Trailers
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 1, 2020 QUESTION We have an insured (commercial landscaper) that purchased an 8,000 lb. hydro seeder trailer from Georgia at a government auction, and was not given a title for it, just an invoice showing paid in full, which is…
Leased Vehicles
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 2, 2020 QUESTION I get these calls on leased vehicles and registrations and never am quite sure of the procedure. This one is buying out lease; she has a C&I plate she kept from last vehicle. So I don’t know…
7D Vehicle Registration Requirements
Effective immediately, two changes have been made to the registration requirements for School Pupil Transport (7D) vehicles.
RMV Opening Haverhill B2B Service Center June 29
Due to the evolving situation with COVID-19 (coronavirus) and in an effort to continue protecting RMV staff, customers, and business partners, the RMV is opening a new, dedicated B2B Center at the Haverhill Service Center on Monday, June 29, 2020.
Kids at School
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 8, 2020 QUESTION I hear conflicting scenarios regarding parents excluding their kids while away at school.I hear some agents tell parents to NOT let their kids drive anyone else’s cars while excluded and I hear others say they can drive…
Tech Talk: Protest? Riot? Insurrection? Terrorism? What Just Happened and… Is It Covered?
By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, LIA, CRIS, CPIW — VP of Technical Affairs
Block That Claim: E&O and Other Agency Coverage
When the going gets tough, you need a team that’s tougher. MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency is the leading seller of Agent’s E&O in MA, but we go above and beyond just that. We offer important coverages that aren’t always available elsewhere, such as admitted stand-alone Cyber and EPLI, Agency BOP, and Commercial Umbrella. Number…
RMV Registration Changes: IRP Expirations, Reinstatements & Renewals
Beginning immediately, the RMV is implementing the following registration-related changes: 1) IRP expiration date has been extended to September 30th; 2) Select insurance agents can process registration reinstatements; and 3) The option to renew in-person has been removed from the RMV-2 form.
Good News! RMV Allowing B2B Online Payments
The RMV has added an option that allows eligible B2B customers to make online payments. This new option will simplify the B2B process and make the pickup of your work seamless. When your transaction has been processed, the RMV will send you an email with a link to submit your payment for all transactions using…
Obtaining Driver Information
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 13, 2020 QUESTION Hi there – hope this email finds you and your loved ones safe and well. We have a MA Livery client who indicates that is telling us that in MA, the process for taxi companies is that…
COVID-19 HR Resources & Weekly Facebook Live Q&A Sessions
Need help tailoring your agency to the new realities brought about by the pandemic? Every Thursday at 1:00 p.m., you can bring your HR questions to a Facebook Live Q&A session hosted by Big “I” Hires with specialists from Affinity HR Group! The Big “I” has also compiled videos on current HR issues, best practices…
RMV Supervised Driving Receipt: Not a Learner’s Permit, But Close
Due to COVID, the MA RMV is allowing 16-year-olds to take the Learner’s Permit Exam online. Although these teens cannot get a Learner’s Permit until they visit an RMV location to present ID and get their photo taken, the RMV can issue a Supervised Driving Receipt. As outlined last week in the Governor’s Executive Order,…
Rental and Covered Operators
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 13, 2020 QUESTION I have a client..he has a MA Auto, MA License. His daughter lives in NY and will be staying at his home in NY (secondary home). She does not have a vehicle. She will be renting a…
CDL Medical Certificate Waiver Through September 30
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has waived the requirement for valid CDL Medical Certificates (DOT Medical Cards) for customers with certificates that expired on March 1, 2020 or later. These customers have until September 30th to obtain a new certificate; if they do not, their CDL will be downgraded on October 1st.
Motorcycle Only Policy and Trailer
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 16, 2020 QUESTION Our insured who only has a motorcycle wants us to do an RTA for a homemade trailer. Can I stamp an RTA if he doesn’t have a vehicle to pull it?
2A Same Agent Different Company
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 12, 2020QUESTION Hoping everyone is doing well. Could you please tell me if it is mandatory to issue a 2A form or a signed LPR when an agent transfers an existing client to another carrier? Seems like a waste of…
New Executive Order Modifies Additional RMV Transactions
Governor Baker’s office has released another executive order addressing RMV issues with the goal of limiting in-person transactions. Signed June 12, 2020, this order affects drivers with learner’s permits, people seeking a REAL ID, and those who need to transfer a registration from one vehicle to another. Please read the full EXECUTIVE ORDER to see…
A Plan for Future Pandemics: National Insurance Leaders Discuss the BCPP
On June 16, The Hill newspaper published an op-ed article titled, “A Plan for Future Pandemics.” Bob Rusbuldt, president and CEO of the IIABA (Big “I”) was one of the writers. The article discusses the merits of the Business Continuity Protection Program (BCPP), “a new customer-focused proposal for a federal program tailored specifically to help…
Sample Message to Promote LPLI to Your Lawyer Clients
Do you have auto or homeowners clients who also happen to be lawyers? MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency makes it easy to offer an LPLI indication these prospects. Through Number One, you have access to Lawyers’ Professional Liability Insurance (LPLI) from Westport Insurance Corp., a member of Swiss Re Corporate Solutions. We’ve drafted a sample…
MA Young Agents Give Back In Third Annual Give Movement!
MAIA’s Young Agents joined forces with Young Agents Committees across the country and the Big “I” for a week of giving June 1 to June 8. Since we couldn’t have in-person events, we asked our carrier sponsors if we could use their sponsorship and donate meals to those on the front lines of COVID-19 ……
Premium Grace Period Reverts to 30 Days for NFIP Flood Policies
FEMA has announced that renewal premiums for NFIP flood insurance policies expiring on or after June 16, 2020 will need to be paid within 30 days of the expiration date to avoid a lapse in coverage. Thirty days is the normal grace period. However, due to COVID-19, FEMA had extended the grace period to 120…
B2B Agents/Runners Should Expect 3-4-Day Turnaround Time
Now that insurance agents and runners are back to work, the RMV B2B locations are being inundated. The turnaround time is currently 3 to 4 days. Agents/runners will receive a call when their completed bundles are ready for pickup. Some B2B locations are sending bundles to other locations for processing. If you notice in ATLAS…
Coverage for a Foreign Driver
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 12, 2020 QUESTION Quick question, I believe… We have a client who is having his girlfriend stay with him here in MA for the summer (approximately 3-4 months). She is a Canadian citizen and has a valid Canadian drivers’ license.…
Get Reimbursed for Up to Half the Cost of These MAIA Training Courses
The MA Workforce Training Fund is a state program that provides financial resources to businesses for training current and newly hired employees. A number of MAIA’s courses have been approved for the Workforce Training Fund Express Program — AAI, CIC, CISR, CRIS, and CPIA designation programs, as well as Design-Build Risk and the Personal Lines…
Moving Company
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 12, 2020 QUESTION Where in the Comm’l MA Auto policy is loading and unloading discussed whether covered or excluded? I have a moving company and need to know relative to damaging other’s property if coverage is an auto coverage…
RMV Service Center Openings & Changes – June 2020
Over the next few weeks, the following RMV Service Centers will either open for certain transactions or change the transactions they are processing.
Revised Class D and M Road Test Information Sheet and Road Test Application
The Class D and M Road Test Information Sheet (RDT101_0620) and the Class D or M Road Test Application (RDT103_0620) have been revised due to road test changes being implemented during the COVID State of Emergency. The revised versions have been posted to the RMV website. Download the Class D or M Road Test Application…
Online Learner’s Permits Exams for Class D & M
Starting June 10th, eligible individuals will have the opportunity to complete the Class D (passenger) or Class M (motorcycle) Learner’s Permit Exams online. To assist them, the RMV has created a job aid (downloadable instruction sheet) with details on what they need to do to successfully schedule and complete an Online Learner’s Permit Exam.
ADA & Website Accessibility: What Agencies Need to Know
Our national association, the IIABA (Big “I”), has alerted MAIA and other state associations that independent agencies in Florida have been receiving legal demand notices alleging that their websites are not accessible for visually impaired customers. [UPDATE July 14, 2020: Massachusetts agencies have also reported receiving similar emails.] Being able to demonstrate your website’s ADA…
Online Renewals for Standard Driver’s Licenses & ID Cards
As of June 4th, the RMV is allowing standard Driver’s Licenses & ID Cards to be renewed using photos that were taken when customers were under 21 years old (as long as the photo was taken less than 14 years ago). The stopper that prevented this has been removed from ATLAS. This change makes more…
25% Capacity Limitations for Essential Businesses
Questions remain about how to interpret the mandatory requirement that all Massachusetts businesses, even those deemed essential, limit their office to “25% occupancy.” According to the state’s written safety standards, the 25% can be based on EITHER the maximum occupancy limits set for your building/space per code – OR – your business’ typical occupancy as…
Dam Failure: A Lurking Flood Menace in MA
You may have heard about the dam failure in Central Michigan last month. 10,000 people evacuated. Roads and bridges closed. Could that happen here in Massachusetts? Unfortunately, yes! According to 2018 statistics from damsafety.org, 817 of the 1431 state-regulated dams in Massachusetts have either a “high” or “significant” hazard potential. (And that’s not counting private…
Tow Behind Camper
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 3, 2020 QUESTION I have a client who is thinking of renting a tow behind RV Camper; would his normal auto policy cover or what does he need to do? Thanks a bunch!
Insured is Driving a Ruckus
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 3, 2020 QUESTION I am sorry to bother you but I can’t put my hands on a tech talk that you sent out regarding the classification of mopeds vs limited use vs motorcycles. One of our young insureds purchased…
RMV Opens Another B2B Center at Boston-Haymarket
As of June 8, the MA RMV service center at Boston (Haymarket) is open for B2B transactions only. This is in addition to the B2B centers at Milford, Wilmington, Attleboro, and Chicopee. You may drop off transactions/bundles at these locations, but will not be allowed to wait for pick-up. New IRP transactions are still being…
Cancel Request Form
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 23, 2020 QUESTION I’m just trying to clear up a dispute I have with another agent. This agent rewrote a flood policy our agency had in place. I requested a cancellation from the new agent. The new agent is…
Producer License Extensions & Online Renewals
The MA Division of Insurance (DOI) has ruled that if your Massachusetts insurance producer license was in good standing when the state of emergency was declared on 3/10/20, it will not expire until 90 days after the state of emergency is lifted (whenever that may be; the Governor has yet to announce it). However, licenses…
IntellAgents Salary Survey – Bridging the Agency Data Gap
“Data” is becoming the key difference between agencies that thrive and those that get left behind. MAIA’s investment in IntellAgents is helping our members bridge the data gap by revealing how you compare with other Massachusetts agencies … starting with the new and improved Salary Survey that answers the age-old question: What are the average…
New Consumer Ad Campaign Coming Soon – Make Sure You Can Get Leads!
Thanks to the generosity of our company sponsors, MAIA will soon release our new 2020 ad campaign on a variety of digital channels, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and more. The ads will target “adult mindset millennials” in Massachusetts, whose age, education, income, and life stage make them likely to need insurance, and unlikely to have…
Offer Home Business Insurance to Teachers and Tutors
The coronavirus pandemic has created a new educational landscape, and independent home-based teachers/tutors have a large role to play in helping students and families keep up with learning demands. Whether teaching in person or virtually, an independent teacher who owns their own business should have coverage for property and liability exposures. Offer them an RLI…