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…
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…
Trailer Converted to Portable BAR
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 24, 2020 QUESTION Any input on this situation would be appreciated. A client bought a horse trailer and is converting it into a portable bar. She will take it to events (private wedding in a yard) and serve alcohol.…
License Suspension
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 27, 2020 QUESTION May I ask a question, please, about the MAP?If an insured is driving on a suspended license, are any of his coverages voided? We have an insured whose license was suspended and his reinstatement hearing, scheduled…
BAP and Personal Trailer
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 27, 2020 QUESTION We have a client with just a business auto policy and he wants to pull his personal travel trailer (RV) with one of the vehicles. Will liability go to travel trailer when being pulled? Does the…
Certificates of Registration Mailing Delay
Due to a shortage of 2022 embedded decal stock, mailings are delayed for Certificates of Registration that were renewed online, by phone, or by mail beginning on 5/22/20. You can reassure your customers that all registrations expiring March through June have been extended until July 31, and law enforcement has been notified, so they should…
Customer Passed Away – MAP
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 30, 2020 QUESTION One of our insured’s passed away. His son was listed as principal operator on his vehicle. Is it ok for him to drive until he is able to get put in his name? Thanks
Extended Service Hours & Online Learner’s Permit Tests
The RMV has begun implementing some service adjustments to help meet increasing customer demands. As of June 1st, all 10 RMV Service Centers that are open to the general public are extending their hours of operation. In addition, the RMV is working on a solution to offer online Class D and M learner’s permit exams…
Registry News: Further Extensions on Most Credentials, Passenger Plate Registrations, Inspection Stickers
The RMV is implementing further extensions for expiring motor vehicle inspection stickers, passenger plate registrations, professional credentials, and driver’ licenses and learner’s permits, including Commercial Driver’s Licenses and Commercial Learner’s Permits (CDLs / CLPs). While the RMV has previously announced extensions for most credentials, passenger plate registrations, and inspection stickers expired or expiring in March,…
Registry News: Copies of Crash Reports Can Only Be Requested Online
Effective immediately, copies of crash reports can only be requested online. They are no longer available by mail or in person. The RMV website has been updated to indicate this and the RMV Request for Copy of Crash Report Form has been removed from the web. If your clients need to submit a crash report,…
CARVANA AGAIN
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 5, 2020 QUESTION I have a client that wanted to purchase a vehicle through Carvana. They are telling her that she has 7 days to drive the vehicle on interstate plates. Can you please tell me if the same…
Agreed Value
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 5, 2020 QUESTION I hope you are doing well despite everything that is going on and that you and your family are safe and healthy. I’ve taken several of your classes and I think you would be able to…
GarageKeepers
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 13, 2020 QUESTION Carrier added a form MM9920 to a Garagekeepers policy and they won’t remove it. Is this form mandatory? Thank you
Registry News: Essential vs. Non-Essential Transactions During Pandemic
The RMV continues to act out of an abundance of caution throughout the duration of Governor Baker’s State of Emergency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To adhere to the Governor’s plan to safely reopen Massachusetts, the only transactions that will be processed at Service Centers are those that the RMV considers “essential.” Effective…
BOP
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 11, 2020 QUESTION I hope you are doing well through all this! We have a question… We are quoting a hotel. They have a management company that pays all the expenses and collects receipts. In the event of a…
Registry News: Attleboro B2B Service Center Opening May 26
The MA Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is opening an additional dedicated B2B Center at the Attleboro RMV next Tuesday, May 26, 2020. This is in addition to the existing Milford, Wilmington, and Chicopee dedicated B2B Service Centers. New IRP transactions will not be processed at the Attleboro B2B but will still be conducted at the Milford and Wilmington Service…
CARVANA
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 13, 2020 QUESTION I have a client that is purchasing a vehicle from Carvana online . They are asking me to stamp the RTA form and send it back to them. They send me the title but said they…
Mortgagee Question
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 14, 2020 QUESTION I hope all is well with you. Hoping you can shed some light as I’ve been going back and forth with insured and bank on this. Bank is requesting to be listed as a Mortgagee for…
Registry News: RMV is Defining Its New Normal & Your Feedback Can Help
The MA Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is currently looking at all of its workflow processes to determine what the “new normal” will look like as Massachusetts moves toward reopening. MAIA spoke with the RMV and learned that there will be both short- and long-term changes, but these are still in the discussion stage. Rest…
Operators and the MAP
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 15, 2020 QUESTION We have a potential client that bought a car for his grandson but kept it in his own name until grandson was 18. About 9 months after grandson got his license he was in an accident…
Pre-Existing Damage
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 12, 2020 QUESTION First and foremost, hope you are all safe… if not sane! Irene, as I texted you this morning, thanks for calling me back and leaving a voicemail yesterday, so sorry I missed you. Given you are…
IRP Renewal Typo
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 12, 2020 QUESTION One of my customers received an IRP renewal application to be completed in May. The application is calling for the actual mileage from 7/1/19 to 6/30/2020. If the insured is suppose to return the application before…
Extension on 7 Day Law
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 12, 2020 QUESTION We were wondering whether the police and the registry are enforcing the 7 day plate registration transfer law. Dealers that aren’t on the drive program are having a very difficult time getting appointments for their transfers.…
PIP and Med Pay
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on May 12, 2020 QUESTION A client, a personal injury attorney, requested we remove $25000 of Medical Payment coverage from her auto policy because her company (Travelers) would not provide Medical payment until…..coverage was exhausted from PIP, her Personal Health policy,…
Tech Talk: Will This COVID-19 Good Deed Hurt Your Customer?
By Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, LIA, CRIS, CPIW — VP of Technical Affairs
Registry News: Springfield B2B Service Moving to Chicopee
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 moving B2B service for Western Massachusetts to the Chicopee RMV Service Center, effective Monday, May 18. In following ‘social-distancing’ practices, the Chicopee RMV will exclusively perform drop-off B2B transactions / bundles only …
Registry News: Registration Renewals & Reactivations for Secondary Vehicles
CORRECTION The original RMV handout on Renewing and Reactivating Registrations had an incorrect mailing zip code. If you are mailing a Registration and Title Application (RTA) to the RMV, the correct address is: Registry of Motor VehiclesP.O. Box 55895Boston, MA 02205-5895The correct information is reflected in this revised handout. Registration renewals and reactivations for secondary vehicles such as…
Registry News: Class D & M Road Tests Canceled through May 18th
The MA RMV has canceled all passenger and motorcycle road tests (Class D & Class M) through Monday, May 18, 2020. (They previously had been canceled through May 4th.) However, Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) road tests are still being conducted. Please visit the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) website at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/rmv-covid-19-information for the most…
MAP Coverage & License Suspension
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 27, 2020 QUESTION May I ask a question, please, about the MAP?If an insured is driving on a suspended license, are any of his coverages voided? We have an insured whose license was suspended and his reinstatement hearing, scheduled…
Registry News: Essential Transactions, Appointments & Where to Find Help
During the COVID-19 state of emergency, Massachusetts has gone from 30 RMV service center locations and multiple AAA locations down to eight locations for the entire state (plus two that are designated commercial-only) to maintain social-distancing for the safety of customers and staff. MAIA’s member relations advocate Kathy Cormier has compiled some facts and guidelines…
BAP and Covid-19
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 22, 2020 QUESTION Curious if you’ve had feedback/questions from agencies about commercial auto during Covid. Some carriers are “allowing” us to decrease limits on some or all vehicles until client is back to work. We are hesitant to offer…
RMV Non-Essential Transactions
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 22, 2020 QUESTION We have received a notice from the Springfield Registry that they will not register a trailer for one of our clients since it is “non-essential” vehicle. Is this true?
Registry News: Paying Vehicle/Trailer Sales Tax Online
With RMV service centers closed for all but essential services, sales tax for a motor vehicle, trailer, camper, motorcycle, etc. must be paid online to avoid late penalties or interest. The RMV has issued instructions and a link to the MA Department of Revenue (DOR ) MassTaxCollect site where these transactions can be completed. The…
RMV Appointments
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 22, 2020 QUESTION We have a customer trying to schedule an appointment on the Registry’s site, it seems there are no appointments available at any branch for a vehicle registration transaction (new or transfer), I tried it myself, only…
Dirt Bikes
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 21, 2020 QUESTION Do dirt bikes need a registration if they will only be used off road? Also does the trailer that carries it (250#) need a plate?
Registry Appointments
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 21, 2020 QUESTION What is going on with the registry? I have a client from out of state trying to make an appointment for new plate. There are zero appointments available for all locations. Are they totally closed. Not…
Out-of-State Violations
This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on April 13, 2020 QUESTION As you are probably aware, the RMV’s efforts to clear the backlog of out-of-state violations is resulting in surcharges to current MA personal auto policies. So far, we’re seeing surcharge endorsements from Commerce and Plymouth Rock.…