DOR’s Child Support Services Division
March 3, 2024 Effective April 1, the Department of Revenue (DOR) will change the name of its Child Support Enforcement Division to the Child Support Services Division. ATLAS, RMV webpages, and all RMV letters that reference child support requirements will be updated to reflect the new name this week. The next version of the Driver’s Manual…
Coverage for MAIP Policy on Imported Vehicle
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of March 2024. Question I have a question regarding a personal auto policy. One of my clients plans to import a 1995 Nissan ATLAS from Japan for personal use, with no business involvement. The vehicle weighs 6000 pounds and has the…
Private Passenger Residual Market Modifications to Manual Rules, Amendments to Rule 27.
Effective May 1, 2024, the Private Passenger Residual Market Modifications to Manual Rules have been approved. SUVs are included in section B with pick-ups and vans now have the limitation on delivery that is only “incidental to the insured’s business of installing, maintaining or repairing furnishings or equipment” and they also increased the GVWR from…
Lease Buyout Dealer Advisory
March 3, 2024 The RMV has received questions from dealerships about the process of purchasing a vehicle at the conclusion of a lease agreement, commonly known as a lease buyout. The questions are about instances where the buyout has taken an extended amount of time (more than 20 business days) and the purchaser/lessee had to rent…
Haitian Creole Driver’s Manual
March 3, 2024 A Haitian Creole version of the July 2023 Passenger (Class D) Driver’s Manual has been printed and will soon be distributed to all RMV Service Centers. It will also be available to order on the RMV website (Mass.Gov/myRMV) on March 28. The Haitian Creole Driver’s Manual has the same design as the English,…
Does a Massachusetts Auto Policy Protect You When Your Injuries Are Caused By Someone Else’s Carelessness?
March 25, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA No one ever thinks they will be involved in a car accident. Hopefully, your Insured’s plan for it with adequate liability limits. But they can’t control another driver’s behavior or whether they have insurance…
WC for Uninsured Subs
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of March 2024. Question Do you have anything I can show the Insured regarding the Workers Comp Audit we discussed on Friday? He hired a sub to do about $20K in work last year; the sub is also a carpenter and…
2024 March Homeowners’ Multi-Peril P&C Insurer List
This 2024 March Homeowners’ Multi-Peril P&C Insurer List is provided as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). MAIA Introduces Member-Only Massachusetts Homeowners’ Multi-Peril Insurer List The reason MAIA is providing you with this list is it lets you have speedy access to information on the Homeowners’ Multi-Peril Insurance…
2024 Annual Privacy Notice
Thank you for trusting MAIA and Number One Insurance Agency to protect you and your business! We are committed to protecting the confidentiality of your personal and company information, your staff, and your agency’s clients. Following the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, also known as the Financial Services Modernization Act, we ask that you review our annual communication…
GL Certificates
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of January 2024. Question Looking to see if you can assist. Question about issuing GL certificates. I have an insured who is a roofer/carpenter. His GL policy excludes snow removal…he has requested that we send a certificate to a vendor for…
Flood Coverage for Storage Unit
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of January 2024. Question Would Flood contents coverage extend to a storage unit? Also, been out of the Flood game for a while…can you cancel prorate or is it fully earned? Answer Laura Poulin: To answer your questions, I assume you…
Road Test Location Closures
February 27, 2024 Effective March 1, 2024, at the close of business, the following Class D Road Test locations will no longer be available for scheduling: Avon (Central Mass Safety Council Road Test Site) Framingham (Central Mass Safety Council Road Test Site) Holyoke (Department of Conservation and Recreation Fitzpatrick Arena Skating Rink) West Boylston (Central…
Search by Name added to Police Crash Report Request Transaction
February 26, 2024 A standard or certified copy of a motor vehicle police crash report can be requested by an Individual involved in the crash or a Permitted User under the Federal Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). The online transaction to request a copy of a police crash report has been amended to include fields…
Endorsement for Company Furnished Vehicles
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of January 2024. Question Isn’t there an endorsement we can add on a personal auto policy for a client that uses his company furnished car for personal use too? We have a client who works for a company and furnished a…
Vermont Title Changes – Revised
February 20, 2024 On January 1, 2024, Vermont changed its title law to title all vehicles and trailers regardless of age. This was described in the training update titled “Rhode Island and Vermont Title Changes,” dated January 10. However, due to a statute change, Vermont only has rescinded their change and has reverted to the previous title…
2024 February Private Passenger Auto P&C Insurer List
You are being provided this 2024 February Private Passenger Auto P&C Insurer List as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). MAIA Introduces Member-Only Massachusetts Private Passenger Auto Insurer List In 2024 the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) is expanding your member-only access to state-specific P&C industry data. …
Property Non-Renewal Notice Due to Inspection
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of January 2024. Question Can you please help with the questions below? Some of the account managers here are struggling with all the non-renewals we’re receiving from our standard companies for mainly property but also auto. For property, we would typically…
Updated Company Auto Filings – February 2024
February 12, 2024 MAIA periodically visits the Division of Insurance to collect the latest information about each company’s private passenger automobile insurance rules, rates, and forms filings. Recent changes and updates are presented here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or via email at [email protected].
Another Ridiculous COI Request…Involving the HO Policy, No Less!
February 12, 2024 Written By: Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW – Consultant, Technical Affairs, MAIA I received an email from an agent regarding a client’s leased land and COI request. The insured owns a camp on leased land owned by the State of NH. The insured has liability extended to…
Revised Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report
February 5, 2024 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report (form number CRASH102) has been revised. The areas in Section A where customers enter details of the route/roadway/address where a crash occurred have been renumbered to A6 and A7 to make this section, and the instructions on the first page, clearer. The revised version…
Named Non-Owner
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of December 2023. Question Hi there…are these 100% earned, short rate, or carrier specific? Thank you! Answer Irene Morrill: The CAR manual and the AIB manual discuss “short rate cancellation” of auto policies unless the insured requests cancellation within 30 days…
Registry Procedures Manual Update!
January 29, 2024 This online “flipbook” manual is a MUST for every agent who writes MA automobile insurance and deals with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles! The Registry Procedures Manual (RPM) allows subscribers to utilize keyword searches to find what they need and is automatically updated regularly throughout the year. Check out what’s new HERE.…
AAA Road Test Locations
January 29, 2024 AAA Northeast, which expanded its partnership with the Registry of Motor Vehicles to offer road testing at certain AAA branches in the summer of 2023, will end road test services at AAA Worcester and AAA Rockland as of February 1, 2024. Read the full update here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353…
Snow Removal Issues
January 29, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA Plowing Snow as a side gig and some things to think about when Insureds consider this business venture… MASS. PERSONAL AUTO POLICY A snowplow or other detachable equipment does not automatically disqualify a risk from a Personal Auto Policy, but…
High Value Vehicle
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of December 2023. Question We have an insured taking delivery of a New Used car today – a 2022 Porsche with a Purchase price of 146,000. He bought the car from a dealer in Florida, and it is being delivered to…
First-Time School Bus and School Pupil Plate Issuance – New Locations
January 23, 2024 Effective immediately, in addition to the existing locations, first-time school bus plates and school pupil plates are now available for initial issuance at the Brockton, North Adams, Taunton, and Worcester RMV Service Centers. Read the full update here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or via email at [email protected].
Non-Resident Short-Term Registration Expiration Date Change
January 23, 2024 Non-Resident Short-Term Registrations are available to out-of-state residents purchasing a motor vehicle (NOT including trailers or mopeds) from a dealer in Massachusetts. These registrations were originally valid for 9 days from the transaction date. Effective January 18, Non-Resident Short-Term Registrations issued January 18 or later will be valid for 15 days from the transaction…
Deferred Driver
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of December 2023. Question Please help me with this question today. I have a new insured who wants to bring 3 of his 4 autos from Carrier A. He wants to leave still 1 auto with Carrier A with his two…
Rhode Island and Vermont Title Changes
January 12, 2024 Effective January 1, 2024, Rhode Island and Vermont both made changes to their title law. View the update here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or via email at [email protected].
Online Crash Report Request Transaction Restored
January 12, 2024 The ability to request a copy online of a Police Crash Report has been restored. The amended process supports changes to our data-sharing policy and access to the RMV systems to comply with the Work and Family Mobility Act that went into effect on July 1, 2023. Read the full update here.…
2024 January All P&C Insurer List
You are being provided this 2024 January Private Passenger Auto P&C Insurer List as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). Expanded Data for MAIA Members in 2024: **NEW** MASSACHUSETTS ALL INSURER LISTING In 2024 the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) is expanding your member-only access to state-specific…
Updated Company Auto Filings – January 2024
January 9, 2024 MAIA periodically visits the Division of Insurance to collect the latest information about each company’s private passenger automobile insurance rules, rates, and forms filings. Recent changes and updates are presented here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or via email at [email protected].
Revised Veterans’ Plate Application
January 8, 2024 The Navy Branch of Service Decal that customers can select for Veterans’ Plates has been redesigned to match the current emblem of the United States Navy. The Application for Veterans’ Plates with Branch of Service Decal or Flag Image (REG105) has been revised. The Navy decal was updated on the application. The revised version…
Revised IRP New and Amend Account Application
January 8, 2024 The IRP New and Amend Account Application (IRP101) has been revised to include additional instructions. A new Required Documents section (Section F) has been added; please review this new section and understand that these are the only acceptable documents. Read the full update here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or via email…
PIP Procedures
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of November 2023. Question I have had two clients in the past few months: They went with a third party on rear-end collisions. Both were determined to not be 0 % at fault – the third-party company accepted full liability Each…
Maine Registered Trailers
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of November 2023. Question Can you tell me the scoop on businesses registering their trailers in Maine when we have the trucks registered and insured in Massachusetts? This is coming up more often than I like to see. When they register…
Road Test Changes
January 2, 2024 Effective yesterday, January 2, 2024, road test changes will take place at Franklin, Pittsfield, and Holyoke locations. View the specific changes for each location here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or via email at [email protected].
New York Title or Lien Status Report Form
January 2, 2024 The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has recently implemented a new Title or Lien Status Report (Form MV-913). This form can be presented to prove that a lien has been satisfied. The original New York title must also be presented. The title issuance date on the MV-913 must match the issuance date…
2023 Q3 Massachusetts Quarterly P&C Marketplace Summary
You are being provided this 2023 Q3 Quarterly P&C Marketplace Summary covering the Massachusetts Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Marketplace as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). Takeaways from the 2023-Q3 Summaries: The data shows market conditions in Q3 are firm, but “increases to the increases” have paused…
Passenger Injury While In a TNC Vehicle
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of November 2023. Question We have an insured whose son doesn’t’ drive, so they use LYFT. Her question is, if they don’t have proper coverage and her son is injured, what do they need to do? The insured (parents of the…