Tips to Save Money

1) Drive Safely! First and foremost, Massachusetts credits good drivers! The best automobile drivers in Massachusetts get the best rates …

1.) Drive Safely!
First and foremost, Massachusetts credits good drivers! The best automobile drivers in Massachusetts get the best rates. If you have been licensed over 6 years and have had no moving violations (speeding tickets etc), no at-fault accidents, no revocations or suspensions then you are a 99 driver (Class 10). The next best drivers are the 98. From here driving records go from 0 (neutral/ number of points that new drivers are given) to 45. Points are given out for moving violations and at-faults accidents. 0 points for a first moving violation (although you lose your credit points – so, in fact you lose two “credits”), two points for each consecutive violation. A “minor” at-fault accident (less than $2,000 combined damage) is a 3 point surcharge and a “major” accident is 4 points. Call or e-mail us if you would like to review your driving record.
2.) Take advantage of applicable discounts!
Here are some of the automobile discounts presently offered in the state of Massachusetts:Age 65 or Older – A 25% discount for all coverage items will be applied after all other discounts and rating factors, but prior to the application of the SDIP rating step.

Passive Restraint discount – A 25% discount applied to the premium paid for Parts 2,3,6 and 12 is available if your auto is equipped with an air bag or automatic seat belts.

Annual Mileage discounts – A 10% discount applied to the premium paid for Parts 1-8 and Part 12 is available if your estimated annual mileage falls between 0 and 5,000 miles. A 5% discount is available if your estimated annual mileage falls between 5,000 and 7,500 miles.

Anti-theft discounts – Up to 35% of the premium paid for Part 9 (Comprehensive) are available for automobiles with various types of qualifying anti-theft devices. Many glass companies offer complimentary “window etching” which will qualify you for a 15% anti-theft discount, in lieu of any other device.

Multi-Car discounts – Available if an individual or married couple own two or more autos insured by the same company and there are no inexperienced operators.

Driver’s Education discount – A 10% discount applied to the premium for Parts 1,2,4,5, and 7 is available for the first 3 years after an inexperienced driver has completed an approved training course.

Public Transit discount – A 10% public transit discount is applied to the premium paid for Parts 4 and 7 (up to a maximum of $75 per eligible vehicles). This discount is available if you provide your insurer with evidence of purchase of 11 months of commuter passes from qualified transit systems and if you do not drive your auto to work or school more than 10 days per month.
3.) Shop Around!
Johnson & Rohan Insurance rates your auto insurance with 7 companies and even more home insurance companies. We will find you the best combination of price, coverage, service and discount programs. We will work with you to determine your insurance needs and the best product for you. We will assist you with claim or billing questions, and help you with other lines of insurance including: homeowner, apartment, condominium, business, life and health insurance. Call or click us for your free, no obligation insurance review.

Registry of Motor Vehicles Online Services

Save yourself long, frustrating waits, The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles now has many transactions you can now process online …

Mass RMV Online Services

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles has a bad reputation with many consumers. Long waits, frustrating visits, and poor treatment have resulted in the RMV having this negative stereotype.

Now many transactions can be processed online, from the comfort of your own computer.

License/ID

Advanced Driver Training

Many companies offer an Advanced Driver Training discount, one company in particular (Safety Insurance) supplements the cost of the class. Instead of paying the standard rate of $299, Safety Insurance clients pay only $75 …

Johnson & Rohan Insurance

The number one killer of teens is automobile accidents.

Johnson & Rohan Insurance recommends In Control Advanced Driver Training.

Many companies offer an Advanced Driver Training discount, one company in particular (Safety Insurance) supplements the cost of the class. Instead of paying the standard rate of $299, Safety Insurance clients pay only $75.

In addition, clients receive a 5% policy discount on their auto insurance (Safe Roads Alliance). A “policy” discount can be huge because it applies to the entire policy and not just the vehicle the driver is rated on. So, in other words, if you have 3 vehicles on the policy all the vehicles receive the discount.

In Control is a non-profit organization filed as a 501(c)(3) and offers the nation’s first state certified crash prevention training to drivers of all ages. This closed course, hands-on education was adapted from existing law enforcement training in the United States as well as European instruction that led to a societal shift in attitudes toward driving in many countries.  

In Control has trained nearly 25,000 students and receives endless praise from graduates, parents, schools, police departments, insurance companies, legislators and community groups all over New England.   Most graduates enjoy insurance discounts and the peace of mind knowing that they have been trained for emergency situations.  Third party research has found a 70% reduction in crashes for new driver graduates of our training and similar results for experienced drivers trained through our commercial programs.

While focused on training New England drivers of all ages, In Control has traveled the United States providing training, consulting and products to keep people safe from the most dangerous thing we do.

Call, click, or stop by to find out more about Advanced Driver Training and other Massachusetts auto insurance discount programs.

Happy Holidays!

Johnson & Rohan Insurance wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

RFK2

In the summer of 1966 my aunts, Kathy and Margaret Johnson found themselves at the Washington DC train station.

Robert Kennedy walked by and took a moment to say hello to the group of handicapped children.

We share this picture during this holiday season to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

-Robert F. Kennedy

Discount Double Check

When you signed up with Johnson & Rohan for insurance, chances are we saved you money …

When Johnson & Rohan Insurance signed you up, chances are we saved you money.

In addition we probably improved your coverage.

Our job, as your Independent Insurance Agent, is to shop your policies with different companies, make coverage recommendations, and to be here if you ever have a billing or claim question.

We re-rate renewals and often suggest coverage improvements or new discount programs.

Some of the traditional Massachusetts automobile insurance discounts:

Age 65 or Older – A 25% discount for all coverage items will be applied after all other discounts and rating factors, but prior to the application of the SDIP rating step.

Passive Restraint discount– A 25% discount applied to the premium paid for Parts 2,3,6 and 12 is available if your auto is equipped with an air bag or automatic seat belts.

Annual Mileage discounts – A 10% discount applied to the premium paid for Parts 1-8 and Part 12 is available if your estimated annual mileage falls between 0 and 5,000 miles. A 5% discount is available if your estimated annual mileage falls between 5,000 and 7,500 miles.

Anti-theft discounts – Up to 35% of the premium paid for Part 9 (Comprehensive) are available for automobiles with various types of qualifying anti-theft devices. Many glass companies offer complimentary “window etching” which will qualify you for a 15% anti-theft discount, in lieu of any other device.

Multi-Car discounts – Available if an individual or married couple own two or more autos insured by the same company and there are no inexperienced operators.

Driver’s Education discount – A 10% discount applied to the premium for Parts 1,2,4,5, and 7 is available for the first 3 years after an inexperienced driver has completed an approved training course.

Public Transit discount – A 10% public transit discount is applied to the premium paid for Parts 4 and 7 (up to a maximum of $75 per eligible vehicles). This discount is available if you provide your insurer with evidence of purchase of 11 months of commuter passes from qualified transit systems and if you do not drive your auto to work or school more than 10 days per month.

Additional Massachusetts auto insurance discounts may include:

  • Account discount on your auto if you have a home, apartment or condominium policy with the same company.
  • 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 discount.
  • Multi-vehicle policy & multi-car discounts.

Call or click us for your insurance discount review!

Happy Thanksgiving

From all of us at Johnson & Rohan Insurance: Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is our very favorite holiday.

Family, friends, no work, no gifts, and no pressure except for the pressure on our waistlines after second helpings.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on the things we are thankful for: family, friends, our homes, and the quality of life and opportunity afforded by living in our great Country.

We are thankful for having our own independent, insurance Agency and we are thankful for our clients.

We say it often, and we mean it:

Thank you for insuring with us.

From all of us at Johnson & Rohan Insurance:  Happy Thanksgiving!

Our office will be closed on Thursday, November 28th, Thanksgiving Day and we will be re-open on Friday, November 29th at 9:00 am.

Protect Your Property From Ice Dam Water Damage!

Claims are no fun. Vermont Mutual Insurance Company released a helpful advisory to help Massachusetts homeowners Protect Your Property From Ice Dam Water Damage …

Prevent Ice Dam Water Damage

Claims are no fun.

Vermont Mutual Insurance Company released a helpful advisory to help Massachusetts homeowners Protect Your Property From Ice Dam Water Damage:

One of the most common and repetitive causes of property damage to building interiors is water damage resulting from the formation of ice dams on roofs. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents the water produced by melting snow from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home causing damage to walls, ceilings, and insulation.

While ice dams can develop as a result of multiple factors, the most fundamental causes are:

  • Heat leakage from the interior of the building into attic or loft areas that warms the middle and upper areas of roof decks (see causes of heat leakage below).
  • Snow accumulation on the roof surface which provides the potential for snow melt and re-freezing in the form of an ice dam. This problem can be amplified by lower pitched roofs.
  • Sustained exterior temperatures below 32 degrees which creates conditions under which snow melt water will re-freeze at the eave level of the roof.

Heat leakage can result from any number of factors common to residential properties:

  • An insufficient layer of insulation in the ceiling assembly below the attic or loft area as well as uninsulated or poorly insulated exterior walls.
  • Impoperly insultated recessed ceiling lighting fixtures.
  • Improperly sealed and insulated ventilation fans, heating and air conditioning ducts and plumbing vent stacks.

Strategies for avoiding water damage from ice dams take two forms; those that are intended to prevent the formation of ice dams and those that are designed to provide a reliable means for roof surface snow melt water to drain off the roof to prevent water accumulation behind the ice dam.

Prevent the Formation of Ice Dams

  • Provide soffit and ridge ventilation to create and sustain a flow of cold air along the bottom surface of the roof deck.
  • Increase the thickness of insulation in the ceiiling assembly below the attic or loft area.

Leaf Raking Tips

Raking leaves. Love it or leave it, there’s work to be done. Use raking leaves as an opportunity to get some fresh air and get a great workout …

Raking Leaves can be great exercise!

Raking leaves. Love it or leave it, there’s work to be done. Use raking leaves as an opportunity to get some fresh air and get a great workout!

Raking leaves can help build arm, upper-body, and core strength including stomach and back muscles. It can also give you a nice cardio workout, as well.

Dress in layers. By dressing in layers you can peel off layers as your body heats up.

Stay balanced. Stand with your legs apart and form a wide base. Move your entire body while raking as opposed to twisting your spine. Keep your back aligned and comfortable. Try to stand as straight as possible.

Switch sides. Try switching the sides you are raking on. This works out all your muscles as opposed to straining just one side. It also distributes the strain on your arms and shoulders evenly on both sides.

Take it easy. Don’t over do it.Take your time. Take breaks and drink lots of water. Don’t try to rake the whole yard at once.

Don’t lift with your back when bagging leaves. Use your legs and don’t over overfill your bags.

Happy Halloween!

Kids Safety Tips to keep Halloween happy:

Avoid masks that obstruct vision, particularly the periphery. Face paint or make-up is a better option than restrictive masks.
Avoid baggy costumes …

Happy Halloween!

Kids Safety Tips to keep Halloween Happy: 

  • Avoid masks that obstruct vision, particularly the periphery.  Face paint or make-up is a better option than restrictive masks.
  • Avoid baggy costumes. Kids can trip on baggy costumes.  
  • Use hypo-allergenic make-up. Make up runs, so bring a cloth when trick-or-treating to wipe any make-up that gets near the eye.
  • Carry a flashlight at all times.  Once the sun goes down, keep it on.
  • Don’t use any sharp props with a costume.
  • Use reflective tape.  It helps others see trick-or-treaters.
  • Be careful of candles used in pumpkins or other decorations.
  • Don’t eat too much candy! 

Happy Halloween from your friends at Johnson & Rohan Insurance.

Accident Forgiveness

Many insurance companies in Massachusetts now offer versions of Accident Forgiveness & Disappearing Deductibles.

accident forgiveness

Many insurance companies in Massachusetts now offer versions of Accident Forgiveness & Disappearing Deductibles.

Some companies make you earn it, some companies make you qualify for it, and then allow you to buy it.

Often it makes sense for the MA auto insurance consumer to increase the vehicle’s collision deductible & purchase the endorsement. By doing so, it is possible to improve coverage & save money.

Call or click us for your annual auto insurance review.