MA Auto Insurance Driving Records

Massachusetts drivers may obtain official copies of their driving records from the Merit Rating Board (MRB). The MRB is the Massachusetts agency that maintains driving history records. The MRB receives and maintains information from insurance companies, police departments, and MA courts regarding at-fault accidents and motor vehicle traffic violations. You can receive a copy of your MA driving record by submitting a completed “Request for Detailed Driving History Record” form to the MRB. There’s a $15 fee to process your request. Learn more about the MRB by visiting: http://www.mass.gov/mrb or you can call them at: 617-351-4400.

Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles continues to embrace online technologies and services.

http://www.mass.gov/rmv

Some of the online transactions they offer are:

  • Change Your Address
  • Free FAST LANE sign up
  • License Inquiry
  • Permit Inquiry
  • Mass/Liquor ID Inquiry
  • Order Special Plates
  • Organ and Tissue Donor
  • Pay Citations (Tickets)
  • Registration Inquiry
  • Renew Your Driver’s License
  • Renew Your Mass ID
  • Renew Your Registration
  • Replace Your Driver’s License
  • Replace Your Mass ID
  • Request a Driving Record
  • Request a Duplicate Registration
  • Title/Lien Inquiry
  • Verify Your Driver’s Ed Certificate

MA Auto Insurance & Inspection Stickers

Recently a client asked if her auto insurance premium was going to go up for an “expired inspection sticker” ticket.

Sadly, the answer is: yes.

In Massachusetts, a citation 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.”

The ticket was for $40; her auto insurance will go up about 10% (appx. $60) over the next three years and diminish the following three.

She is going to appeal the ticket because it only expired as of March 1st.

She feels due to the harsh winter, the severeness of the insurance surcharge, the short amount of time from when it expired, and her fixed income, she should not have to pay.

We will let you know how she makes out.

Stay tuned …

In the meantime, take a look at your MASS Vehicle Inspection Sticker — Don’t let it lapse!

Click for: Massachusetts Vehicle Inspection Station Locations

MA Registry of Motor Vehicles Reminder Service

Re-rating a long time client’s auto insurance renewal, we noticed that his MA auto license had expired.

We notified the client, unknown to him, the Registry of Motor Vehicles no longer sends out expiration notifications.

Unsettling for our client & illegal, if pulled over, we are inspired to post the following link:

Did you know:   The Registry of Motor Vehicles offers a license renewal reminder service!

click to sign up for the reminder service:

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

New MA texting while driving laws:

  • Starting September 30th, it will be 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.

    • Wilmington, MA RMV office closed for 24 hours

    Wilmington, MA branch Registry of Motor Vehicles was closed from approximately 12:30 pm 9/27/2010 to almost 1:00 pm on 9/28/2010 due to a local power outage.

    This afternoon, this roving insurance agent found the Wilmington, MA RMV branch burdened with processing pile-ups & edgy MA auto insurance consumers.

    Luckily for the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles, the Wilmington branch employees are tremendous.

    These Registry employees fly in the face of the nationally stereo-typed DMV employees, as they are kind, generous, patient & nice!

    This has been a local, MA independent insurance agent update.

    Over & out.