Blog/News - Page 24 of 40 - Johnson and Rohan Insurance

Inspection Sticker Blues

Perhaps the cruelest of all surcharge points on the personal MA Auto Insurance Policy is the one for an ”expired inspection sticker” citation.

In Massachusetts, a ticket 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.”

A $40 ticket results increased insurance costs for 6 years! About 20% increase the first three years, diminshing the following three .

Check your MA Inspection Sticker: Don’t let it lapse!

Following please find a helpful, Mass Inspection Station locator link:

http://massvehiclecheck.state.ma.us/find_emissions_repair.php

Auto Insurance Flashback

We published the following article on April 21, 2008 and find it worth a re-print.

Geico entered the Massachusetts auto insurance market in May of 2009. They spent over a billion dollars on advertising in 2015 and they are a marketing force.

However, almost seven years after their Massachusetts auto insurance market launch, this independent insurance agent’s fear of the little green lizard is gone.

We compete against them and we’ve taken business from them.

Six year after the article, our belief still rings true:

“For now, it is up to the Independent Insurance Agent, to get the best rates for our clients, to package policies and to round accounts. It is time to save our clients money. It is time to advise and to advocate. It is time to demonstrate our value.”

Ma Auto Insurance & the little, green lizard

Boston, MA – 4/21/2008

Never in the history of the Massachusetts Professional, Independent Insurance Agent community, have five letters been so feared.

Not, “t-h-e-f-t.”

Not, “f-r-a-u-d.”

And no, not, “c-l-a-i-m.”

I am talking about “G-E-I-C-O.”

Not since my childhood Godzilla days, have I been so scared of a lizard.

For years they have advertised in our proud, Commonwealth and for years I have smugly told customers, “GEICO? They don’t even write insurance in Massachusetts!”

Nationally they don’t use Independent Agents, either.

They use call centers and service centers and they don’t write home insurance.

When you work with an Independent, Professional Insurance Agent you are working with someone who who has your best interest in mind. You are working with someone who will shop your insurance with many different companies to get you the best rate. You are working with someone who is your advocate at claim time. Who, at GEICO, works as your advocate? Who, at GEICO, sells multi-lines of insurance and shops your insurances with many different companies?

Like the chilly winds of our Massachusetts’ autums, it seems inevitable that GEICO is coming. When? I don’t know. 2009? 2010 at the latest, is my guess.

For now, it is up to the Independent Insurance Agent, to get the best rates for our clients, to package policies and to round accounts. It is time to save our clients money. It is time to advise and to advocate. It is time to demonstrate our value.

Registry Extends Renewal Date

If you have not received your December personal or commercial automobile registrations from the Registry of Motor Vehicles: fear not.

Due to a “mailing issue,” the RMV has announced they are still renewing registrations that expire in December.

The RMV has advised that although the majority of registration renewal applications for November and December registrations have been processed, customers should expect to receive their registration and decal by January 15, 2016.

The RMV has asked law enforcement to recognize a grace period (through January 15, 2016).

If you’re waiting past this date, give us a call to check on the status of your registration!

Happy New Year!

From our family to your family, we wish you the happiest of New Years!

Thank you for insuring with Johnson & Rohan Insurance.

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.

If your lucky enough to be in Florida during the winter months, and your Massachusetts home is unoccupied, we suggest you have a neighbor, or friend, check on your home every few days or so.

They should bring in mail and packages and make sure the home is safe, locked and secure.

They should also check the temperature of your home to help prevent frozen pipes.

Ideas to help prevent frozen pipes from happening:

Keep the house heated to a minimum of 65 degrees. The temperature inside the walls where the pipes are located is substantially colder than the walls themselves. A temperature lower than 65 degrees will not keep the pipes inside the walls from freezing.
Open hot & cold faucets enough to let them drip slowly. Keeping water moving within the pipes will prevent freezing.

If you do happen to have an insurance claim, here are some of our popular, after-hours claim numbers:

Claim reporting is available 24 hours per day/ 7 days per week. If you want to report a claim during off hours, have your policy number ready and call:

Premier/ Travelers: 1-877-425-2466

Safety Insurance: 1-866-906-5016

Vermont Mutual: 1-800-435-0397

MPIUA: 1-800-392-6108

Merry Christmas

Did you know there’s a huge spike in parking lot fender benders during the Holiday Season?

Makes sense, with the increased volumes at the shopping malls & grocery stores, & the hustle & bustle that comes with shopping.

Some tips:

With snow, ice & fogged windows, it is even more important to remember to take your time.
Warm up your car.
Turn off the radio & cell phone as you navigate in & out of parking lots & spaces.
Take a moment to smell the mistletoe. Remember: The Holiday Season is supposed to be fun & relaxing & a time to reconnect with family & friends.
Drive Safely!

From our family to your family: Merry Christmas, Happy New Year … and thank you for insuring with us.

Dangers of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is the most common cause of accidents.

The most common distraction is texting or looking at your cell phone.

The National Insurance Highway Institute describes 3 types of distractions:

Visual – taking your eyes off the road;
Manual – taking your hands off the wheel; and
Cognitive – taking your mind off what you’re doing.

In order to best avoid distractions: put away any device that might tempt you to stray away from the driving task at hand.

If you have kids in the car, make sure they are securely in their safety seats before departing.

If you have a long road trip in front of you, make sure you are well rested and alert.

Happy Thanksgiving

A special greeting of thanks

to express our appreciation for your confidence in us.

Johnson & Rohan Insurance is thankful for our clients.

From our family to your family: we wish you a happy and healthy
Thanksgiving Day.

Johnson & Rohan Insurance will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Friday 11/27/2015.

We will be open on Saturday, November 28th from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon.

Otherwise our regular office hours are Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Saturdays 9:00 am – 12:00 noon.

Always available by appointment.

Claim reporting is available 24 hours per day/ 7 days per week. If you want to report a claim during off hours, have your policy number ready and call:

Premier/ Travelers: 1-877-425-2466

Safety Insurance: 1-866-906-5016

Vermont Mutual: 1-800-435-0397

MPIUA: 1-800-392-6108

What To Do …if in an Auto Accident

Getting in an auto accident can be a very scary thing.

Johnson & Rohan Insurance has some suggestions …

What to Do if you get in an Accident:

Stop.
Be Courteous.
Stay Calm.
Your interest will be served best if you are courteous and engage in no controversy at the scene of the accident.
If there is significant damage to any of the vehicles or any potential injuries call 9-1-1 immediately.
Get the names of the owners and drivers involved.
Get license numbers, telephone numbers, and registration numbers.
Get the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of witnesses.
Express no opinion as to who was at fault.
Give no information except for as required by the authorities.
Do not sign any statements unless required by authorities.
For prompt claims call or e-mail Johnson & Rohan Insurance!

For more information about Johnson & Rohan Insurance services please give us a call or a click!

Term Life Insurance

Did you know we represent over 70 different life insurance carriers and that we’ll shop your needs with every one of them?

When you think insurance, think Johnson & Rohan insurance.

Don’t Forget to Bundle!

If you signed up for Massachusetts auto insurance with Johnson & Rohan Insurance, chances are, we saved you money.

We also probably improved your coverage.

Our job, as MA independent insurance agents, is to shop your coverage with multiple companies, make coverage recommendations, and help you if you ever have a billing question or claim problem.

We re-rate renewals and suggest coverage improvements, insurance or discount programs.

Some of the traditional Massachusetts automobile insurance discounts include:

Age 65 or Older, Passive Restraint, Annual Mileage discounts, Anti-theft, Multi-Car, Driver’s Education, Public Transit

Additional discounts may include:

Account discounts, Excellent driver & excellent driver plus discounts (99 & 98 drivers), Pay in full discounts, Hybrid vehicle discount, Advanced driver training discount, Alumni & professional group discounts, Good student discount (“B” or better), Student away at school discounts

Call or click us for your free MA auto insurance discount review!