Mass CAR Program – Questions: Social Service Employees
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April, 2026 Question I have a question that is stumping my colleagues and me at our agency. Hoping you can shed some light on it. We have a client who is best described as non-emergency medical transport. What they actually do…
MCS-90: The Endorsement Agents Can’t Afford to Misunderstand
MCS-90: The Endorsement Agents Can’t Afford to Misunderstand Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA May 22, 2026 Most agents who write trucking risks have seen the MCS-90. Many know it is required in connection with certain motor carrier operations. But the MCS-90 can…
Single Sign-On for myRMV – Launched May 20
May 21, 2026 Effective 5/20: most myRMV individual online account services will require a MyMassGov account to access and complete transactions requiring a login through the myRMV Online Service Center. What Does This Update Mean for You? These updates apply only to individual account users and do not impact business account users or business online services. This update may impact you, your employees, and your customers.…
IRP Service Center Rollout
May 14, 2026 Beginning on May 18, IRP transaction processing will be rolled out to the following RMV Service Centers according to the schedule below. These RMV Service Centers will process all IRP transactions except for renewals. IRP transactions are already available in the Milford, Springfield, and Wilmington RMV Service Centers. Read the…
50%-50% Accident Result + Waiver of Deductible
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 25, 2026 Question This might be outside your bailiwick, but I thought I should ask. As a result of an accident, one of our companies decided the fault is 50%-50%. Coverage-wise, our insured has a waiver if the deductible is…
Homeowners Insurance Claim – Animal Damage
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 31, 2026 Question In regards to a home policy, can you tell me if a raccoon does damage to a home is that covered? Also, would squirrels be as well? Answer Laura Poulin: The answer can vary depending on the…
Carvana/Carmax
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 1, 2026 Question I’m reaching out as we’ve seen an uptick in calls from clients purchasing vehicles through Carvana and CarMax. In many cases, these dealers are unwilling to provide a copy of the title, which makes it difficult for…
Why Is the Lender Asking the Agent for That?
Why Is the Lender Asking the Agent for That? The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Behind the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Insurance Updates Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA April 27, 2026 Agents have been dealing with a frustrating problem: lenders and servicers…
Workers’ Comp for Cleaning Lady
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 17, 2026 Question I had an insured call in asking, “I have a cleaning lady coming in, she doesn’t have a company or w/c liability of her own, is there any coverage on my condo policy, or can I purchase…
2026 Massachusetts Storm Events Summary
As a benefit of your membership in the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents, you are receiving this 2026 Massachusetts Storm Events Summary. This exclusive membership benefit is designed to deliver to you easy access to historical state and national weather data from a credible and public resource that has been tailored to be specific to…
ACV
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 25, 2026 Question One of our insured’s commercial buildings was recently hit by their customer’s auto (comically enough, they hit the body shop that just repaired their car). We put the claim in through the auto policy, which is now…
New Compliance Letter for Out-of-State Residents
April 2, 2026 Effective immediately, a new compliance letter will be issued when a Massachusetts payment default or a failure to appear conviction has been satisfied for an out-of-state resident. This letter will automatically be generated and will be mailed directly to the applicable out-of-state motor vehicle agency to notify them that the obligation has…
GVW Change
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 27, 2026 Question I have an insured who called me because he was pulling a trailer (14,000 GVW) with a dump truck (14,000 GVW) and was on a jobsite where there were random checks. The officer told him he was…
Redesigned IRP CAB Card and Decals
March 27, 2026 Effective April 1, 2026, the design of IRP CAB Cards that are mailed to customers will be redesigned. The barcode has been moved to the top of the page to keep room at the bottom for the new embedded decal. There will be two versions of IRP CAB Cards because the ones…
Deleting Building Coverage After A Total Loss
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on February 20, 2026 Question Our insured operates a recycling facility. Last year, there was a fire inside the facility, resulting in the town requiring the entire building to be torn down. The insured is asking on his renewal policy if he…
Post, Share, Sue: The Personal Injury Gap in the ISO Homeowners Policy
March 23, 2026 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA A TikTok video can run up to a minute. A tweet can reach hundreds of characters. Instagram captions and Facebook posts have virtually no practical limit. Different platforms, same reality: every post has the…
New Pittsfield CDL Skills Test Location
March 20, 2026 Effective immediately, CDL Skills Tests are available on Mondays and Wednesdays at the following new location in Pittsfield: 901 East Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201. CDL Skills Test appointments in Pittsfield can be requested by calling the CDL Booking Line at 857-368-7381. More information on scheduling road tests is available online at www.mass.gov/how-to/schedule-your-road-test.…
Non-Domiciled CLP and CDL Eligibility – New Final Rule
March 16, 2026 The “Non-Domiciled CDL Program” is for customers seeking a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) or Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) who are residents of foreign countries (except Canada and Mexico) that have temporary lawful presence in the United States and are living in Massachusetts. On February 13, 2026, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration…
Ice Dam
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on March 3, 2026 Question We have a client with Unit Owners Special Coverage A on their condo who was denied for an ice dam claim. I have always thought this endorsement specifically protected condo owners for ice dam claims. Could you…
New B2B Job Tracker and Updated B2B Hours
March 9, 2026 A new online Business to Business (B2B) Tracker has been created for RMV business partners, such as insurance companies, dealers, and runners, to track the processing of their pre-staged bundles. This tracker was implemented as a pilot on November 20, 2025, for a small number of dealers and agents. It will be fully implemented…
Online Credit Card Payment Change
March 9, 2026 Effective March 6, the RMV is changing the vendor it uses for processing online credit card payments; the new vendor is Tyler Technologies. Due to this change, customers will need to enter additional information on the payment page prior to entering their credit card information. Note: This is ONLY for online payments…
Claim Denied for Water Damage
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on December 17, 2025 Question We have an insured, and we submitted a claim for water damages incurred in her 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The original appraisal showed water damage to the rear of the vehicle, some carpeting, mechanical damage to some modules,…
B2B Webinar Follow-up: New Registration Job Tracker & Process
March 2, 2026 The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) recently hosted two webinar sessions about the new B2B Registration Job Tracker & Process. The B2B Registration Job Tracker & Process, effective Monday, March 9, 2026, is optional. B2B drop-off/pick-up times will also be changing for all locations from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm to…
Commercial and School Pupil Permit Exam Improvements
February 27, 2026 Human Trafficking PSA: To help combat human trafficking, effective February 23, the RMV added PSA content to the beginning of the Commercial Learner’s Permit General Knowledge Exam. It will inform applicants of signs to look for, questions to ask, and how to report suspicious behavior. The RMV worked with Truckers Against Trafficking…
Tenant Responsibility for Building Components Under Commercial Lease
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on January 5, 2026 Question I am looking for assistance in finding a coverage solution for an unusual commercial tenant situation. The insured is an attorney’s office occupying one unit within a larger commercial building with several other tenants. We recently received…
MAIA’s Massachusetts Legislative Session Agenda 2025-2026
2025-2026 Massachusetts Legislative Session Agenda The Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) is a trade association representing nearly 900 independent property/casualty insurance agencies across the Commonwealth. Our mission is to provide an influential voice on issues that affect agents and consumers, while promoting the independent agency system as the premier distribution channel for insurance products.…
The Hidden Risk in “Easy” Bonds
February 23, 2026 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA Most commercial P&C agents who occasionally place bonds believe they understand surety. They issue a dealer bond. A contractor license bond. An ERISA bond for a benefit plan. Maybe a freight broker bond. It…
Gender Designation Informational Video
February 20, 2026 Massachusetts law (Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024) required the RMV to raise public awareness, specifically among youth and young adults, of the ability to get a Gender X marker on their RMV issued credentials. Read the official update here. Registry Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or [email protected]
Press Release: MAIA Launches Insurance Career Pathway Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Gillian Linden [email protected] / 703.402.6507 www.massagent.com Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents Launches Insurance Career Pathway Program Workforce development initiative provides scholarship-based training, licensing preparation and placement support for property & casualty agency roles MILFORD, Mass. (February 17, 2026)—The Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) today announced the launch of its…
Massachusetts 250 Low Number Plate Lottery
February 13, 2026 The Massachusetts 250 Plate, celebrating “250 Years of Independence”, is now the most popular specialty plate in Massachusetts. A special low number plate lottery featuring the Massachusetts 250 Plate will begin on Monday, February 16, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. The RMV is partnering with Mass Lottery to digitize the drawing of the…
Ceded Commercial Auto/Hired Auto
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on December 30, 2025 Question I insure a company that has box trucks under 26,000 lbs that rents trucks on a regular basis. Last year, he had hired auto coverage with a carrier at a cost of hire of $150,000 (cost approx.…
Rental Properties and Snow & Ice
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on December 30, 2025 Question My client asked a question: He has two- and three-family rental properties. If the town ordinance says the landlord is responsible for removing snow, but he has tenants remove it, would his DP3 liability coverage cover him…
Liquor Liability
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on December 29, 2025 Question I have an insured that has a liquor liability policy for a liquor store she owns. The city told her she does not need the liquor liability insurance for the liquor store. Is it beneficial for her…
Non-Domiciled CLP and CDL Eligibility
January 27, 2026 The “Non-Domiciled CDL program” is for customers seeking a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) or Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) who are residents of foreign countries (except Canada and Mexico) that have temporary lawful presence in the United States and are living in Massachusetts. On September 29, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration…
Baby, It’s Cold Outside
January 26, 2026 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA Massachusetts winters are unforgiving, and this week’s blizzard puts that reality front and center. Frozen pipes, power outages, and ice dams routinely lead to claim denials and coverage disputes, most often because insureds misunderstand…
Massachusetts Buyer Reminder Sheet – Use of Out of State Temporary Plates for Massachusetts Residents – Update
January 23, 2026 The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles has updated the “Massachusetts Buyer Reminder Sheet” and has sent this to all states as a reminder for automobile dealers who may issue temporary registrations for vehicle purchases by Massachusetts residents, and clarifies the use of the out-of-state temporary plate being valid for 10 days no…
Redesigned Section 5 Compliance Decals
January 15, 2026 A Section 5 Compliance Decal is a decal affixed to the inside of the rear window of a vehicle with a Farm, Repair, or Owner Contractor plate to prove that the vehicle is titled and that sales tax has been paid. Starting January 15, 2026, the Compliance Decal will change from a…
Advanced Swap
*This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 14, 2025 Question Good afternoon! I was hoping you could help me with this one. The insured had PAS plate on her car. She then applied for a 250 Years of Ind. Plate. The RMV mailed her the plates, and…
Redesigned Disability Placards
January 12, 2026 Effective January 15, the RMV’s Medical Affairs division will begin issuing redesigned Disability Placards (see sample on official update). These newly redesigned placards will enhance accessibility, reduce fraud, and streamline production. Read the official update here. Registry Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or [email protected]
Revised IRP New and Amend Account Application
January 12, 2026 The International Registration Plan (IRP) New and Amend Account Application (IRP101) has been revised. Changes to the application include the following: Revised the definitions of “Established Place of Business” and “Established Resident of Massachusetts” on page 1 of the Instructions section. The changes are a requirement Read the official update here. Registry…