Reminder: RMV Can’t Process Incomplete RTAs
Reminder: RMV Can’t Process Incomplete RTAs MAIA has learned that RMV Service Centers are still receiving a lot of incomplete Registration and Title Applications (RTAs). They really are working hard to process agent transactions quickly, but if the package is incomplete, they have to bounce it back! We’ve provided a link to the RTA Instruction…
Form 2290 No Longer Required for Initial Heavy Highway Vehicle Registrations
Form 2290 No Longer Required for Initial Heavy Highway Vehicle Registrations Effective immediately, proof of Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax payment (IRS Form 2290/ Schedule 1) for vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more is NOT required for initial vehicle registrations. It is only required during registration renewals. This reverses a…
What Policy Pays – Owner or Driver
Question What Policy Pays – Owner or Driver? This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 18, 2021 If a person driving another person’s vehicle (with their own insurance), has a fender bender, is it the driver’s insurance that the claim would be filed or the vehicle insurance? …
Garaging for Commercial Vehicles
Question Garaging for Commercial Vehicles This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effecton June 10, 2021 I wanted to see if you or someone in your office knows the answer to this. We have a client who has his commercial vehicles garaged in Bellingham in the registry. His mailing address…
MAP and Listed Home Health Aids
Question MAP and Listed Home Health Aids This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 10, 2021 Please clarify, we have an insured that has aids which are listed drivers under the automobile policy. They are full time and or part time employees of the named insured and there…
Cannabis Couriers and Operators
Question Cannabis Couriers and Operators This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 14, 2021 Hope this email finds you well. Regarding insurance how are Cannabis Couriers and operators treated? Are couriers TCN’s? Are Couriers and Operators considered commercial? Do you need commercial plates or livery plates? What insurance…
Damage to a Loaner Vehicle
Question Damage to a Loaner Vehicle This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 14, 2021 We have a client who took his 07 Infiniti to a dealer to be worked on. The dealership gave him a “loaner” vehicle to use in place of the 07 Infiniti. Insured got…
Out-of-State Vehicle Purchase (3)
Question Out of State Vehicle Purchase This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 14, 2021 Good Morning Irene, I have an insured who just purchased a vehicle in GA and wants to drive it back to MA. The dealer there gave him all the paperwork and temporary plates. …
Maine Registered Trailers (2)
Question Maine Registered Trailers This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 15, 2021 I have an insured who has a boat trailer and plans to register the trailer in Maine with Maine recreational trailer plates. The insured plans to pull the trailer with his Truck that is registered…
Operator Exclusion (4)
Question Operator Exclusion This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 19, 2021 Could you please confirm If the company pulls up a household member and there is no license so you need to exclude them does that exclude them only as a driver or does it exclude them…
Umbrella (3)
Question Umbrella This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 19, 2021 Insured doesn’t have a personal auto. They only have a commercial auto. If they have DOC on the commercial auto, will the personal umbrella respond to a claim? Answer Irene Morrill: That is a question that you have…
Diminished Value (2)
Question Diminished Value This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 21, 2021 Does the insurance carrier have to pay diminished value on a vehicle especially if it is a leased vehicle and they are telling the insured they are responsible for that amount when vehicle is turned in?…
Commercial Auto Cancellation
Question Commercial Auto Cancellations This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 26, 2021 Everyone in our office believed that you could cancel an auto policy (personal or commercial) within the first 30 days and it would be prorated. We did cancel a client’s Commercial auto policy within the…
Domestic Partner and the MAP
Question Domestic Partners and the MAP This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 26, 2021 I am hoping you can help me with a question one of our insureds has asked us. She is a listed operator on her domestic partner’s Massachusetts auto policy and she will be traveling…
Listed Operators and HHMs
Question Listed Operators and HHMs This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 25, 2021 I’m looking for some advice on a couple of things regarding MA auto. Let me first say that I’m not looking for coverage determination, purely just how MAIA would look at these scenarios. We…
Florida Temporary Plates
Question Florida Temporary Plates This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 29, 2021 Question: If we stamp an RTA for a client that is purchasing a car down in Florida and they get a Florida temporary plate and drive back on the Florida temporary plate any issues? Company…
Umbrella Coverage – Side Business
Question Umbrella Coverage – Side Business This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 29, 2021 If someone is doing dump runs – side business – with his personal truck and also has a commercial liability policy… if a personal umbrella is in place, would it cover him if…
Definition of Private Passenger Vehicle & 15 Passenger Van
Question Definition of Private Passenger Vehicle and 15 Passenger Van This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 30, 2021 My son is renting a 15 passenger van. I know his PAP follows him. I checked with the underwriter though (not my regular underwriter) as it was such a…
Is This Fraud
Question Is This Fraud This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 06, 2021 Trying to help a client and this situation arose: She said she got a quote from Liberty Mutual for auto but never agreed to a policy. Liberty Mutual is saying they have her on a…
Claim with Rental Vehicle
Question Claim with Rental Vehicle This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 13, 2021 Customer rented auto with Enterprise and got in accident. Enterprise vehicle has a MI registration and customer was told that because the vehicle was rented in MA that the MA limits of 5k…
Claims Determination re: Road Debris
Question Claims Determination re: Road Debris This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 06, 2021 Does the association have any Tech Talk or other type of advisory articles regarding claim determination when it comes an auto striking road debris and the companies determining it should be an…
Non-Profit Has Employee Use Own Vehicles for Work
Question Non-Profit Has Employees Use Own Vehicles This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 07, 2021 We insure a non-profit where employees will often use their own cars to transport their clients to doctor’s appointments, run errands etc. They recently had a fender bender and the Carrier…
RMV Check Policy
Question RMV Check Policy This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 28, 2021 MAIA Bulletin regard RMV checks Thank you for providing this information every week. It is difficult to keep up with all the changes this past year and your Registry news section is so helpful.…
Farm Tractor on the Road
Question Farm Tractor on the Road This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 28, 2021 One of our clients, has asked about a Farm Tractor, it goes less than 25 miles an hour and he wants to travel on the Road between his two properties. Is there…
Glass – Collision or Comprehensive
Question Glass – Collision or Comprehensive This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 09, 2021 I wanted to see if an insured having their mirror hit and damaged would be considered comprehensive or collision? I was under the impression that glass was the only part of comprehensive…
Construction Vehicles
Question Construction Vehicles This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 20, 2021 One of our insureds has bought a 2011 Case Construction vehicle. I know rules are different for personal vs. commercial. They are planning on driving it to other properties rather than leaving it on their…
Lack of Offering Flood Can Lead to EO Claims and Broken Hearts
Lack of Offering Flood Can Lead to E&O Claims and Broken Hearts Failure to offer proper coverage is one of the top reasons for E&O claims. And that includes the failure to offer flood. Here’s a true scenario of a love triangle gone wrong: A Condo Association purchases a flood policy from an Agent. The…
Hospitality Product News! Package Policy & Pay As You Pour
Hospitality Product News! Package Policy & Pay As You Pour MAIA’s Number One Agency would love to talk to you about some great new options from Hospitality Mutual! Their new multiline Package Policy combines Commercial Property, General Liability, and Liquor Liability into a single policy. And the new Pay As You Pour Program helps clients…
Campers and Travel Trailers
Question Campers and Travel Trailers This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 12, 2021 A question just recently came up regarding general Liability exposure for Camper trailers (Fifth wheels and travel trailers). We know that liability is extended to camper trailers while they are attached to the…
MAIA Advocates for Exclusion of PPP Loans from Taxable Income
MAIA Advocates for Exclusion of PPP Loans from Taxable Income Going to bat for agents after hearing their concerns, MAIA contacted several members of the MA House/Senate leadership to express our support for SD.172, An Act providing financial relief to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation would allow for critical financial relief to…
Learner’s Permit Practice Exams Available on RMV Website
Learner’s Permit Practice Exams Available on RMV Website Class D Learner’s Permit exams are now available on mass.gov/RMV in the Exams section when a customer logs in to MyRMV. Users have 25 minutes to answer 25 random questions. This will help them know the type of questions to expect on the real exam, and…
Trailer Proof of Ownership
Question Trailer Proof of Ownership This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 26, 2021 As far as we’re aware, the MA RMV requires the prior registration of the seller to register a trailer. Is that always the case? What if that is not available? Is there a…
Altering an Acord Form
Question Altering an Acord Form This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 13, 2021 Hi, I believe back in 2019 or 2010 the rules/regulations by Acord changed which we were no longer able to type 30 day notice of cancellation, 10 for non-payment on the certificates. Can…
Pickup Trucks and Commercial Auto Rating
Question Pickup Trucks and Commercial Auto Rating This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 15, 2021 In your experience, have you ever seen a Pickup Truck rated as a Private Passenger Auto on a Commercial Auto Policy? In my experience, I have only seen sedans, SUVs and…
Moped Question
Question Moped Question This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 15, 2021 We have an insured who wants to purchase a moped that does not have the ability to go more than 30MPH. He is advising that he has friends in college who drive mopeds around without…
Deceased Owner and Registration Renewal
Question Deceased Owner and Registration Renewal This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 16, 2021 We have a client, now deceased whose car is in probate. Once it clears probate, her son plans to sell it. However, he’d like to use it for the next couple of…
Grub Hub
Question Grub Hub This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 15, 2021 Good Afternoon I’m guessing it is up to the specific company…but are there any issues with clients working, part time, for Grub Hub? I’m assuming Class 30? I also don’t know if there is an…
FEMA Issues Timeline for All-New NFIP Flood Risk Rating System
FEMA Issues Timeline for All-New NFIP Flood Risk Rating System FEMA has been working on Risk Rating 2.0, a complete overhaul of the NFIP flood risk rating pricing methodology that has not been updated in 50 years. And now we know when Risk Rating 2.0 will go live: October 1, 2021 for new business and…
Answers to Your Questions about Reassigning PAN Plates
Answers to Your Questions about Reassigning PAN Plates After last week’s MassAgent story about the Registry now allowing red PAN plates to be transferred from one person to another, MAIA’s received questions from member agents asking about fees, who could transfer to whom, and more. MAIA Member Relations Advocate Kathy Cormier followed up with the…