Massachusetts Drivers: Texting Laws

  • It is illegal for all drivers in Massachusetts to use a mobile phone or other handheld device to compose, send or read electronic messages while behind the wheel. What most drivers may not know is that the ban includes these activities while at stop signs and red lights, too.
  • Drivers under 18 cannot use cell phones, even with hands-free devices, at all.
  • If a driver is caught texting while driving, the penalties include:
    • First offense: $100 fine
    • Second offense: $250 fine
    • Third and subsequent offense: $500 fine
    • Drivers under 18 will also face license suspensions for violations.

MA Operator Crash Report

MA drivers involved in an accident must fill out a Commonwealth of Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report if (1) any person was killed or (ii) injured or (iii) in which there was damage in excess of $1,000 to any one vehicle or other property.

When the report is completed copies should go to:

  • The local police department or state police in the city or town where the crash occurred.
  • Your Insurance Company
  • Registry of Motor Vehicles – Crash Records; PO Box 55889; Boston, MA 02205-5889

 Your friendly, helpful, Independent MA auto insurance agent should be able to assist you with the claim process!

 

 

 

To Gap or not to Gap …

What is Gap Insurance?

If a car is stolen or declared totaled, the auto insurance company will pay actual cash value for the car.

The actual cash value can be a lot different from what is owed on the vehicle.

Without gap insurance the lender will hold the individual responsible for paying the difference between the actual cash value and the amount left on the loan. Gap Insurance covers this amount.

Once a relatively expensive purchase, many Massachusetts auto insurance companies now offer Gap coverage as part of their insurance programs they offer to preferred drivers.

For instance, Vermont Mutual offers their “Advantage” endorsement for step 99 & 98 drivers. For $49 this endorsement includes, among many things, “Auto Loan/ Lease Gap Coverage.”

This endorsement reads:

This coverage applies to Optional Insurance:

a. Collision (Part 7)

b. Limited Collision (Part 8); and

c. Comprehensive (Part 9).

In the event of a covered total loss to your auto shown in the Coverage Selections Page, we will pay any unpaid amount due on the lease or loan less:

a. The amount paid under Collision (Part 7); Limited Collision (Part 8); or, Comprehensive (Part 9) of your policy.

b. Any:

  1. Overdue lease/loan payments.
  2. Penalties.
  3. Taxes.
  4. Interest or charges resulting from overdue payments at the time of the loss.
  5. Financial penalties imposed under a lease for excessive use, abnormal wear and tear or high mileage.
  6. Security deposits not refunded by the lessor
  7. Costs for extended warranties purchased with the loan or lease.
  8. Cost for Credit Life insurance purchase with the loan or lease.
  9. Cost of Health, Accident or Disability insurance purchased with the loan or lease.
  10. Carry-over balances from previous loand
  11. Carry-over balances from previous leases.

Call or click us today to get your free, full, comprehensive Massachusetts auto insurance review!

What To Do In Case of a Massachusetts Auto Accident

Here are some suggestions, courtesy of Arbella Insurance, of “what to do in case of a MA auto accident:”

  1. Stop– Turn off ignition. Do not smoke
  2. Protect– Guard the scene from further damage.
  3. Assist– Render only what first aid you are qualified to give. Don’t move injured unless absolutely necessary. For serious injury, call a doctor and an ambulance.
  4. Call– Notify a law officer. In many states it is unlawful to leave the accident scene without permission. Cooperate with the authorities.
  5. Obtain– Get all necessary information for an accurate report.
  6. Report– Notify your Independent, Massachusetts insurance agent as soon as possible.
  7. Avoid– Do not accept responsibility or discuss the accident exept with your agent, your claim representative, or law officer.

Massautoquote recommends you fill out a Commonwealth of Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report. 

To print a MA Operator Report you can click:  MA Crash Operator Report 

Once completed you will want to forward a copy to:  your Massachusetts auto insurance agent, a copy to the police department in the town that the accident occurred, and a copy to the Registry of Vehicles (Crash Records, Registry of Motor Vehicles, PO Box 55889, Boston, MA 02205-5889).

Eight Gas Savings 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.

 

Have You Checked Your Liability Limits Lately?

The heart of your Massachusetts auto insurance policy is your liability limits.

Specifically, Part 5, Optional Bodily Injury to Others.

Part 5 is the coverage available to an injured party to make them whole again, if you are in an at-fault accident.

This is your lawsuit coverage, the amount your insurance company will pay out before you are on your own. In addition to coverage limits, insurance companies provide legal defense. When you purchase improved liability limits you, in essence, also purchase improved legal defense.

Our independent, MA insurance agency (Johnson & Rohan Insurance) recommends you carry at least limits of $100,000 per person/ $300,000 per accident and suggest you consider $250,000 per person/ $500,000 per accident limits and personal liability umbrella coverage.

In addition, we recommend you match your Parts 3 & 12, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Protection, to match your Part 5 limits.

Parts 3 & 12 protect you and guest occupants from other drivers that are either uninsured or those that carry lesser limits than you carry.

Tips For Beginner Massachusetts Motorcycle Riders

Take the MA Rider Training Course. More than 90% of the motorcyclists involved in crashes are self-taught or learned from family or friends. In addition, you will be eligible for an additional 10% discount on your MA motorcycle insurance policy.

Riding a motorcycle in Massachusetts is challenging and fun. It can also be dangerous.

Much like your auto insurance policy, the cost of your motorcycle insurance will be determined by driving record, experience, town, year, make, model, and value of the bike.

Tips For Beginner Riders:

– Take the MA Rider Training Course. More than 90% of the motorcyclists involved in crashes are self-taught or learned from family or friends. In addition, you will be eligible for an additional 10% discount on your MA motorcycle insurance policy.

– Get your MA motorcycle learner’s permit by passing a knowledge test based on the MA drivers’ license manual. This test may be taken without an appointment at any full-service Registry of Motor Vehicles.

– To earn your MA motorcycle license, pass the Beginner Rider Course or the RMV’s road test.

– Wear protective riding gear. State law requires motorcycles and their passenger (also moped riders) to wear a helmet. State law also requires motorcyclists and their passengers to have eye protection. To better protect yourself from the elements and the road, wear a long sleeve shirt or jacket, long pants, over the ankle footwear, and full finger gloves.

– Insure, Register, and Inspect your motorcycle. There are mandatory and optional insurance coverages available for motorcycles. Obtain registration, license plate, and title for your motorcycle by having your MA insurance agent prepare and stamp a Registry Form 1 for you. Within 7 days of getting your motorcycle registered, get your MA inspection sticker. Each year you must have your motorcycle reinspected between January 1 and May 31.

– Share the road. Ride defensively and be courteous. Never try to save time by weaving through traffic. Use both electric and hand turn signals and your horn to communicate with other drivers. Position yourself on the road to avoid the blind spots fo drivers. Wear highly visible clothing to be seen by other drivers. Look for drivers taking left turns in front of you, especially at intersections — most crashed between cars and motorcycles occur this way.

– Have Fun!

Does Your MA Auto Policy Go on Vacation with You?

Before relaxing on a long vacation, there are many things you need to think about: airline tickets, hotel reservations, and car rental. What about your auto insurance coverage?

If you have your own MA personal auto insurance policy then your coverage will follow you in the United States, U.S. Territories, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

If you travel to Bermuda, Europe, Mexico or other international destinations, you MA personal auto insurance coverage will NOT follow you and you will want to purchase coverage from the rental company.

Contact your MA independent insurance agent to see if the coverage you carry is adequate.

MA Auto Insurance Coverage: Substitute Transportation

On your MA auto insurance policy, Substitute Transportation is a sometimes overlooked & often over-priced coverage.

It used to be the cost of $30 per day of Substitute Transportation Coverage was 2 times the cost of $15 per day coverage.

Then the insurance industry pulled a fast one. They increased the cost of $30 per day Substitute Transporation Coverage to 4 or 5 times the cost of $15 per day Coverage.

The cost of $15 per day coverage is around $12 per year.

The cost for $30 per day coverage is around $52 per year.

Substitute Transportation pays for a rental vehicle while your car is in the shop for a covered insurance loss.

If another, identifiable vehicle hits your car then the other company is obligated to reimburse reasonable rental expenses, whether you carry Substitute Transportation or not.

When renting a Substitute Transportation vehicle from a rental company, you can usually get into an economy-type vehicle for around $23 or $24 per day.

Although, if you’re a victim of a hit & run or at-fault in an accident, $15 per day of Coverage will not pay for a rental in it’s entirety: it will pay a portion.

Massachusetts Auto Insurance Quotes

Since 1999 Massachusetts has seen many things, including:

  • The completion of the Big Dig!
  • The New England Patriots Dynasty (3 Super Bowls)!
  • Not one, but two Red Sox World Series!
  • Another Celtics banner hoisted to the rafters!
  • The Bruins hoist the Stanley Cup for themselves!
  • Massautoquote.com has provided thousands and thousands of free MA auto insurance quotes!

In addition, we’ve provided coverage explanations, recommendations and saved our clients money, while providing the very best in customer service.

Customer service includes saving money, but also: assitance with the Massachustts Registry of Motor Vehicles, help at claim time, and answers to billing questions.

To utilize your local, free Massachusetts auto insurance quote champion, call or click us today!