Massachusetts Independent Insurance Agents Archives - Page 3 of 14

To Gap or not to Gap, this is the question

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.

The difference is “the gap.” Gap insurance covers this amount …

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.

The difference is “the gap.”

Gap insurance covers this amount.

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.

Many companies allow Gap insurance to be added to the Massachusetts personal auto policy.

The cost for Gap insurance can range from between +$25 annually to +$120.

Sometimes Gap insurance coverage is included in lease agreements. If leasing, make certain Gap insurance is included.

Is Gap coverage a good idea? Depending on the gap … it might be a great idea.

Give us a call to find out more about Gap insurance on your MA auto policy.

MA Registry of Motor Vehicles 10 Point Promise

Secretary Davey said: “We have re-imagined the RMV and are prepared to deliver improvements in the short term and for the next generation of drivers. At the core of our ten point promise is the effort to diversify our service delivery channels.”

Over the years the Massachusetts RMV has taken quite a bit of heat. Most of it deservedly so, and some of it coming from this humble, MA Auto Insurance Web Log.

Although, as lines outside the door testify, the RMV is not perfect, over the past 20 years some things have improved.

Recently MA Department of Transportation Secretary & CEO, Richard Davey and Mass Registrar of Motor Vehicles, Celia Blue, offered a ten point promise to Massachusetts RMV customers which we find encouraging.

Registrar Blue added: “Our ten point promise is a commitment to our customers. It will serve as a roadmap on our way to delivering extraordinary
service.”

Encouraging you to make MassRMV.com your first stop every time – directing you to the most
efficient service and adding new transactions, no wait for 35+ transactions today at
MassRMV.com.
Growing our customer service representative team – backfilling and hiring to serve our branch
customers with the most complex transactions in a timely manner, exploring part-time
positions to reduce the lunchtime crunch time.
Professionalizing the frontline – Striving to deliver extraordinary customer service by
developing employee performance standards, incentive programs and designing uniforms.
Modernizing facilities & marrying transportation functions – improving existing facilities,
designing new branches, prioritizing proximity to transit services and adding E-ZPass service
centers.
Renewing your photo on your own – deploying FasTrack self-service kiosks to allow customers
in good standing to renew their license/ID on their own, leaving customer service reps to focus
on more complex transactions.
Meeting you where you are – continued pursuit and expansion of public private partnerships
with industry partners like AAA, dealerships, driving schools, health care providers and
insurance agents.
Giving you back your time – saving customers millions of minutes by offering call back service
and customer appointments at 857-DOT-8000.
Answering questions & resolving customer issues in new ways – introducing online live chat,
expanding our telephone self-service system at 857-DOT-8000.
Delivering real time wait times to meet your schedule – procuring a new queuing system to help
you manage your time and adding mobile app appointments.
Modernizing our licensing & registration system – implementing a 360 degree customer view
that will revolutionize how the public interacts with the RMV.

Where can you get a MA Auto Insurance Quote?

You can get Massachusetts auto insurance quotes just about anywhere these days.

You can pick up the telephone, you can stop by an office, or you can get on the computer.

The question then becomes: Who do you want to buy insurance from?

You can get Massachusetts auto insurance quotes just about anywhere these days.

You can pick up the telephone, you can stop by an office, or you can get on the computer.

The question then becomes: Who do you want to buy insurance from?

There are three choices:

Buy insurance through a “captive agent.” A captive agent sells insurance for only one company
Buy insurance through a “direct writer,” such as the Geico. Consumers that buy direct do not have an agent to shop, make recommendations, and advocate for them at claim time.
Buy insurance through an “independent agent!”

When you buy insurance through MassAutoQuote, you’re buying through a Massachusetts Independent Insurance Agent.

We are a pro-active independent agency with a sharp pencil. We shop our clients renewals and take advantage of different companies’ discount and insurance programs. Over the years we save our clients a ton of money.

We’ve put together our Top 10 list of why it is important to utilize a Massachusetts independent insurance agent when going through the very important insurance buying process.:

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

#1. Your Independent MA Insurance Agent makes house calls!

Call or click us for your free, no-obligation insurance quote.

You’ll be glad you did!

MA Independent Agent vs. Geico …

GEICO has funny commercials, a cute lizard, and they can, sometimes, have good rates.

From my independent, Massachusetts insurance agent perspective, however, that’s were the funny, cute, and good stuff ends …

GEICO has funny commercials, a cute lizard, and they can, sometimes, have good rates.

From my independent, Massachusetts insurance agent perspective, however, that’s were the funny, cute, and good stuff ends.

We have a long time client that was hit head on by a vehicle insured with GEICO.

The GEICO vehicle was at-fault, allegedly skidding on black ice (our insured thinks the person was texting).

GEICO appraised the vehicle (a 2005 Honda Accord LX with 141,000 miles) and deemed it to be a total loss.

The N.A.D.A. values for her vehicle are: $8,050 (retail) and $5,650 (trade).

GEICO offered her: $4,555 as settlement.

We had our client’s insurance carrier appraise the vehicle and they, in turn, offered her the full retail value: $8,050 (+ $503.12 … 6.25% sales tax).

We recommended our client accept her company’s offer and let GEICO know she has decided to go first party through her own insurance company.

As I hung up the phone with our client, I thanked her for insuring with us.

Her response was: “Always.”

Having an independent agent as your advocate, whether deciding on coverage that’s right for you, or at claim time, can really make a difference.

That’s my biased, independent Massachusetts agent position.

Call or click us today for your free, no obligation Massachusetts auto insurance quote.

You will be glad you did.

Stay Safe during Storms

Our Massachusetts Insurance Agency had lots of home and auto insurance claims this past week due to Saturday’s (9/6/2014) 30 minute lightning, wind and rain storm.

To stay safe, follow these safety rules …

Our Massachusetts Insurance Agency had lots of home and auto insurance claims this past week due to Saturday’s (9/6/2014) 30 minute lightning, wind and rain storm.

Unfortunately, this is the season when these types of storms can wreak havoc in our area, 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 to 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 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 wait for emergency personnel to handle the situation.

Stay safe Massachusetts!

FYI – Optimize your MA Auto Insurance Discounts!

If you insure your Massachusetts auto & home with the same independent agency you
ensure you get the best rates, coverage & discounts available …

If you insure your Massachusetts auto & home with the same independent agency you ensure you get the best rates, coverage, insurance programs & discounts available.

Because of the huge account discounts, there has never been a better time to consolidate your insurances.

Call or click us to discuss your Massachusetts auto & home insurance.

You’ll be glad you did!

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage is certainly worth having unless you drive a real clunker …

Massachusetts Auto Insurance Tip of the Day:

Your personal auto policy can include Collision Coverage for damage to your vehicle in a crash or by an upset, such as rolling over. Comprehensive Coverage protects against the hings that can happen to your car when you’re not in a crash, such as: broken glass, damage caused by flying or falling objects, fire, theft, vandalism, explosion or earthquake, windstorm, hail, water, or flood damage or riot, contact with bird or other animal.

Comprehensive coverage is certainly worth having unless you drive a real clunker. If your car has little value, it’s probably not even worth it to carry Collision or Comprehensive coverage, even though the premiums may be low.

You might be better off spending those insurance dollars on higher Liability limits.

Price is important but …

at what cost?
At point of claim does anyone care about how much their premium was?

at what cost?

At point of claim does anyone care about how much their premium was? Choosing the coverage that is right for you is most important. Your insurance company’s financial rating is also important. As well as the service you receive on a day to day, week to week, and yar to year basis.

Your independent, Massachusetts insurance agent looks for the best price for clients balanced with the best coverage with a financiallys stable, A rated insurance company.

The best price, no matter the premium, is always with your Massachusetts independent insurance agent!

Massachusetts Registration Fee Increase!

Did you know on July 1, 2014 the cost of your MA Registration will increase from $50 to $60?!

Did You Know?

On July 1, 2014 the base Passenger Registration Fee will increase from $50 to $60 for a two year registration.

If you’ve received your MA registration renewal form from the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles, if your renewal payment is mailed and postmarked before July 1st, you will pay $50 (plus applicable fees for special, vanity, reserved, or year of manufacture plates).

If your renewal payment is mailed and postmarked on or after July 1st, you will pay $60 for renewal.

If you need to contact the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, 1st of all: good luck. You can reach them by calling:

1-857-368-8000

or visiting them at:

MA Registry of Motor Vehicles

Online MA Auto Insurance Quotes

Recently the leading MA auto insurance comparative rating vendor, Boston Software, released a product that allows for real-time quotes from a small number of insurance companies, through independent insurance websites …

Since MassAutoQuote opened our internet doors in 2001 we have provided tens — if not hundreds — of thousands of auto insurance quotes to Massachusetts consumers.

For the past decade, while on top of search engine listings, we’ve been asking companies and vendors to allow us to quote MA auto insurance in a real-time environment.

We imagined a time when MA auto insurance consumers could get real-time, online quotes from multiple insurance companies. A place where shoppers could manipulate and research coverage, premium and discount options.

Recently the leading MA auto insurance comparative rating vendor, Boston Software, released a product that allows for real-time quotes from a number of insurance companies, through independent insurance agency websites.

What may seem like a small thing is, in my opinion, a big thing. I believe it is the tip of a very large insurance iceberg which will prove to be a great thing for the MA independent insurance agent, and an even greater thing for the MA auto insurance consumer!

Stay tuned …