RMV Plate Lottery Now Open
We just got word that the 2020 RMV Plate Lottery begins today, Wednesday August 12, 2020. Customers can enter the plate lottery online at Mass.Gov/RMV using the Online Service Center. The deadline to enter the lottery is September 6, 2020. This year, the lottery is online only; there is no paper application form.
RMV Updates Registration Drop Off Form & Info Sheet
As of August 10th, the Registration Drop Off Center Form and the Registration Drop Off Center Information Sheet have both been revised to make it more clear that customers will receive an email to make payment online, and that transactions will not be ready for pickup until payment is confirmed. Individual customers no longer have…
Could Your Agency Protection Use Some Backup?
Has your agency’s insurance coverage kept pace with how you operate today? Is your old coverage still adequate? MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency exists for one reason – to protect and serve independent insurance agents and brokers. In addition to Agents’ E&O, we can help you with other important coverages like Cyber and EPLI, Agency…
School Bus & School Pupil Plates Only Issued at Certain RMV Locations
Effective Monday, August 10th, both school bus plates and school pupil plates will only be available in the following RMV service centers for initial issuance:
RMV OKs In-Person License/ID Card Renewal Appointments
Effective immediately, service center appointments can be scheduled for license/ID card renewals (all classes) for credentials with September expirations. This new appointment type will be available in all RMV service centers that are open for general or license-related appointments.
Information Only Claim
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 29, 2020 QUESTION Hope this email finds you well! I have an auto insurance claim question for you. I have an insured who notified their carrier of an accident she was involved in. When she reported the accident, she indicated…
Flood Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated!
Hurricanes, tropical storms – as we saw again this week, these severe weather events bring torrential downpours, storm surges, and flash flooding. And they’re not going away. No two ways about it – your clients need flood coverage! If you don’t write a lot of flood policies, it can seem overly complicated. But it doesn’t have…
Webinar: COVID-19 E&O Best Practices
Big “I” Professional Liability Risk Management is offering a timely free webinar, COVID-19: E&O Best Practices for Rapidly Changing Times. Offered at 2:00 pm 8/5 and 8/7, the webinar will include reinforcements of topics that have been covered in prior sessions, as well as new issues and insights into the ever-changing landscape independent agents are…
Trailer Only Policy
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 27, 2020 QUESTION I have a client with a trailer only auto policy. A few years ago, the company said they would write it as my client had a company car. The company has since said they no longer want…
Auto Symbol 2
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 28, 2020 QUESTION I have been poking online and in policies and cannot find a clear answer. I am assisting my team in working on a large account headquartered in MA. They are a retail distribution carrier with a large…
RMV “Registration Drop Off Centers” (formerly B2Bs) Open in Braintree 8/3, Other Locations 8/10
Starting Monday, August 3rd, a new Registration Drop Off Center (previously known as a B2B) will pilot in the Braintree Service Center. Registration Drop Off Centers will then open in the following additional service center locations beginning Monday, August 10th:
Travel Trailer and No Auto Policy
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 24, 2020 QUESTION I have a situation. I have a client that works for a business and is allowed to use one of the business vehicles for her own person use. This client just purchased a 20’ travel trailer but…
Carrier Refused Application after RTA Stamped
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 25, 2020 QUESTION We stamped a commercial RTA for one of our clients and submitted a change request to the carrier adding the vehicle to the policy. It has been 5 days and the carrier just notified us that they…
RMV Openings & Changes on 8/3 & 8/10 – Revere, Lawrence, Brockton
Over the next two weeks, the following RMV Service Centers will either open for certain transactions or change their hours.
Policy Non-Renewal
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 27, 2020 QUESTION Just trying to find out info if a carrier is able to non renew a personal auto policy because of the loss history on a commercial auto policy? My U/W is giving me flack on total account…
On Point Podcast: What You Can Do in Tough Times
Has the pandemic altered independent agent and broker financials? Yes… and no, according to popular guest Dave Tralka, InsurBanc’s CEO. Listen to this podcast and get up to speed on what you as an owner should be anticipating in the marketplace, how investors view the business, and how to keep your house in order.
Workers’ Comp – We’re Good at Finding the Right Fit
Massachusetts is opening up, and so is our appetite for workers’ comp! If you’re ready to grow your commissions, MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency is ready for your WC business. Don’t assume your customer is a no-go. We review each risk on its own merit – and we like to say YES. Reach out and…
Maine Registered Vehicle, MA Resident
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 2, 2020 QUESTION We have a client that lives in MA and has a house in Maine. He has a MA auto policy and owns a condo in MA and is a MA resident. Is it okay for him to…
Get Your FREE Agency Cyber Guide 3.0 – Just Updated!
Small businesses, including many independent agencies, are one of the most common targets for cybercriminals, and independent agents are the trusted custodians of insureds’ private information. Knowing this, the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology (ACT) has updated its popular Agency Cyber Guide. Free for Big “I”/MAIA members, Agency Cyber Guide 3.0 provides insights on…
RMV Now Scheduling Appointments for CDL Payment and Issuance
As of July 27th, RMV customers who passed a commercial road test and did not prepay for their CDL will be able to schedule appointments for license payment and issuance. This new appointment type is available at any open RMV service center, except those that are B2B only.
Registration Renewal for Leased Vehicle
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 2, 2020 QUESTION Our insured just transferred a reg from one leased vehicle to another – same plate. The plates expire 8/31/2020. I can’t imagine she will get a renewal at this late date from the RMV??? Can she renew…
Plate Cancellations
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 2, 2020 QUESTION Chicopee no longer wants to take back plates that we have cancelled. How are most agencies disposing of them?
Vehicle and Probate
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 2, 2020 QUESTION I am wondering if you would be able to help me out with a question. I have a customer(Mary), whose mother (Jane) died in 2018, she (Mary) has sole power of attorney and a will. She (Mary)…
RMV Reopening
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 2, 2020 QUESTION A question that we have been getting asked all day everyday is this: “Why can’t the Registry offices open up? Stores and restaurants are open now?” (The very limited RMV services in person is very much hampering…
PAR Plate Hold
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 2, 2020 QUESTION I have an insured who I just did a transfer for she went from a leased vehicle to an owned vehicle. I got her new PAN plates. The previous plates were a PAR which belonged to her…
What to Do if You Receive a Threatening Letter Re: Website Accessibility
NOTE: This was originally posted on 7/20/20 under the title Legal Notifications About Website Non-Compliance, but includes some updates and clarifications as of 7/29/20. It has come to our attention that many Massachusetts-based independent insurance agents have received an email and/or fax from Portell Law Group out of Washington, DC, with a demand letter and…
Plate Cancellation Error? Please Don’t Fax the Correction Form!
If an agent cancels a customer’s license plate in error, they should complete and email a Plate Cancellation Error Correction form to the RMV to fix the problem. It is important that you DO NOT FAX these forms to the RMV Business Support office. This department is working remotely due to COVID-19, so no one…
Dispel Clients’ Myths About Flood (and Cover Your E&O Exposure, Too!)
Homeowners never think they need flood insurance until they’re standing knee-deep in their waterlogged basement. And then they’ll claim it’s YOUR fault they’re not covered. By dispelling the myths about flood insurance, you can help get your clients the important coverage they deserve. And if they still refuse? A signed Flood Insurance Waiver form helps…
PAR Plate Reassignment
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 2, 2020 QUESTION My Insured wants give her PAR Reserved plate to her Brother. I know she has to write a note saying she is giving them to him, does he have to go to the registry with his current…
In-Home Barbers and Beauticians Need Home Business Coverage
With the COVID-19 crisis temporarily shuttering hair salons and barber shops, many of these small business owners have migrated their business into their own homes. Now is a good time to remind these entrepreneurs that the coverage they had in their shop doesn’t translate to their home.
Braintree RMV Now Processing B2B Drop-Offs
The RMV has opened a dedicated B2B center at its Braintree location for insurance companies/agents, auto dealerships, and runners to drop off multiple vehicle registrations and other bulk transactions for processing. Like the existing B2B centers in Attleboro, Boston (Haymarket), Chicopee, Haverhill, Milford, and Wilmington, the Braintree B2B center is for dropping-off transactions and bundles…
Surcharge Appeals
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 2, 2020 QUESTION Do you know when they will start up the surcharge appeal hearings? We have an insured who’s postcard said she should hear about a date by July 2020 on a December 2019 accident and has not heard.
RMV Asks Police Not to Cite High-Risk Customers for Expired Inspection Stickers
Inspection stickers that expired in March, April, and May were extended to July 31st. Inspection stickers that expired in June were not extended, and further extensions are not currently planned. The RMV is asking law enforcement to use their discretion, and to NOT cite customers who are over age 75, or those who are at…
Tech Talk – So … I Have a Question: Agents Ask About Volunteers Driving & Tree Limbs Falling
By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, LIA, CRIS, CPIW — VP of Technical Affairs
RMV Needs Your Help on School Bus/Student Pupil Plates (7D)
This is the busy season for registering School Bus and Student Pupil (7D) plates, and COVID-19 has made it even crazier at the RMV. If your agency writes for bus companies or school districts, the RMV has a couple of requests to help them stock the most school bus plates at the RMV service center…
Private Transfer and 7 Day Law
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 2, 2020 QUESTION With all these moving parts these days, we are wondering how many days does a person have to do a transfer between private parties. They have done the transfer physically and the vehicle is in the new…
Updating Corporation Information in RMV
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on July 6, 2020 QUESTION I have a client who changed his address with the secretary of state, but it has not been updated at the RMV. He is trying to register a new vehicle and can’t get it done because of…
Your Insureds Are Hitting the Roads … Lakes … Campsites
Lots of people are saying “no, thanks” to air travel and crowded spaces and instead looking at RVs, motorhomes, camper trailers, boats, and motorcycles for their vacation plans. MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency can help you market and sell coverage for these specialty vehicles through our “Toys” Program with Safeco!