“Registration Cancelled” Field Change
January 17, 2025 Effective January 16, 2025, the “Registration Cancelled” field in the RMV eServices Insurance Portal will no longer be displayed from the vehicle screen. Instead, the “Registration Cancelled” date can be retrieved from the Portal as follows: Go to the Vehicle Information screen, View the Registration tab, then the Plates sub-tab, and Under the Cease…
Flood: First Floor Height
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of October 2024. Question Did FEMA change the rules to determine the number of floors? In the past, if the house had a basement, the basement was considered the 1st floor. We called the insurance company because it seemed the number…
MPIUA: 2 NEW RULES Effective 2/1/25
The Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (MPIUA) is implementing two new rules—Flood Insurance Requirement and Amount of Insurance Requirement—applicable to both Homeowners and Dwelling Policy Programs. These changes will take effect for new business policies issued on or after February 1, 2025, and for subsequent renewals of these policies. Flood Insurance Requirement: The MPIUA will…
Revised Application for Gold Star Family Plates
January 13, 2025 The Application for Gold Star Family Plates (REG113) has been revised to clarify who is eligible for these plates. A Gold Star Family Plate can be issued, without charge, to spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of members of the United States Armed Forces who died while on active duty with…
Registry Procedures Manual Update!
January 13, 2025 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.…
2024 Q3 Quarterly P&C Marketplace Summary
You are being provided this 2024 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). This report provides up-to-date property and casualty (P&C) data, offering you a “real-time” view of trends in the Massachusetts insurance marketplace.…
Lightning Struck a Tree
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of October 2024. Question Laura, I’m just a little confused. I mostly do auto insurance. I want to make sure that I understand this. I know this is a lightning issue, but what about wind? I guess it’s a big question:…
Named Non-Owner Policy
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of October 2024. Question I have a customer looking to have a person who borrows his car to have their own liability policy. The person doesn’t own a car or a home or apartment (or I would try and obtain an…
NH Temporary Plates Clarification
January 6, 2025 NH approved a new law (HB 1243) that was put into effect 9/01/2024. The new law does not change the process for how Mass residents are getting their plates with the RMV, but change the process for NH DMV eliminating the form RDMV 938 (Vehicle Sold to a Massachusetts Resident Form). Important…
CDL Disqualification Change
January 6, 2025 Effective January 2, drivers who are disqualified from operating commercial vehicles for life may have the ability to retain or restore their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). This is based on a revision to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 90F Section 9. Read the full update here. Click here for FAQ. Registry Questions? Contact Kathy…
Out of State Titles – New Documents Required
January 6, 2025 Effective January 13, when a customer is unable to produce their current Out of State Title because it is held by a lienholder, they must present the current Out of State Registration Certificate and any one of the supporting documents to accompany a Registration and Title Application (RTA). Read the full update…
Compulsory Auto Limits Increase Bill Becomes Law!
December 24, 2024 I’m writing with exciting news from the Massachusetts State House. Governor Maura Healey signed into law MAIA’s priority legislation for the 2023-2024 legislative session: H. 5111 – An Act relative to motor vehicle insurance. This legislation will increase compulsory bodily injury limits in Massachusetts for the first time in nearly 40 years…
What Is A WISP? And Why Does It Impact An Agency & Their Insureds?
December 16, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA The adoption of a WISP is not only a regulatory requirement but also a best practice for safeguarding sensitive information in today’s digital landscape. For insurance agencies, it reinforces their commitment to protecting client…
Newly Renovated South Yarmouth Service Center
December 10, 2024 On Monday, December 9, the newly renovated and expanded South Yarmouth RMV Service Center will open. This is the same location that was temporarily closed for renovations in December 2022. The address is 1084 Route 28 (Main Street) in South Yarmouth, in the same strip mall as the temporary location. The renovated location expanded…
Titling & Sales Tax
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of November 2024. Question I’ve been googling and checking out MAIA for the answer to how long someone has to request a title and/or pay sales tax on a purchased vehicle. I believe the 10 days for both is the best…
2024 November Other Liability (Occurrence) P&C Insurer List
You are being provided this 2024 November Other Liability (Occurrence) P&C Insurer List as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). MAIA is providing you with this list to give you speedy access to information on the Other Liability (Occurrence) marketplace in Massachusetts. Don’t forget that you also have the…
Minor Rules & Regulations
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of November 2024. Question We have an insured who has a child who is 17 years of age, already graduated high school, and is working every day part-time. The child’s license is now being suspended for going 10 miles over the…
CDL DACH Checks and Downgrades
November 18, 2024 As part of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Testing Program, the FMCSA manages a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (DACH). The Clearinghouse is a database that contains information about drug and alcohol violations committed by Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP)/CDL operators. These drug and alcohol…
CDL Webinar – Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Implementation Webinar Follow Up
November 18, 2024 The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) held a webinar on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 to review the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (DACH) before implementing the final rule on Monday, November 18, 2024. The final rule establishes requirements for State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) to access and use information from the Clearinghouse indicating…
2024 November Workers’ Compensation P&C Insurer List
You are being provided this 2024 November Workers’ Compensation P&C Insurer List as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). MAIA is providing you with this list to give you speedy access to information on the Workers’ Compensation marketplace in Massachusetts. Don’t forget that you also have the general…
Cancellation and/or Non-Renewal of HO, DP, MAP and BAP in Massachusetts
November 18, 2024 Written By: Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW – Consultant, Technical Affairs, MAIA Massachusetts has laws regarding the legal/proper way of non-renewing or canceling voluntary homeowners, dwelling fire, personal auto, and commercial auto. These laws have not changed since the beginning of my insurance career in September 1975.…
Disabled Veteran Fee Exemptions – HERO Act
November 12, 2024 Effective immediately, the Massachusetts HERO Act exempts disabled veterans from paying the following RMV fees: Registration fees for any/all vehicle registration(s), with exceptions. Driver’s license transaction fees (for all license classes), with exceptions. Read the full update here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or via email at [email protected]
2024 November Commercial Auto P&C Insurer List
You are being provided this 2024 November Commercial Auto P&C Insurer List as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). The reason MAIA is providing you with this list is it lets you have speedy access to information on the Commercial Auto Insurance marketplace in Massachusetts. Do not forget…
Odometer Reading
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of November 2024. Question We have a registration for an antique vehicle out of Maine. Our customer bought it. He dropped a brand-new engine in it. He would like us to register/title the car in MA with “0” as the odometer…
CDL Self-Certification Downgrades
November 5, 2024 Effective November 6, 2024, when a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is downgraded because the driver’s CDL Self-Certification expired, the CDL will no longer be cancelled, and a Class D license will not be issued to the customer. Instead, the customer can operate a passenger vehicle with their physical CDL driver’s license while their…
State Electric Vehicle Plates
November 4, 2024 State Electric Vehicle (SE) plates are state plates that are now available for electric vehicles owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. SE plates do not expire. Read the full update here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or via email at [email protected]
AAA Fairhaven Location Temporarily Closing
November 4, 2024 The AAA Fairhaven location is temporarily closing on November 1 for remodeling. Construction is scheduled to be completed by November 19, but is subject to change. Appointments will not be available again until there is a confirmed reopening date. Read the full update here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or via…
New Mass.Gov/REALID Webpage
November 4, 2024 The RMV has published a new action-oriented customer focused REAL ID webpage: Mass.Gov/REALID. This page, which is already live, will help simplify the steps customers have to complete to obtain a REAL ID, such as scheduling an appointment and preparing their documents. It features a new tagline that we will launch soon…
Registry Procedures Manual Update!
November 4, 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.…
HO-6 Policy
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of October 2024. Question I was wondering if you could clarify something for me. I have a client who is purchasing a condo policy, and I am putting together the HO6. It was an older three-family converted ted to condos, and…
The Evolution of Cyber Insurance
October 29, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA The earliest computer viruses date back over 40 years. Insurers developed cyber clauses to be added to existing policies because the precise wording in existing policies was often not developed with modern online threats…
RMV Website Search Feature
October 28, 2024 The “Search Mass.gov” box at the top of Mass.Gov/RMV has been improved to allow for better usability and accessibility. A new “scoped search” feature has been added to allow for searching only through the RMV site when selected. The search box that was previously located under the green Massachusetts RMV banner and…
Disabled Veteran Excise Tax Exemption Documentation Change
October 22, 2024 Disabled veterans do not need to pay excise tax for one passenger vehicle or pick-up truck. The vehicle must be owned by the veteran and be used for non-commercial purposes. View the full update here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or via email at [email protected].
HO6 Condo Coverage A
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question My client inherited a condo in Maine from their parents. When the parents lived there, they added a screened-in porch off the back of the unit. My client is saying the parents were allowed to add the…
Coverage for Tree Struck by Lightning & Debris Removal
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question Lightning struck a tree. I know a home policy covers the tree itself for $500, but is there full coverage to remove the dead tree? Answer Laura Poulin: With respect to the ISO HO forms, the limit…
Plate Issuance in November 2024 Through January 2025
October 7, 2024 A large number of registrations expire and need to be renewed in the final months of the year. In an effort to more evenly balance out registration renewals per month, February plates (ending in 2) will be issued in November, December, and January. View the full update and fee schedule here. Questions?…
Issuance of Free Replacement Documents
October 7, 2024 When a customer is issued a temporary credential or applies for an online duplicate or renewal registration, the license, ID card, or registration should arrive in the mail within 10 to 14 business days. Effective October 7, if the card or registration does not arrive in the mail between 30-60 days after…
2024 Q2 Quarterly P&C Marketplace Summary
You are being provided this 2024 Q2 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). This report provides up-to-date property and casualty (P&C) data, offering you a “real-time” view of trends in the Massachusetts insurance marketplace.…
Paying Commission To An Employee With An Expired License
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question One of our employees had their producer license expire because they did not achieve the required continuing education credits. In MA, you may reinstate your license within 12 months of the missed renewal deadline for a late…
Recognitions and Awards Given at MAIA’s 2024 Annual Meeting
The following individuals were honored during MAIA’s Annual Meeting: Henry F. Barry, Jr. Memorial Pacesetter of the Year: Benjamin Cavallo, CIC, AAI, CISR Distinguished Service Awards: Lisa Hirbour, CIC, CPCU and Bradley P. Howes, Jr., CPCU, ARM, LIA MAIA’s Chairperson’s Award: Patrick Dempsey Board of Directors’ Award: Ted Gibson, MLIS James O. Herrick, Jr. Memorial…