recognizes one young agent in the country who has exemplified leadership and commitment to InsurPac, the…

Has Your Agency Outgrown its Shoes?

Has Your Agency Outgrown its Shoes? You know the old saying about the cobbler’s children having no shoes? Well, ask yourself this: Has your agency been outgrowing its coverage while you’ve been busy hammering out great protection for your clients? It happens! Fortunately, MAIA’s Number One Agency can get you a Big “I”-RLI Agency Package…