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…
HO-3 Coverage
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of April 2024. Question Here’s a story and just trying to see if there is any chance of HO-3 coverage. Policyholders’ 9 yr old is visiting his 15 yr old cousin in Brockton (postage stamp lots). The older kid (that lives…
Trusts & the HO Policy
May 20, 2024 Written By: Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW – Consultant, Technical Affairs, MAIA An agent emailed saying his client had put their personal assets, including their home, into a trust, and the lawyer is requiring the HO 05 43 Residence Held in Trust endorsement to be added to…
MA Fair Plan
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of April 2024. Question I hope you are well! We quoted some MPIUA homes last week, and today, two were rejected because they said we didn’t use the new RCT info from 2/24. Coverage A went up over $300K on one!…
RTA Questions & Answers
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of April 2024. Questions & Answers A few questions have come up at our agency, and I was hoping you could help. If a dealership (non-drive) sells a vehicle, is that dealership responsible for completing the RTA? If it is a…
AAA North Andover Road Tests
April 29, 2024 AAA will soon end road test services at its North Andover location. May 3rd is the last day tests will be conducted. The road test public schedule has been adjusted, and Mass.Gov/RMV will be updated to reflect this change in availability. Customers are currently unable to book road tests at the AAA North Andover…
Lease Buyout and Plate Reassignment
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of April 2024. Question Quick question for you. I’ve noticed recently that the registry has allowed folks buying out their leases to keep the same plates. Can you tell me what we check off on the RTA to indicate this? Answers…
Loss Assessment
April 23, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA Which coverage does a unit owner need to purchase to cover an Association deductible – building Coverage A or loss assessment coverage? Let’s start with Loss Assessment coverage. There are three requirements to trigger…
AAA Greenfield Closing
April 23, 2024 Effective 5:00 pm on April 26, the AAA Greenfield location will close. After that date, it will be permanently closed, and no RMV transactions will be processed. All other AAA locations that process RMV transactions will continue to do so. The RMV and AAA websites will be updated. Read the full update here.…
WC Classification
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of March 2024. Question I have an insured who operates a not-for-profit cemetery. They want to appeal the assignment of class code 9220; see the email excerpt below. I have been on the DIA website and called their general number but…
RMV Business Partner Website
April 8, 2024 Effective immediately, the RMV Business Partner Communication website that resided on massrmv.com has been redirected to Mass.Gov/RMV. The new website URL is https://www.mass.gov/rmv-business-partners. The website pages have been updated and moved to a central location which provides improved access. Read the full update here. Questions? Contact Kathy Cormier at 508-634-7353 or via email at [email protected].
Assisted Living Coverage
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of March 2024. Question I have a client. He & his wife are both Named Insured (NI). He is now in a nursing home. Policy on HO 00 05 05 11. I believe the HO 04 59 05 11 Assisted Living…
Updated Company Auto Filings – March 2024
March 27, 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].
DOR’s Child Support Services Division
March 3, 2024 Effective April 1, the Department of Revenue (DOR) will change the name of its Child Support Enforcement Division to the Child Support Services Division. ATLAS, RMV webpages, and all RMV letters that reference child support requirements will be updated to reflect the new name this week. The next version of the Driver’s Manual…
Coverage for MAIP Policy on Imported Vehicle
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of March 2024. Question I have a question regarding a personal auto policy. One of my clients plans to import a 1995 Nissan ATLAS from Japan for personal use, with no business involvement. The vehicle weighs 6000 pounds and has the…
Private Passenger Residual Market Modifications to Manual Rules, Amendments to Rule 27.
Effective May 1, 2024, the Private Passenger Residual Market Modifications to Manual Rules have been approved. SUVs are included in section B with pick-ups and vans now have the limitation on delivery that is only “incidental to the insured’s business of installing, maintaining or repairing furnishings or equipment” and they also increased the GVWR from…
Lease Buyout Dealer Advisory
March 3, 2024 The RMV has received questions from dealerships about the process of purchasing a vehicle at the conclusion of a lease agreement, commonly known as a lease buyout. The questions are about instances where the buyout has taken an extended amount of time (more than 20 business days) and the purchaser/lessee had to rent…
Haitian Creole Driver’s Manual
March 3, 2024 A Haitian Creole version of the July 2023 Passenger (Class D) Driver’s Manual has been printed and will soon be distributed to all RMV Service Centers. It will also be available to order on the RMV website (Mass.Gov/myRMV) on March 28. The Haitian Creole Driver’s Manual has the same design as the English,…
Does a Massachusetts Auto Policy Protect You When Your Injuries Are Caused By Someone Else’s Carelessness?
March 25, 2024 Written By: Laura J. Poulin, AILP, AINS, AAM, CPIW, CRIS, MLIS, Director of Curriculum and Technical Affairs, MAIA No one ever thinks they will be involved in a car accident. Hopefully, your Insured’s plan for it with adequate liability limits. But they can’t control another driver’s behavior or whether they have insurance…
WC for Uninsured Subs
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of March 2024. Question Do you have anything I can show the Insured regarding the Workers Comp Audit we discussed on Friday? He hired a sub to do about $20K in work last year; the sub is also a carpenter and…
2024 March Homeowners’ Multi-Peril P&C Insurer List
This 2024 March Homeowners’ Multi-Peril P&C Insurer List is provided as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). MAIA Introduces Member-Only Massachusetts Homeowners’ Multi-Peril Insurer List The reason MAIA is providing you with this list is it lets you have speedy access to information on the Homeowners’ Multi-Peril Insurance…
2024 Annual Privacy Notice
Thank you for trusting MAIA and Number One Insurance Agency to protect you and your business! We are committed to protecting the confidentiality of your personal and company information, your staff, and your agency’s clients. Following the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, also known as the Financial Services Modernization Act, we ask that you review our annual communication…
GL Certificates
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of January 2024. Question Looking to see if you can assist. Question about issuing GL certificates. I have an insured who is a roofer/carpenter. His GL policy excludes snow removal…he has requested that we send a certificate to a vendor for…
Flood Coverage for Storage Unit
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of January 2024. Question Would Flood contents coverage extend to a storage unit? Also, been out of the Flood game for a while…can you cancel prorate or is it fully earned? Answer Laura Poulin: To answer your questions, I assume you…
Road Test Location Closures
February 27, 2024 Effective March 1, 2024, at the close of business, the following Class D Road Test locations will no longer be available for scheduling: Avon (Central Mass Safety Council Road Test Site) Framingham (Central Mass Safety Council Road Test Site) Holyoke (Department of Conservation and Recreation Fitzpatrick Arena Skating Rink) West Boylston (Central…
Search by Name added to Police Crash Report Request Transaction
February 26, 2024 A standard or certified copy of a motor vehicle police crash report can be requested by an Individual involved in the crash or a Permitted User under the Federal Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). The online transaction to request a copy of a police crash report has been amended to include fields…
Endorsement for Company Furnished Vehicles
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of January 2024. Question Isn’t there an endorsement we can add on a personal auto policy for a client that uses his company furnished car for personal use too? We have a client who works for a company and furnished a…
Vermont Title Changes – Revised
February 20, 2024 On January 1, 2024, Vermont changed its title law to title all vehicles and trailers regardless of age. This was described in the training update titled “Rhode Island and Vermont Title Changes,” dated January 10. However, due to a statute change, Vermont only has rescinded their change and has reverted to the previous title…
2024 February Private Passenger Auto P&C Insurer List
You are being provided this 2024 February Private Passenger Auto P&C Insurer List as a benefit of your membership with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). MAIA Introduces Member-Only Massachusetts Private Passenger Auto Insurer List In 2024 the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) is expanding your member-only access to state-specific P&C industry data. …
Property Non-Renewal Notice Due to Inspection
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of January 2024. Question Can you please help with the questions below? Some of the account managers here are struggling with all the non-renewals we’re receiving from our standard companies for mainly property but also auto. For property, we would typically…
Updated Company Auto Filings – February 2024
February 12, 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].
Another Ridiculous COI Request…Involving the HO Policy, No Less!
February 12, 2024 Written By: Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, CRIS, MLIS, LIA, CPIW – Consultant, Technical Affairs, MAIA I received an email from an agent regarding a client’s leased land and COI request. The insured owns a camp on leased land owned by the State of NH. The insured has liability extended to…
Revised Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report
February 5, 2024 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report (form number CRASH102) has been revised. The areas in Section A where customers enter details of the route/roadway/address where a crash occurred have been renumbered to A6 and A7 to make this section, and the instructions on the first page, clearer. The revised version…
Named Non-Owner
*This question was answered based on current rules, regulations & statutes in effect as of December 2023. Question Hi there…are these 100% earned, short rate, or carrier specific? Thank you! Answer Irene Morrill: The CAR manual and the AIB manual discuss “short rate cancellation” of auto policies unless the insured requests cancellation within 30 days…