Title & Lienholder Inquiry Changed Back to The “Old” Way
Title & Lienholder Inquiry Changed Back to The “Old” Way The RMV recently released this statement: “We understand that a recent change to title inquiries through our Online Service Center may have made it difficult for you to obtain necessary information from the RMV. Prior to our new system implementation (ATLAS Release 2) on November 12, users…
ATLAS Q&A, Straight from the RMV (UPDATED)
ATLAS Q&A, Straight from the RMV (UPDATED) UPDATED Q&A as of 12/9/19!(Includes all previous questions, plus several new ones.) CLICK IMAGE: MAIA’s Member Relations Advocate Kathy Cormier continues to field your ATLAS questions, seeking clarity from the MA RMV as needed. She has updated the list of ATLAS Q&As, and created a downloadable PDF that…
RMV ‘Get Ready” Service Streamlines Registration & Title Transactions
RMV ‘Get Ready” Service Streamlines Registration & Title Transactions With ATLAS Release 2, the RMV is offering a new ‘Get Ready’ web service that allows users to start registration and title transactions online. The web service sends the data into ATLAS, which flags any missing or incorrect information. Once approved, the user can print a…
Excise Tax Non-Renewal on Your Record? No Registration Transactions for You
Excise Tax Non-Renewal on Your Record? No Registration Transactions for You Effective immediately, as part of ATLAS Release 2, no registration transactions can be processed for applicants who have excise tax non-renewal marks on their records. This is an existing provision of MGL Chapter 60A, Section 2A. The Registry’s former ALARS system did not have…
Cutoff Date for Old RMV-1 & RMV-3 Forms is December 13th
Cutoff Date for Old RMV-1 & RMV-3 Forms is December 13th The new Registration & Title Application (RTA) form has replaced the old RMV-1 and RMV-3 forms. Use of the new form will be mandatory as of Monday, December 16, 2019, and it is highly recommended that you use new RTA form for all transactions…
ATLAS is Live! Where to Find Help if You Need It
ATLAS is Live! Where to Find Help if You Need It The much-anticipated launch of ATLAS Release 2 took place on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, and the transition from ALARS to ATLAS is complete! The RMV has provided links and email contacts for a variety of issues and questions that may arise as you attempt…
Registry News – October 30, 2019
Registry News – October 30, 2019 How to Prepare for a Massachusetts Salvage Inspection Once a salvage-titled vehicle has been repaired to a safe operating condition, it must pass a vehicle salvage inspection before the vehicle can be registered and legally driven. And before a salvage inspection appointment can be made, customers must obtain…
ATLAS R2 Training Videos for Insurance
ATLAS R2 Training Videos for Insurance ATLAS R2 will launch on November 12, 2019 and all vehicle services will be added. The Registry of Motor Vehicles has sent notice to all their company partners on how to navigate the ATLAS system, including specific training videos for insurance carriers and agents. You may want to take…
MA-Registered Trailers May Need a Pseudo VIN
MA-Registered Trailers May Need a Pseudo VIN As of November 12, 2019, the MA RMV requires commercially used trailers that are subject to annual inspections to have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). If such a trailer does NOT have a VIN, it will have a “Pseudo VIN” assigned by the RMV, which will be printed…
ATLAS R2 Update: No RMV System Access Veterans Day Weekend!
ATLAS R2 Update: No RMV System Access Veterans Day Weekend! The MA RMV reports that the transition to ATLAS Release 2 (R2) and concurrent shutdown of the ALARS system is on track for its November 12, 2019 launch date. However, in order to complete the system conversion, there will be NO RMV system access from 6:00…
Licenses for Customers with “A” or “G” Visas
Licenses for Customers with “A” or “G” Visas Individuals with “A” or “G” visas typically have diplomatic or consular immunity. If they do have immunity, they are not eligible to obtain a license from the Massachusetts RMV; they can only obtain one from the U.S. Department of State.
Watch These RMV ATLAS R2 Training Webinars!
Watch These RMV ATLAS R2 Training Webinars! Kathy Cormier, MAIA’s Member Relations Advocate and all-around Registry guru, has secured permission from the MA RMV to share their ATLAS Release 2 training webinars with MAIA members! A lot of changes are coming down “The Pike” when ATLAS R2 launches on November 12th. These recordings from the…
Preview of New RMV Forms for ATLAS Release 2
Preview of New RMV Forms for ATLAS Release 2 The much-anticipated Release 2 of the RMV ATLAS system will take effect on November 12, 2019. As you may recall, ATLAS Release 1 rolled out in March 2018 and included all the license services. ATLAS Release 2 will be bringing over all the registrations, titles, owner…
Changes Coming for Vehicle Valuation & MSRP Data Access via RMV
Changes Coming for Vehicle Valuation & MSRP Data Access via RMV The RMV’s current operational system (ALARS) provides insurance companies and agents access to Vehicle Valuation and Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) data from the National Dealers Association (NADA) via a screen and guest function. However, when the RMV completes its transition to ATLAS Release…
Applications Open for New Striped Bass License Plates
Applications Open for New Striped Bass License Plates The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and MA Environmental Trust (MET) are collecting applications for the new Striped Bass Conservation specialty passenger plate. Once they receive enough orders (at least 750), they’ll deliver the orders to the Registry of Motor Vehicles and the plates will be printed.…
Reckless Driving Violation Surcharge Points Increase
Reckless Driving Violation Surcharge Points Increase MAIA and all Carriers have received the following notice from the Merit Rating Bureau regarding increases to the surcharge points applied to reckless driving violations under two ATLAS violation codes. The changes may have implications for your insureds who have these violations on their record.
Lawful Presence – Valid Length of Stay
Lawful Presence – Valid Length of Stay To be eligible to obtain a driver’s license or ID card, a customer who is a non-U.S. citizen must have been granted lawful presence in the U.S. for at least 12 months (a valid length of stay).
MAIA Registry Procedures Manual July 2019 Updates
MAIA Registry Procedures Manual July 2019 Updates As many of you know, MAIA produces a wonderful resource to help agencies navigate the complex world of the MA RMV: The Registry Procedures Manual. Available by subscription and updated twice a year, the comprehensive digital manual puts the ever-changing rules, regulations, and forms from the MA RMV…
Proof of Citizenship/Lawful Presence and Name is not an Exact Match
Proof of Citizenship/Lawful Presence and Name is not an Exact Match If a customer applying for a REAL ID presents a document for Proof of Social Security Number (SSN) with a name that does not exactly match the name on the document presented as Proof of Lawful Presence, the SSN document can be accepted in…
Reminder: No License Renewals/Reinstatements after Two Years Without Active License
Reminder: No License Renewals/Reinstatements after Two Years Without Active License Class D & M driver’s licenses cannot be renewed or reinstated after a customer has been without an active license for two years or more for any reason. This could be because the license expired, was suspended/revoked, or was surrendered.
Proof of Residency Documents from the Same Source
Proof of Residency Documents from the Same Source To apply for a REAL ID drivers’ license or ID card, a customer must present two documents to prove Massachusetts residency. There has been some confusion on whether these two documents can be from the same source. This training update serves as a clarification on the RMV’s…
New Online Inspection Station Complaint Form
New Online Inspection Station Complaint Form A new online Inspection Station Complaint Form (www.mass.gov/forms/inspection-station-complaint-form) has been created. Customers can use this form to electronically submit a complaint about an inspection station. It can be accessed from both the RMV website (www.mass.gov/rmv) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) website (www.mass.gov/dep). The online form was…
Automatic Extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Automatic Extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) The federal government has advised the RMV that individuals from several countries have had their lawful presence in the United States automatically extended because they were given temporary protected status (TPS). Due to the nature of the extension, a new lawful presence document, such as a new…
Expanded Salvage Title Processing Locations
Expanded Salvage Title Processing Locations If an owner or insurance company wants to keep a vehicle that has been declared a total loss, it’s necessary to obtain a salvage title. Beginning April 22, salvage title applications will be processed in an expanded number of RMV Service Centers. In addition to Quincy RMV Headquarters and the…
“Non-Domicile” CDLs
“Non-Domicile” CDLs “Non-Domicile” customers are residents of foreign countries who have temporary lawful presence in the United States. Beginning April 25th, “Non-Domicile” Massachusetts Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) can be issued to customers with temporary lawful presence from most foreign countries (except for Canada or Mexico). “Non-Domicile” customers will need to meet the same identification…
ATLAS Focus Group April 2019 Update
ATLAS Focus Group April 2019 Update Big changes are afoot at the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles. In November 2019, Release 2 of the ATLAS system will go live, and new Registration and Title form will be replacing the current RMV-1 and RMV-3. And you’ll be glad to know that agents’ interests are being well…
Summary of Changes in the New MA Driver’s Manual
Summary of Changes in the New MA Driver’s Manual The English version of the new (03/2019) MA Driver’s Manual is now in the RMV warehouse and will soon be distributed to all RMV Service Centers, and will also be available on the RMV website (www.mass.gov/rmv). The new version has a purple cover and features an…
Leominster AAA Office & RMV Services Move to New Location
Leominster AAA Office & RMV Services Move to New Location
Drivers Can Now Use Specialized Features on Road Tests
Drivers Can Now Use Specialized Features on Road Tests
Policy on Outdated Residency Documents at Return Visit
Policy on Outdated Residency Documents at Return Visit If a customer applying for a REAL ID or Standard credential presents valid proof-of-residency documents upon their initial visit to a Service Center or AAA location, the residency requirement has been met for the duration of the open issuance in the system. If the customer cannot finish…
RMV Issues New Registration Form for Motorized Bicycles (Mopeds)
RMV Issues New Registration Form for Motorized Bicycles (Mopeds)
NEW Massachusetts License and ID Issuance Number Format Changes Effective 11/13/2018
NEW Massachusetts License and ID Issuance Number Format Changes Effective 11/13/2018