Motorized Wheel Chair
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question Good Afternoon. I have an insured who recently got a chair to assist his wife with mobility through Medicare. He is with his Insurance on an HO3 form. He is concerned if there is any coverage under…
Just What Is Surface Water?
September 25, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA Though there are many contributing factors to flooding, rainfall is certainly a primary factor. When rain falls, some is captured by soil and vegetation, and the remainder flows onward. Many are aware of flooding…
Updated Company Auto Filings – September 2024
September 26, 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].
2024 September Commercial Multi-Peril P&C Insurer List
You are being provided this 2024 September Commercial Multi-Peril 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 Multi-Peril Insurance marketplace in Massachusetts. Do not forget…
Diminished Value
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question I know a couple of years ago, there was a court case concerning Diminished Value and what a claimant has to do to present a claim for this. I could not find anything on the website. Do…
State-to-State Verification Cancels Multi-State Credentials
September 9, 2024 The New York Department of Motor Vehicles now checks other participating states to prevent anyone from having active credentials in two states. If you have two driver’s licenses or a license in one state and an ID Card in another, one will be canceled, and you may lose the ability to legally…
Oil Remediation
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question Do you have any articles on oil remediation and common endorsements regarding the Homeowners’ Policy? Or an online course? Answer Laura Poulin: The unendorsed ISO HO0003 policy excludes losses to an insured’s property arising from pollutants unless…
Funeral Expensed Under the Auto Policy
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question Unfortunately, we have an insured who passed away in a car accident. Obviously, we know that PIP will pay for funeral expenses. He also has $5,000 in Medical Payments. When you read the coverage section, it sounds…
RTA Acceptance Requirements
August 26, 2024 To ensure that Registration and Title Applications (RTAs) are completed properly and that vehicles are lawfully registered and titled, the RMV and its business partners are responsible for registration and title transaction processing terms. View the full update here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or via email at [email protected].
Email Addresses and Phone Numbers Not Provided to the Public
August 26, 2024 Customer email address and phone number information collected by the RMV during transactions will NOT be provided to the public. This information will only be used by the RMV or shared with other government agencies with a legitimate need. The RMV website and all online transactions have been updated to include a statement…
Lienholder Code List
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of August 2024. Question I know you sent me a list of electronic title states. Now I can’t find it! Would you please resend it or let me know how I can find it? Answer Kathy Cormier: Here is a link…
2024 MAIA Annual Meeting Announcement
NOTICE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE AGENTS OF THE 2024 ANNUAL MEETING. In accordance with Article XI, Section 1, of the bylaws, notice is hereby given to the members of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents, Inc., that the Annual Meeting of the Association will be held on Friday, September 27th…
Revised MAIP Eligibility…the Good, the Bad and…You Know!
August 19, 2024 Written By: Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW – Consultant, Technical Affairs, MAIA Just when you think you know what you’re talking about, someone changes something, and then you’re back to “say what?” What vehicles are eligible for MAIP? Autos eligible for MAP In May of this year,…
Golf Cart for Street Use
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of June 2024. Question Do you happen to know of a carrier that will write a golf cart for street use in MA? I called the carrier and they will do it if they are writing another vehicle. I am trying…
Legislative Update Re: Compulsory Limits
MAIA’s priority this session has been on legislation that would increase compulsory limits from 20/40/5. Special thanks to MAIA members for reaching out to their legislators to express their support for this measure. These provisions would provide a long-overdue update to the state’s compulsory bodily injury insurance and property damage limits. As healthcare costs have soared…
Age of RTA
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of June 2024. Question I hope all is well! Is there a hard and fast rule about how old the stamped RTA form can be before the RMV rejects it? I assumed one month, but can you confirm that? Thanks for…
More Lender/Servicer Problems – When Will It End!
July 29, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA Well, they are at it again! We are seeing an uptick in Lender/Servicer issues affecting Insureds. Whether the loan owner or a separate mortgage servicer manages your Insured’s loan, they may be susceptible to…
Updated Company Auto Filings – July 2024
July 22, 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].
Surviving Spouse and Trailer
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of June 2024. Question I have an insured (surviving spouse) who would like to retain 2 of her husband’s trailers. I understand that the surviving spouse process cannot be used on trailers. The RMV is looking for an approval for plate…
Compulsory Limits – Senate Economic Development Bill
As you may be aware, MAIA’s legislative priority this year is to increase compulsory limits from 20/40/5 to 50/100/30. We have been successful in getting this language included in the Senate version of the Economic Development Bill – but it was not included in the House version. There is now a Conference Committee working through the…
2024 Q1 Massachusetts P&C Marketplace Summary
You are being provided this 2024 Q1 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). Quarterly property and casualty (P&C) data reveals trends during the current year to give you, as members, a more “real time”…
Business Merged with Name Change
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of June 2024. Question I have a commercial client who merged his business with another. The name has changed, but the FEIN has remained the same. The insured has one commercial auto insured by Safety under the name prior to the…
Mini Kei Trucks or Vans Cannot Be Registered by the RMV
July 8, 2024 Mini trucks and vans, or Kei trucks and vans, are small versions of trucks and vans that are typically imported from abroad and are more than 25 years old. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) does not endorse the use of these vehicles on public ways because they do not…
Fee Change for Bulk Purchase of Driver’s Manuals
July 8, 2024 Effective July 8, due to an increased price to publish the redesigned Driver’s Manual, the RMV will no longer offer a bulk rate discount to business partners. Driver’s Manuals will be available in bulk at $5 per manual. The fee for a case of 50 Class D Manuals will be $250. The fee for…
Registry Procedures Manual Update!
July 8, 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.…
Traveling Nomad
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of June 2024. Question We currently write an HO4 for an insured with MPIUA (due to claims). His legal residence is in Leominster, where he has some personal property. He also has some personal property in a storage unit in Leominster.…
Off Premises Power Loss and Resulting Power Surge
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of May 2024. Question We have an insured that had a loss back in March from the last snow storm. A tree fell on a pole and caused a power surge to his house. The pole was off premise. Carrier is…
CVR Nationwide Intermediate Shutdown of EVR Services
June 28, 2024 We have received notice from the Registry that CVR, a major provider of the EVR program, will be having a nationwide intermediate shutdown of its EVR services. All dealers and agents currently on the CVR EVR program will be bringing their work to B2B locations across the state, which will slow down…
Enforcement Services Live Chat Website Feature
June 24, 2024 Effective June 20, a new live chat feature will be piloted on the new Enforcement Services Unit (ESU) document portal on the RMV website. This document portal can be accessed through a link provided to ESU customers and allows them to upload documents to prove their identity. Customers can use the new live…
CDL Webinar for Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
June 24, 2024 The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, and Tuesday, July 9, 2024, both starting at 11:00 a.m. to discuss the implementation of the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and to explain what action State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) are required to take. (DACH) final rule. Both webinars will…
2024 Massachusetts Annual P&C Marketplace Summary
You are being provided this 2024 Massachusetts Annual P&C Marketplace Summary covering the Massachusetts property and casualty (P&C) insurance marketplace as a benefit of your membership in the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents. What follows is a graphic and numeric presentation of the Massachusetts P&C industry data from an Independent Agent’s perspective. The 2023 data…
LDW/CDW vs Hired Car Coverage on a BAP
June 24, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA In theory, Hired Car Liability, Symbol 8, and Hired Car Physical Damage should do the trick; however, typically, the rental contract makes the Insured responsible for things beyond what the Insurance will pay, making…
2024 Low Plate Lottery
June 17, 2024 The 2024 RMV Low Plate Lottery begins on Monday, June 17, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Customers can enter the plate lottery online at Mass.Gov/myRMV. The lottery is online submission only; there is no paper application available. The deadline to enter the lottery is Friday, August 16, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. This year, there are…
In-Law Apartment vs. Two-Family
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations, and statutes in effect as of May 2024. Question Hope all is well – we are having a lively discussion in our office and can’t agree, so I said I will ask MAIA, “What is the difference between a one-family with an in-law apartment and a…
Bulletin 2024-06 Re: Inducements, Rebates, & Affiliated Entities
The DOI has released Bulletin 2024-06 regarding the Massachusetts anti-rebating law. We believe this language clarifies that certain lender practices are, in fact, rebating. We will be contacting these entities again, referencing this bulletin, and asking that they change their current practices. View Bulletin 2024-06 here.
Updated Company Auto Filings – June 2024
June 10, 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].
Earth Movement Exclusion & Blasting Operations
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of May 2024. Question We had an interesting call last week from a prospect. The individual lives near a quarry where blasting takes place on a regular basis. If the blasting causes any damage to his home or pool, would it…
2024 MAIA Advocacy Fund Contributors
We sincerely thank the following independent agents for contributing to the 2024 MAIA Advocacy Fund. Your contributions will directly support efforts to protect your business interests and ensure a fair legislative and regulatory environment. THANK YOU! A David Risman Insurance Agency, Inc. A J Marchionne Insurance Agcy Inc. Acacia Insurance Inc. Affordable Insurance Agency Inc.…
Garagekeepers vs. On-Hook Coverage
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of May 2024. Question If an Insured already has Garagekeepers Legal Liability coverage, does it also need On-Hook Coverage CA0402 or is On-Hook Coverage for a pure towing operation that does nothing more than pick up and deliver autos between other…
DocuSigned RTA Forms
May 28, 2024 GEICO recently began utilizing DocuSign to electronically stamp the Registration and Title Application (RTA). These stamps have a partial frame around them with the letters “DS” at the top. DocuSign stamps are acceptable and comply with our stamp acceptance specifications. Read the full update here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or via…