Advanced Driver Training

Johnson & Rohan recommends Advanced Driver Training.

As a parent, one of our biggest worries is when our teen driver gets their license.

In Control – is a program that puts drivers in controlled, high risk driving situations, designed to significantly reduce the risks associated with being a new driver.

In Control offers a half-day hands-on course developed by professionally trained race car drivers who also train police, firefighters, and emergency response drivers.

Drivers learn: how to control skids, how to effectively use ABS brakes, dangers of tailgating, problems with backing up, how to manage emergency lane changes, and the effects of speed on driving control.

In Control offers a 10% discount to Johnson & Rohan clients. The present cost of the program is about $300 per student with additional family members costing about $200.

In addition, Safety Insurance offers this program to our clients for $75.

They also provide a 5% discount on auto insurance for drivers that have completed the course!

We are excited about this program, the skills that it teaches, and the insurance discount it provides. Reviews of the program have been excellent.

Please call or click us to learn more.

Auto Policy: Uninsured & Underinsured Protection

Sometimes overlooked on the MA auto policy are Parts 3 & 12, Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage.

These limits are important. So important, we recommend coverage be equal to your Part 5, Bodily Injury to Others coverage, which should be, at least: $100,000 per person/ $300,000 per accident. 

Uninsured & Underinsured coverage protects you and occupants from other drivers. It can pay for things like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Coverage also extends to you if you’re in someone else’s vehicle or if you’re struck by another vehicle as a pedestrian.

The cost to increase Parts 3 & 12 from state-minimum, $20,000 per person/ $40,000 per accident limits to $100,000 per person/ $300,000 per accident is relatively inexpensive. Depending on a number of factors, the annual cost is about $30.

Don’t overlook your Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist coverage limits.

Call or click us if you would like to discuss.

Kids & Cars

If you are a parent buying a car for your child, in order to best protect your assets, we recommend you consider registering and insuring the vehicle in his or her 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 to consider registering and insuring the vehicle in your child’s name.

Please call if you would like to discuss.

MA Junior Operator License Restrictions

Any motor vehicle operator or motorcyclist between the ages of 16 1/2 and 18 is considered a Junior Operator. The Junior Operator Law has several requirements and restrictions that significantly affect the operation of a motor vehicle by a person who has a Junior Operator’s License (JOL). The basic purpose of the law is to provide new drivers supervised opportunities in which to develop good driving skills, while keeping those drivers free of the possible distractions caused by friends under age 18 who are present while the drivers are behind the wheel.

Following, from the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles Driver’s Manual, we offer Massachusetts Junior Operator License Restrictions:

  • You may not operate a motor vehicle within the first six months after receiving your JOL while any person under age 18 is in the vehicle (other than you or an immediate family member), unless you are accompanied by a person who is at least 21 years old, has at least one year of driving experience, holds a valid driver’s license form Massachusetts or another state and is occupying a seat beside you.

General Rule: The passenger restriction that applies to the Junior Operator (Under age 18) is lifted once the Junior Operator completes the six-month period or you reach age 18, whichever occurs first.

The six-month passenger restriction period will stop running, temporarily, during any suspension. When your JOL is reinstated, you will still have to complete the remainder of the six-month restriction period that existed at the beginning of the suspension period, unless you have already turned 18.

  • As the holder of a Junior Operator License (JOL), you may not operate a motor vehicle between 12:30 a.m and 5:00 a.m. unless you are accompanied by one of your parents or your legal guardian. If you are found operating a motor vehicle in violation of this restriction, you may be charged with operating a motor vehicle without being licensed. This is a criminal violation. 
  • If you violate the passenger restiction or the night restriction, you will be subject to a license suspension of 60 dyas for a first offense, 180 days for a second offense, and one year for subsequent offenses. For a second or subsequent offense, you will also be required to complete a Driver Attitudinal Retraining course. The law requires the Registrar to impose this suspension in addition to any other penalty, fine, suspension, revocation, or requirement that may be imposed in connection with a violation committed at the time you were violating the passenger or night restriction. 
  • You may not operate a motor vehicle that requires a commercial driver’s license (CDL). 
  • You will be suspended for one year if you are udner 18 when you have committed certain driving offenses and alcolhol or drugs were involved (180 days if age 18 to 21), in addition to any penalty assessed by a court or other law. 
  • You will be ineligible for a full license until you have completed the period of suspension imposed while operating with a JOL and you reach age 18. 
  • You will face additional suspension periods of one year for a first drag racing offense and three years for a subsequent offense, you will be suspended for one year.

Mud Season

It’s that awkward time of year in New England known as: Mud Season.

Mud season occurs when the ground freezes and, as snow melts in the spring, the ground thaws and roads, paths and hiking trails become muddy. 

As the snow melts the frozen lower layers of ground prevents water from percolating into the soil, so the surface layers become saturated with water and turn to mud.

It can be a dangerous time to drive or ride your bike as roads, paths, and hiking trails develop ruts, pot holes, and giant puddles.

Clothing becomes etched with drops of muddy spray.

Although a messy time of year, it is a quiet interlude in many New England towns between the tourist seasons of summer, fall, and winter.

It is also a reminder that warmer days are ahead!

March is Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Month

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish …

This morning my kids went off to school humming Dr. Seuss songs.

Today is their annual Read Across America Day.

They start off the day with student assembly and, throughout the day, readers from across the community will come into the classrooms and read to the kids.

What a great day to be a kid!

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish …

This morning my kids went off to school humming Dr. Seuss songs.

Today is their annual Read Across America Day.

They start off the day with student assembly and, throughout the day, readers from across the community will come into the classrooms and read to the kids.

What a great day to be a kid!

MA Costly Homeowner Insurance Mistakes:

A recent article by Forbes identifies 4 common, costly homeowner insurance mistakes to avoid:

Mistake No. 1: Underinsuring your house

Mistake No. 2: Assuming you have flood insurance

Mistake No. 3: Thinking you have one, flat deductible

Mistake No. 4: Believing you’re covered for mold or sewage backup

Call, click, e-mail or stop by to review your home insurance coverage.

Forbes: Costly homeowners insurance mistakes to avoid

A recent article by Forbes identifies 4 common, costly homeowner insurance mistakes to avoid:

Mistake No. 1: Underinsuring your house

Mistake No. 2: Assuming you have flood insurance

Mistake No. 3: Thinking you have one, flat deductible

Mistake No. 4: Believing you’re covered for mold or sewage backup

Call, click, e-mail or stop by to review your home insurance coverage.

Forbes: Costly homeowners insurance mistakes to avoid

The Lemon Law

 

According to the official website of Massachusetts, Mass.gov, their most requested topic of information on the internet is: The Massachusetts Lemon Law.
 
The Lemon Law allows MA consumers to void a vehicle sale if the vehicle fails to pass inspection within 7 days from the date of sale AND if the costs of repairs of emissions or safety related defects exceed 10% of the purchase price.
 
For additional details & forms, please visit:
 
The Massachusetts Lemon Law

MA Vehicle Excise Tax

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

Excise bills are prepared by the RMV 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.

Blizzard Safety Tips

The Blizzard of ’13 is bearing down on us, Johnson & Rohan Insurance offers some safety tips:

  • Check your supplies.
  • Make sure you have a snow shovel and ice melt to keep walkways clear and safe.
  • Check that you have sufficient heating fuel for your home and fuel for your generator, if you have one.
  • If you will be using a fireplace or wood-burning stove, you should have a good supply of dry, seasoned wood.
  • Have warm clothing and blankets on hand and stock non-perishable food items and necessary medications to last you and your family several days.
  • Get ready for a power outage. Turn your heat up now and close off any rooms that are not in use.
  • Check pipe insulation and allow water to run at a trickle to prevent pipes from freezing.
  • Charge your battery-powered electronic and communications devices.
  • Get out your flashlights, batteries, first aid kit and other emergency supplies.
  • Don’t drive or go out unless absolutely necessary.
  • Test all of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they work properly.
  • Do not let candles burn unattended, and keep them away from combustibles.
  • Check on your elderly or disabled neighbors, friends and families.
  • Enjoy your family! Sometimes storms render the best family time memories.

Johnson & Rohan Insurance hopes everyone has a warm and safe Blizzard of ’13.

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

You can also report online:

Auto Claim Commercial Claim
Home Claim Other Claim
Johnson & Rohan