MA Gas Prices Are Going Down

According to AAA’s new survey, gasoline prices in Massachusetts are down three cents this week, just in time for the busy holiday weekend.

Self-serve, regular unleaded average: $3.45 per gallon.

Down five cents over over the past month.

Three cents less than the national average for self serve, unleaded. A year ago at this time the Massachusetts average price was nine cents lower.

The range in prices in the latest AAA survey for unleaded regular is 38 cents, from a low of $3.31 to a high of $3.69. AAA advises motorists to shop around for the best prices in their area, and to make sure they and their passengers buckle up — every time.

This week’s local gas prices and their ranges are as follows:

Self Serve                                             Grade                                     

$3.45 ($3.31-$3.69)                            Regular Unleaded

$3.67 ($3.45-$3.99)                            Midgrade Unleaded

$3.80 ($3.57-$4.19)                            Premium Unleaded

$3.85 ($3.67-$4.09)                            Diesel

Did We Mention MA Auto Insurance Discounts?

Some of the available discount programs include:

  • Good drivers
  • Good students
  • Driver training
  • Mileage
  • Multi-vehicle
  • Multi-policy
  • Age 65+
  • Air-bag/Passive restraint
  • T-pass (public transportation)
  • Hybrid vehicle
  • Roadside assistance (AAA)
  • Alumni & Professional Organizations
  • Anti-theft
  • Advanced driver training
  • Years at residence

Please call or click us to get your free, no obligation Massachusetts insurance quotes.

Massachusetts Inspection Sticker

 

Perhaps the cruelest of all surcharge points on the personal MA Auto Insurance Policy is the one for an ”expired inspection sticker” citation.

In Massachusetts, a ticket for an expired vehicle inspection sticker is the equivalent, in auto insurance citation points, of a moving violation.

According to the MA Department of Insurance:

Surcharge points are incurred if you:

  • cause an at-fault accident
  • are convicted of or pay a fine for a traffic law violation
  • are assigned to an alcohol education program

An expired inspection sticker is considered “pay(ing) a fine for a traffic law violation.”

A $40 ticket results increased insurance costs for 6 years! About 20% increase the first three years, diminshing the following three .

Check your MA Inspection Sticker:  Don’t let it lapse!

Following please find a helpful, Mass Inspection Station locator link:

http://massvehiclecheck.state.ma.us/find_emissions_repair.php

Massachusetts Junior Operator Law

 

Any motor vehicle operator or motorcyclist between the ages of 16 1/2 and 18 is considered a Junior Operator. The Junior Operator Law has several requirements and restrictions that significantly affect the operation of a motor vehicle by a person who has a Junior Operator’s License (JOL). The basic purpose of the law is to provide new drivers supervised opportunities in which to develop good driving skills, while keeping those drivers free of the possible distractions caused by friends under age 18 who are present while the drivers are behind the wheel.

Following, from the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles Driver’s Manual, we offer Massachusetts Junior Operator License Restrictions:

  • You may not operate a motor vehicle within the first six months after receiving your JOL while any person under age 18 is in the vehicle (other than you or an immediate family member), unless you are accompanied by a person who is at least 21 years old, has at least one year of driving experience, holds a valid driver’s license form Massachusetts or another state and is occupying a seat beside you.

General Rule: The passenger restriction that applies to the Junior Operator (Under age 18) is lifted once the Junior Operator completes the six-month period or you reach age 18, whichever occurs first.

The six-month passenger restriction period will stop running, temporarily, during any suspension. When your JOL is reinstated, you will still have to complete the remainder of the six-month restriction period that existed at the beginning of the suspension period, unless you have already turned 18.

  • As the holder of a Junior Operator License (JOL), you may not operate a motor vehicle between 12:30 a.m and 5:00 a.m. unless you are accompanied by one of your parents or your legal guardian. If you are found operating a motor vehicle in violation of this restriction, you may be charged with operating a motor vehicle without being licensed. This is a criminal violation. 
  • If you violate the passenger restiction or the night restriction, you will be subject to a license suspension of 60 dyas for a first offense, 180 days for a second offense, and one year for subsequent offenses. For a second or subsequent offense, you will also be required to complete a Driver Attitudinal Retraining course. The law requires the Registrar to impose this suspension in addition to any other penalty, fine, suspension, revocation, or requirement that may be imposed in connection with a violation committed at the time you were violating the passenger or night restriction. 
  • You may not operate a motor vehicle that requires a commercial driver’s license (CDL). 
  • You will be suspended for one year if you are udner 18 when you have committed certain driving offenses and alcolhol or drugs were involved (180 days if age 18 to 21), in addition to any penalty assessed by a court or other law. 
  • You will be ineligible for a full license until you have completed the period of suspension imposed while operating with a JOL and you reach age 18. 
  • You will face additional suspension periods of one year for a first drag racing offense and three years for a subsequent offense, you will be suspended for one year.

Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Online

The MA Registry of Motor Vehicles advertises, Be first in line by going online at: www.MassRMV.com

At the Registry website you can do many transactions such as:

  • Schedule a Road Test
  • Renew Your Driver’s License
  • Renew Your Registration
  • Pay Citations/ Court Hearing Fee
  • Replace Your Driver’s License
  • Request a Duplicate Title
  • Request a Duplicate Registration
  • Change Your Address
  • Cancel My Plate/Registration
  • Order a Special Plate

Did You Know?

Did you know the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles allows MA consumers to cancel your auto registration (plates) online?

In order to cancel your MA auto insurance, you must first cancel your registration.

You can either bring your plates to your local Registry of Motor Vehicles branch, mail or drop off the plates to your agent, or you can cancel them online at:

https://secure.rmv.state.ma.us/PlateReturn/intro.aspx

In order to cancel them you will need: an e-mail address, your Plate type & plate number, your license number, & the last four digits of your social security number.

Once you have cancelled your MA plates, notify your MA independent insurance agent & provide a copy of your Plate Return Receipt.

MA Auto Insurance Coverage Review: Part 4, Property Damage

The Massachusetts Auto Insurance Policy is comprised of 12 Parts. This week we review Part 4, Damage to Someone Else’s Property.

The first 4 parts of the MA auto policy are compulsory.

Part 4 – Property Damage, pays for damage to another person’s property and costs associated with the loss of use of that property, when you, a household member or another authorized driver cause an accident. A minimum limit of $5,000 is required for Massachusetts Auto Insurance.

With the rising costs of autos and property repair, it makes sense to purchase more than the compulsary $5,000 minimum auto insurance limit. This can be done at minimal cost.

The standard auto insurance limit for our Agency’s clients is $100,000.

Although, perhaps, difficult to exhaust limits of $100,000. The additional annual cost going from $50,000 of coverage to $100,000 is only about + $4.

Some clients may decide to increase coverage from $100,000 to  $250,000 of property damage coverage at an additional annual cost of about + $5.

Although limits of $100,000 and $250,000 may be excessive — driving past an automobile transport truck the other day which was carrying 7 new Corvettes — I realized that the additional few dollars a year may be the best investment you can make on your MA auto policy.

Note:  only 3% of all drivers purchase the $5,000 minimum for Massachusetts car insurance. In our opinion, these limits are insufficient and the insured will be responsible for damages over $5,000 to someone else’s property.

If you have any questions about your MA auto insurance policy, please stop by, call or click to discuss.

Gas Saving Tips

  1. Go easy on the brakes and gas pedal. Avoid “jackrabbit” starts. Try to anticipate stops to avoid sudden braking.
  2. Avoid long idles. Turn off the engine if you expect a lengthy wait. Idling burns more gas than restarting the engine.
  3. Avoid carrying unneeded junk in the trunk. More weight equals worse gas mileage.
  4. 4. Avoid driving at high speeds. Mileage improves by 15% if drive 55 instead of 65mph.
  5. Keep air conditioning to a minimum. Try rolling down the windows instead.
  6. If you have overdrive, use it. It’s more economical at high speeds.
  7. Keep tires inflated properly.
  8. Get regular tune-ups and maintenance checks, both of which improve mileage.

Top 10 Reasons to use a MA Independent Insurance Agent

Top 10: 

  • #10. Your Independent MA Agent will save you money!
  • #9. Your Independent MA Agent rates with multiple companies!
  • #8. Your Independent MA Agent works on your side when you have a loss!
  • #7. Your Independent MA Agent will provide strong referrals from existing customers!
  • #6. Your Independent MA Agent has strong local ties and supports your community!
  • #5. Your Independent MA Agent will improve your coverage!
  • #4. Your Independent MA Agent provides 24 hour a day, 7 days a week auto claim service!
  • #3. Your Independent MA Agent provides prompt, courteous service!
  • #2. Your Independent MA Agent offers free Registry of Motor Vehicles Service!
  • #1. Your Independent MA Agent makes house calls!

 

Massachusetts At Fault Accident

Have you been found “at-fault” in a Massachusetts slip & slide accident?

Have you received the surcharge notice? If so, this means your insurance company determined you more than 50% at-fault.

If you believe you were less than 50% at-fault, we believe you should appeal the surcharge.

When determining fault in an accident, unlike the insurance companies, the Board of Appeals takes into consideration contributing factors; such as: road condition (icy, wet, snow-covered), visibility, other vehicle erratic driving, etc.

Once you have received your hearing date you can: appear in person, submit a written statement, or select someone to appear on your behalf.

Appeal hearings are scheduled in:  Boston, Brockton, Peabody, Plymouth, Somerville, Springfield, Waltham, or Worcester.

If you decide to appeal your surcharge, call your MA independent insurance agent for some suggestions.

If you don’t have an independent MA agent, give us a call.

We are here to support you.

Good Luck!

Mass.gov Board of Appeal Contact information

http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/consumer/insurance/auto-insurance/appeal-license-revocation/board-of-appeal-contacts.html

Board of Appeal
Division of Insurance
1000 Washington St, Suite 810
Boston, MA 02118-6200
Phone (617) 521-7478
Fax (617) 521-7772
Email: BOA Mailbox


Merit Rating Board
P.O. Box 55889
Boston, MA 02205-5889
Phone: 857-368-8100
Fax: (617) 351-9660