Is Your MA Auto Policy Cancelled?

Has your Massachusetts Auto Insurance policy been cancelled for non-payment?

If so, or if you have a poor driving record (at-fault accidents, moving violations, suspensions or revocations)  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.

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

Contact us or a local, independent Massachusetts insurance agent.

Massachusetts Insurance: Post Hurricane Sandy

Compared to damage done by Hurricane Sandy to New York and New Jersey, Massachusetts residents have been relatively lucky.

Commonwealth insurers have been, however, inundated with Hurricane related claims.

Thankfully there is coverage for things such as trees and tree limbs crashing through homes and other structures, wind pulling roofs off of structures and rain pouring in, damaging interiors and personal property.

Coverage, however, is subject to your policy’s deductible and this might include a special wind deductible.

Wind deductibles can range from between 1%, 2%, 5% or even 10% of your Coverage A, Dwelling, amount.

Contact your Massachusetts independent agent to find out if your policy has a wind deductible.

If you carry comprehensive coverage on your MA auto insurance policy then you have coverage for anything that might happen to your vehicle besides a collision. This includes falling objects, water damage, or scratches or dents done by wind-driven rain or objects.

 

Does My Car Have Hurricane Coverage?

The day after Hurricane Sandy, our independent Massachusetts Insurance Agency has received many phone calls asking:

“Do we have coverage?”

If your vehicle is insured in Massachusetts and you carry comprehensive coverage (Part 9 on the MA auto insurance policy) then: yes, your car has coverage for damage done to it by a hurricane.

Your MA comprehensive coverage provides coverage for things like: falling tree limbs, broken glass, water damage, dents from flying objects, subject to your vehicle’s deductible.

On the Massachusetts auto policy it is not very expensive to lower your comprehensive coverage deductible.

The lowest deductible comprehensive most companies offer is $300.

Call your friendly Massachusetts insurance agent, or call or click us to find out more details.

Are you paying too much for your MA auto insurance?

Now, more than ever, it is important to have a set of independent insurance agent eyes review your auto & home insurance policies.

Your Massachusetts Independent Insurance Agent will shop your insurance with multiple companies to ensure you are receiving the best rate, the best coverage, with the best company.

Massautoquote.com harnasses the power of the MA independent insurance agent.

To your insurance agent, you are more than just a number: you are a client!

Advantages of using a Massachusetts independent agent:

  • Licensed professional with strong customer and community ties.
  • Gives excellent service and competitive prices because your agent can access the insurance coverage from multiple companies.
  • Assists you when you have a claim.
  • Is your consultant, working with you as you determine your needs.
  • Offers you a choice of Massachusetts insurance plans and programs.
  • Is a value hunter who looks after your pocketbook in finding the best combination of price, coverage and service.
  • Offers one-stop shopping for a full range of products – Massachusetts home insurance, renters, Massachusetts car insurance, business, life and health.
  • Can periodically help you review your coverage to keep up with your changing insurance needs.
  • Treats you like a person, not just another number.
  • Customer satisfaction is the key to a Massachusetts independent agent’s livelihood. So, serving you is a very important concern.

Get a free, no obligation MA auto insurance quote from us today!

Please either submit a quote request online or give us a call at:  781-246-8699.

Massachusetts Auto Insurance Companies

As a consumer service, www.Massautoquote.com offers the following, partial listing of insurance companies that write Massachusetts auto insurance:

Amica
1-800-24-AMICA
P.O. Box 9128
Providence, RI 02940-9128

Arbella
1-800-972-5348
1100 Crown Colony Drive
P.O. Box 699103
Quincy, MA 02269-9103

Commerce
1-800-922-8276
211 Main Street
Webster, Massachusetts 01570

Electric
1-800-227-2757
75 Sam Fonzo Drive
Beverly, MA 01915

Encompass
1-866-760-6050
51 West Higgins Road
South Barrington, IL 60010

Hanover
1-800-922-8246
(Allmerica Financial)
440 Lincoln Street
Worcester, MA 01653-0002

Liberty Mutual
617-357-9500
175 Berkeley Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116

 

Metropolitan
1-800-422-4272
 PO Box 350
 Warwick, RI 02887

National Grange Mutual
1-800-258-5310
55 West Street
Keene, NH 03431

Norfolk & Dedham
1-800-688-1825
222 Ames Street
Dedham, MA 02026

 

781-332-7000
One Beacon Lane
Canton, MA 02021
 
Plymouth Rock
617-951-1620
695 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, MA  02111

Premier
1-800-222-4184
One Chestnut Place
10 Chestnut Street, Ste 300
Worcester, MA 01608

Quincy Mutual
617-472-8770
57 Washington Street
Quincy, MA 02169

Safety
1-800-951-2100
20 Custom House Street
Boston, MA 02110

State Farm
1-800-526-8210
1 State Farm Plaza
Bloomington, IL 61710

USAA
1-800-531-8080
PO Box 659464
San Antonio, TX 78265

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).

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.

Massachusetts Auto Insurance: Accident Forgiveness

 

The Massachusetts auto insurance market has long been neglected many of the discount and insurance programs consumers in other states have had.

Because Massachusetts auto insurance was highly state regulated many insurers left the state and some refused to enter the market.

In 2008 Massachusetts welcomed managed competition auto insurance and everything changed.

Now consumers can choose between many companies and rates can vary by hundreds of dollars.

Now, more than ever, MA auto insurance consumers should utilize the professional, discount shopping skills of the independent insurance agency.

One of the new programs many Massachusetts auto insurance companies now offer is: “Accident Forgiveness.”

Some companies make you buy it, some companies make you earn it.

Some companies will only include Accident Forgiveness if you have a perfect driving record, some will include it if you’ve had up to one previous accident.

Another MA company will give it to you only if you have a perfect driving record AND you’ve been insured with them for four years.

What is Accident Forgiveness?

Accident Forgiveness does not erase accidents already on your driving record. Instead, if you have the endorsement on your policy they will forgive future at-fault accidents.

Are all insurance companies’ Accident Forgiveness program the same?

No. Each company offers the program only to certain drivers. New drivers, or new insurers, or those with multiple accidents may not qualify.

Consumers placed with a company through the MAIP program may not qualify either. Check with your agent or company to see if you qualify.

Does Accident Forgiveness make sense for you?

Sometimes the Accident Forgiveness program is bundled with the “Disappearing Deductible” endorsement. Sometimes it makes financial & coverage sense to include the endorsement and increase your collision deductible.

Contact MassAutoQuote.com if you have any questions about Accident Forgiveness or concerns about your MA auto insurance policy.

We welcome the opportunity to review your insurance and offer different coverage and premium options.