Tech Talk: Ice Dams and Roof Collapse…Covered or Not?
Tech Talk: Ice Dams and Roof Collapse…Covered or Not? by Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW VP Technical Affairs, MAIA I am so over the snow, especially heavy, wet snow. Just think, soon April showers will bring May flowers… and flooding. (So, don’t forget MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency can help…
Tech Talk: Water Backup and Sump Pump Overflow Coverage and the Homeowner
Tech Talk: Water Backup and Sump Pump Overflow Coverage and the Homeowner By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW An interesting question: Does everybody need a Water Backup and Sump Pump Overflow endorsement or does nobody need it? (And what does it do?) I was modifying an outline for an…
Important Steps Agents Can Take to Avoid Registry Delays
Important Steps Agents Can Take to Avoid Registry Delays As we’ve written before, we hear your frustrations with the RMV, and are actively advocating on our members behalf. While not all of the current Registry issues (such as understaffing) have a quick and easy fix, one factor that we can control right now is the…
RMV Checks Should Be Made Out to MassDOT
RMV Checks Should Be Made Out to MassDOT Checks or money orders provided to the RMV by customers should be made out to MassDOT. Certain other names are acceptable if the check or money order has already been written. However, it must be one of the names on the following list: Commonwealth of Massachusetts…
CDL Medical Certificates Extension
CDL Medical Certificates Extension The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued an additional waiver for CDL Medical Certificates (DOT Medical Cards). Certificates that expire between March 1, 2021 and August 30, 2021 will expire on August 31, 2021. The RMV has updated customer records in ATLAS. Affected customers will receive an email informing…
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…