MA Laws Regarding Cancellation
MA Laws Regarding Cancellation QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 05, 2019 Can you send me the link to the Mass law regarding non-pay cancellations? We always enforce it here but clients are constantly saying “I’ve never heard of this”. I feel like I’ve Googled…
Garaging
Garaging QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 07, 2019 Can you have someone get back to me on this question. I have a Mom who is purchasing a car in her name and is going to have her daughter use it exclusively, who lives in…
Big “I” Agent Encourages Congress to Modernize and Reauthorize the NFIP
Big “I” Agent Encourages Congress to Modernize and Reauthorize the NFIP
BAP
BAP QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 07, 2019 Can the daughter of the owner of a Massachusetts commercial Lines Auto policy use his vehicle that is insured under the corporation while he is on vacation for the month?
Number One’s RLI Personal Umbrella Program
Number One’s RLI Personal Umbrella Program In case you didn’t hear, we are glad to share that the RLI Personal Umbrella is a solution to enhance your insureds involved with Short-Term Rentals. We see that many agents have reached out to their clients to make them aware of the new liability requirements and we are…
Chair of Big “I” Flood Task Force Testifies Before US House on March 13th
Chair of Big “I” Flood Task Force Testifies Before US House on March 13th Big “I” Flood Task Force Chair Chris Heidrick will be the only insurance witness testifying at a hearing titled, “Preparing for the Storm: Reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program” before the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee. The hearing…
Owner Retained Title
Owner Retained Title QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 25, 2019 Need your help. Insured’s vehicle was declared a total loss. She retained the car and fixed it. She did not apply for salvage/reconstructed title. What she applied for was an “owner retained title”. So I…
Carvana Internet Car Buying Service
Carvana Internet Car Buying Service QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 26, 2019 I was wondering if you had any information on Carvana Internet Car Buying Service. I have an insured purchasing a vehicle from them and I’m not quite sure of the procedure. I…
Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ Compensation QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 26, 2019 We have a Massachusetts client that delivers lumber and building materials to customers in the State of RI. The client has a MA Workers Compensation Policy. The employees all reside in MA and work from…
Military and MAP
Military and MAP QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 12, 2019 I have a question that our office is scratching their heads about today! Safety told me that if a person goes away into the Military that they are still a household member and need…
Elliot Whittier Insurance Group Renews Five Star Agency Designation
Elliot Whittier Insurance Group Renews Five Star Agency Designation The Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA), is proud to announce that Elliot Whittier Insurance of Danvers and Winthrop has renewed their Five Star Agency Designation. They have been a Five Star Agency since 2015 and continue to demonstrate excellence in the five imperatives associated with…
Berkshire Hathaway’s New THREE Policy: An Inferior Product?
Berkshire Hathaway’s New THREE Policy: An Inferior Product? In this IA Magazine article, author Chris Boggs of the Big “I” Virtual University calls Berkshire Hathaway’s recently announced THREE policy “a dangerous attempt to simplify multiple insurance contracts for small business owners.”
State of Emergency and Auto
State of Emergency and Auto QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 15, 2019 Ready for this one? I have an insured who is obviously retired and has nothing better to do with his time! He called today asking that, since the President has declared a…
MA FAIR Plan Updates Producers’ Web Options
MA FAIR Plan Updates Producers’ Web Options Recent updates to the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (MPIUA), a.k.a. the MA FAIR Plan Producers Portal have given agency producers some convenient new online functions, including the ability to:
GrubHub
GrubHub QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 15, 2019 We have a client who wants to drive for GrubHub. He is an individual with a private passenger vehicle, commercial plates. Commercial Lines says it is not a commercial risk as it is an individual with…
Trailer
Trailer QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 15, 2019 I have a customer who purchased a 2018 Jayco trailer. She told me that she uses her mom’s SUV to pull the Jayco since she has a Dodge Charger. Do you know if there was a…
IA Magazine Wants to Interview Rock-Star Young Agents
IA Magazine Wants to Interview Rock-Star Young Agents The annual “Next Gen” issue of IA Magazine is coming out in July, and the IA editors are looking for young agents with great stories to tell. If you are (or know) a Millennial or Gen Z agent who’s rocking it, send their name and contact info…
PUP
PUP QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on January 22, 2019 Good morning! When an insured uses a commercial vehicle for personal use and has a personal umbrella, how to we make sure they have coverage without gaps? Do we need to include both the M0051S Use…
Declining to Write With MAIP
Declining to Write With MAIP QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on January 17, 2019 I was told by someone that works for another agency that they do not write insurance with MAIP. If none of their carriers will offer coverage, they turn the person away. Can…
CAR News – Recent Bulletins – February 2019
CAR News – Recent Bulletins – February 2019 Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers (CAR) recently released the following Bulletins:
Updated Company Auto Insurance Filings – February 2019
Updated Company Auto Insurance Filings – February 2019
Garaging Change
Garaging Change QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on January 24, 2019 I understand if you change your address the garaging gets changed for a personal plate. I know the commercial accounts they fax into the IRS the address change also. But does it also change for…
Number One’s WC Coverage for Your Auto Service Customers
Number One’s WC Coverage for Your Auto Service Customers Number One’s Workers’ Comp (WC) Program is one of our most popular “niche” markets and we assist many members with a variety of business types. We are excited to share that our WC markets can provide coverage for auto service customers, including certain repair services, tire retailers,…
Rental as a Substitute Vehicle
Rental as a Substitute Vehicle QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on January 24, 2019 We all know the “gaps” in how our policy will follow us while we are renting a car while on vacation. Does your own policy follow you any “differently” if you are…
Tech Talk: Yes …We Do Have a Few Laws in This State
Tech Talk: Yes …We Do Have a Few Laws in This State By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, LIA, CRIS, CPIW — VP of Technical Affairs, MAIA I still get these questions, so I guess it’s time to “resurrect” and discuss some older-but-still-current information on today’s topic: Can a bank DEMAND that my client carry “guaranteed replacement…
Bobcat
Bobcat QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on January 18, 2019 Can a Bobcat be registered?
Out-of-State Title
Out-of-State Title QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on January 22, 2019 I have a title from Florida that shows the owners as the husband OR the wife The husband is deceased Do I still have to fill out the back of the title with the wife…
Registering a Vehicle for a Company
Registering a Vehicle for a Company QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on January 22, 2019 I wanted to reach out to just inquire if what I believe is correct with regards to registering a company vehicle. I have a client whom has his vehicle registered under…
Best Practices for Insurance Agency Exit & Succession
Best Practices for Insurance Agency Exit & Succession InsurBanc’s Robert Pettinicchi was recently interviewed in an article for Property Casualty 360. The article discusses how to get prepared for the future and start formulating a plan for succession. Whether you are moving on from your insurance agency, going into retirement, or going into another business,…
Number One’s Lawyers’ Professional Liability Program is on FIRE!
Number One’s Lawyers’ Professional Liability Program is on FIRE! We are only halfway through February and MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency has written almost 50% of our New Business goal for the Lawyers’ Professional Liability Insurance (LPLI) program! Our long-term partnership with Westport Insurance Corp and profitable LPLI book of business has given our mutual…
Aftermarket Lift Kit
Aftermarket Lift Kit QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on January 22, 2019 My insured is purchasing a 2006 Jeep. It has a 4” aftermarket Lift Kit. Are there any rules at MASS DOT that make this illegal to register in MA? Thanks!
An RLI PUP Might be the Solution for the New Short-Term Rental Law
An RLI PUP Might be the Solution for the New Short-Term Rental Law We know that the new short-term rental law in MA — formally known as the “Act Regulating and Insuring Short-Term Rentals” — has generated many questions from our members. Many have inquired if an RLI Stand-Alone Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP) is a…
Ross, Webber and Grinnell Insurance Uplifts Spirits With Paper Bag Lunches
Ross, Webber and Grinnell Insurance Uplifts Spirits With Paper Bag Lunches The Ross, Webber and Grinnell Agency doesn’t only seek to fill the bellies of their local community, but to also fill their spirits. The staff was able to lend a helping hand through a program offered at Providence Ministries in Holyoke, Kate’s Kitchen.
Commercial Weight Cap for Registration
Commercial Weight Cap for Registration QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on January 24, 2019 Is there a weight cap where it would have to go to a CON plate in MA?
Record Retention
Record Retention QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on January 23, 2018 Do you know what the rules/laws are regarding keeping old files. In January 2017, we started to scan all of our documents. We still have files from 2016 back to 2012 in some cases. I…
African-American History in The Insurance Business
African-American History in The Insurance Business February’s IA magazine presents Memphis agency owner Fred L. Davis as the subject of the Declaration of Independents. Davis, who began his agency in 1967, was the first African-American insurance agent in six states. He tells a fascinating and often painful story of building a career in a…
Backhoe Registration
Backhoe Registration QUESTION This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on November 08, 2018 I have a customer inquiring on how to get a backhoe on the road. What kind of plate would it need and would it go on a comm’l auto policy? Let me know.