Tips To Save You Money

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The other day we received a quote request from the husband of a woman who is presently insured with our independent Massachusetts insurance agency and one of our A rated carriers (Vermont Mutual Insurance Company).

He was with GEICO and was comparing his coverage with hers and remarked, “her coverage is inferior to my coverage.”

We went line item by line item and found he was talking about was his $250 Collision & $250 Comprehensive coverage deductibles.

He carried only $50,000 Part 4, Property Damage Coverage vs. our client’s $100,000 Property Damage Coverage.

For approximately $3 annually he increased his Part 4, Property Damage Coverage, from $50,000 to $100,000.

In addition, he did not notice that his wife carries Vermont Mutual’s “Advantage” endorsement which gives her a “disappearing collision deductible,” which lowers her $500 deductible to $200!

Also the Advantage endorsement gives her accident forgiveness & $50 per day substitute transportation.

We ran rates for him, packaged their autos together (giving them both multi-car discounts) with their apartment coverage, and was able to save them over $100 while improving his coverage!

Your MA driving record:

Your Massachusetts driving record is based on such factors as: years licensed, age, accidents and moving violations.

Your MA driving record, along with: other operators,  town, vehicle, and coverage specifications are the factors that determine your MA auto insurance rate. 

Motor vehicle violations and at-fault accidents are called surchargeable events.

If you have been licensed for, at least, 6 years and have no surchargeable events then you are a state-best:  “99? driver.

When you first get your license you are a neutral “0? point driver. After 5 years clean driving experience you receive a credit and become a “98? driver.

For a minor (less than $2,000 paid out combined damage) at-fault accident, drivers are surcharged 3 points.

For a major (more than $2,000 paid out combined damage) at-fault accident, drivers are surcharged 4 points.

For the first motor vehicle violation (includes inspection sticker violations), the state will not surcharge you — HOWEVER — if you are a “99? or “98? driver, you lose your credits and become a “0? driver. For each additional motor vehicle violations drivers are surcharged 2 points.

Each surcharge point increases your MA auto insurance by an estimated 8.5%.

The best way to save money on insurance? Drive Safely & keep your driving record perfect!

If you would like additional information or have any questions about your Massachusetts driving record contact the Merit Rating Board.

Cancelled MA Auto Insurance?

Most agree, MA “Managed Competition” auto insurance has been a good thing.

National insurance companies have come into the state, and MA insurance consumers now have more choices.

There is, however, a flip-side to all the discounts and improved insurance programs:

If you have a poor driving record (at-fault accidents, moving violations, suspensions or revocations) or a cancelled policy, you may have difficulty obtaining MA auto insurance.

The MAIP (Massachusetts Auto Insurance Plan) marketplace is an option available to MA consumers.

The MAIP program requires 25% down-payment on new business.

If cancelled over the past 12 months for non-payment, MAIP requires (like many companies) 100% premium payment in full.

Our independent MA Agency (Johnson & Rohan Insurance) recently lost a longtime, good client (although not a very organized bill payor) due to cancellation frequency.

Late on one too many Statutory Notices of Cancellation, he is now required to pay 100% annual premium in full.

In addition, he had an accident over the past 12 months and the annual premium has gone up.

Unfortunately, it’s an all too common Massachusetts Consumer Auto Insurance Dilemma.

The Best MA Auto Insurance Rates –

In Massachusetts the best drivers get the best rates. If you have been licensed over 6 yers and have had no moving violations (speeding tickets etc) & no at-fault accidents then you are a state-best “99” driver.

One of the most frustrating consumer tickets is for the expired, annual inspection sticker. The state’s driving record surcharge penalty for a lapsed inspection sticker is the same as the surcharge penalty for a speeding ticket.

So, take a look at your inspection sticker.

Please call, or click, us for your free, friendly, no obligation, competitive Massachusetts auto insurance quote.

How Much Liability Insurance Should I Carry?

There is no precise, scientific answer nor is there a single, reliable “rule of thumb.”

Liability coverage isn’t purchased for the average claim, rather higher limits are purchased for the catastrophic type loss. The type of loss that could jeopardize one’s personal assets & earning potential.

Question:  Has your net worth increased over the past five years and have you increased your liability coverage to reflect this increase?

In response to increasing net worth, we recommend Personal Liability Umbrella coverage.

Umbrella coverage starts at one million dollars and “sits over” your automobile and home liability coverage. Coverage can be purchased in increments of a million up to $5M.

Personal Liability Umbrella coverage has underlying personal automobile liability requirements of $250,000 per person/ $500,000 per accident.

Call or click us today to find out how much liability coverage is right for you.

Tire Tips

Take 5 minutes every month to check your tires including:

Pressure:  Under inflation is a tire’s #1 enemy. Check your tire pressure. A tire can lose up to half of it’s air pressure and not appear to be flat!

Alignment:  Is your vehicle pulling to one side, or shaking? Have a tire dealer check the alignment periodically to ensure your car is property aligned.

Rotation:  You should rotate your tires approximately every 5,000 miles. Regularly rotating your vehicle’s tires will help you achieve more uniform wear.

Tread:  Measure & inspect it. Visually check your tires for uneven wear, looking for high and low areas or unusually smooth areas.

The penny test: place a penny into a tire tread groove. If part of Lincoln’s head is covered by the tread, you’re driving with the proper amount of tread. if you can see all of his head, you should buy a new tire.

MA Automobile Excise Tax

In an attempt to de-mystify the annual, pesky Massachusetts excise tax we offer the following excise tax information:

Excise bills are prepared by the Registry of Motor Vehicles according to information on the registration. They are sent to city/town assessors who commit them to local tax collectors for distribution.

The excise tax rate is $25 per $1,000 of valuation (NADA) subject to the following percentage formula:

In the model year: 90%; second year: 60%; third year: 40%; fourth year: 25%; fifth year & beyond: 10%.

If you have turned in your plates on the vehicle you are getting excise taxed on, or if you have transferred plates and got rid of the vehicle, you may be eligible for abatement . Abatement instructions are located on your excise tax bill.

Stay Safe During Storms: Beware Power Lines!

This is the season when high winds, snow, rain and lightning can combine to wreak havoc in Massachusetts, especially if they cause trees to topple and electric lines to fall.

To stay safe, follow these safety rules:

  • Never assume that a downed line is a cable television or telephone wire. Assume every wire is dangerous – it could save your life!
  • Do not drive over downed power lines.
  • Do not touch downed power lines or use any object – including brooms, boards, limbs or plastic ot move them. Never step in water that is touching a downed wire. Never touch a person in contact with a power line or an object that’s touching the wires.
  • Do not touch a person who has been shocked by a power line.
  • Do not try to cut or remove a tree that is entangled with power lines
  • If you are involved in an accident that results in a power line touching your car, do not get out of your car unless it is on fire.
  • In case of a fire, jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Warn people to stay away from your car.
  • Do not approach a car that is touching power lines. Keep the victim in the vehicle and for emergency personnel to handle the situation.

MA Auto Insurance

Our independent, Massachusetts insurance agency received a call this morning from a woman shopping for MA auto insurance.

She presently has a policy with an online company that does not use independent insurance agents in Massachusetts. When the company entered the state a few years ago they offered her, what she thought was, a terrific rate.

Two years ago she was involved in a minor, single vehicle accident and surcharged 3 points on her Mass license.

We asked her about her accident and, after listening to the details, asked her if she had filed a state Surcharge Appeal form?

She had not, and said no one had ever explained the surcharge or appeal process to her.

We then rated her March renewal with 7 MA auto insurance companies and offered her the best premium we could find.

By the end of the conversation, we were able to save her over – $200 and, we believe, she is well on her way to winning her MA surcharge appeal!

Using a MA Independent Insurance Agent has it’s advantages!

Kids & Cars in Massachusetts

We’ve mentioned it before & I’m certain we’ll mention it again (because it’s worth mentioning):

Parents in Massachusetts, in order to best protect assets, should consider registering and insuring a vehicle in their child’s name.  In Massachusetts parents are provided 100% insulation from lawsuits arising from bodily injury or property damage claims.

Mass. MGL Chapter 231, section 85A: “If a car is registered to the child and the child gets into an accident causing personal injury and/or property damage, there is no reponsibility on the parent. It does not make any difference who bought the car or who pays for the insurance, or how old the child is so long as we are talking about negligence.”

On this basis it might make sense for parents to consider insuring a vehicle in their child’s name.