New Drivers & the Junior Operator Law

New drivers in Massachusetts (or parents of a new, MA driver) should be familiar with the Massachusetts’ Junior Operator Law.

Some of these regulations include:

  • The Junior Operator may not operate a motor vehicle within the first six (6) months after receiving a Junior Operator’s License while any passenger under the age of 18 is in the vehicle (other than the Operator or an immediate family member/sibling), unless the Junior Operator is accompanied by a person who is at least 21 years old. This person who is at least 21 years old must have at least one year of driving experience, hold a valid driver’s license from Massachusetts or another state, and must occupy the seat beside the Junior Operator.
     
  • The Junior Operator may not operate a motor vehicle during the hours of 12:00 am (midnight) to 5:00 am unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Parents will want to talk with their new operators about the privilege, dangers & responsibilities of driving a motor vehicle. Practice with your new operator, buckle up & remember to drive safely!

Click here for a copy of the Massachusetts’ Junior Operator Law (pdf) brochure.

Disappearing Deductibles

Many insurance companies now offer some sort of “Disappearing Deductible” program.

Some companies make you qualify for their program with a perfect, or near-perfect, driving record.

Some companies charge for the endorsement, some include as part of a package endorsement.

Often, if you qualify for the program, it can make a lot of sense.

Vermont Mutual Insurance Company, for example, offers their “Advantage” endorsement for $49 per vehicle.

This endorsement, among other things, includes a “Disappearing Deductible” program. The program works like this: when you add the endorsement, Vermont Mutual will give you an automatic, year 1 credit of -$200 toward your Collision deductible.

If you have a $500 Collision deductible and you get in at-fault accident (or are the victim of a hit & run), then Vermont Mutual will apply the credit and, instead of the $500 deductible, a $300 deductible will apply.

If you carry a $1,000 Collision deductible, an $800 would apply.

Each year you go accident-free, an additional – $100 deductible will apply, up to a maximum of -$500 credit, after four years without an accident.

If you are able to choose a disappearing deductible program, we recommend you consider increasing your Collision deductible from $500 to $1,000.

The savings more than pays for the cost of the endorsement.

Please call or click us with any questions or to discuss your available options.

Advanced Driver Training

The number one killer of teens is automobile accidents.

Johnson & Rohan Insurance, promotes safe driving and recommends In Control Advanced Driver Training. 

Many companies offer an Advanced Driver Training discount, but one of our companies (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% discount on their auto insurance (Safe Roads Alliance).

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

Cancel Your Plates Online

Did you know the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles allows you to cancel your MA plates online?

In order to cancel your MA auto insurance, you must first cancel your registration.

You can either bring your plates to your local Registry of Motor Vehicles branch, mail or drop off the plates to us, or you can cancel them online at:

https://secure.rmv.state.ma.us/platereturn/intro.aspx

You can also find a convenient link on our Johnson & Rohan.com home page.

In order to cancel plates online the RMV requires:  an e-mail address, your plate type and plate number, your license number, and the last four digits of your social security number.

Once cancelled, please notify and provide us a copy of your Plate Return Receipt.

Accident Forgiveness

Many Massachusetts auto insurance companies now offer “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 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 M.A.I.P. 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 us at Johnson & Rohan Insurance if you have any questions or concerns about your MA auto insurance policy.

We will be happy to show you different coverage and premium options.

Kids & Cars in MA

Johnson & Rohan Insurance recommends that parents, in order to best protect assets, consider registering and insuring a vehicle in their child’s 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 for parents to consider insuring a vehicle in their child’s name.

Auto Insurance Discounts

Different auto insurance companies offer different discount programs. It’s important to know which company has the best discount program for you and your family.

Do you have anyone in your house that is newly licensed?

If so, different companies have different appetites (ie- better rates) for newly licensed drivers.

Is there anyone on the policy that is a full-time, good student (B or better average)?

If so, many companies have “good student” discounts.

Does your student go away to school?

If so, and if they leave their vehicle behind, there is an “away at school” discount that some MA auto insurance companies offer.

Do you own a home?

If so, there are terrific account discounts available.

Are you a safe driver?

Companies offer excellent safe driver (in MA, steps “99? & “98?) discounts and “accident forgiveness”: programs.

Are you a member of AAA?

Some companies offer a AAA, or other roadside assistance program, discount.

Did you, or anyone rated on your policy, complete a Crash Control Prevention course?

Johnson & Rohan Insurance recommends taking a Crash Control Prevention course. If insured with Safety Insurance, they will even supplement the cost of the course.

Spring is in the air …

& so are the new, 2012 Johnson & Rohan Spring Newsletters!

Articles include:

  • Replacement Cost vs. ACV
  • Money Saving Home Insurance Tips
  • MA Automobile Excise Tax Explanation
  • Personal Liability Umbrellas & Term Life Insurance

Look for your new, newsletter in your mailbox or online soon.

Also, Johnson & Rohan Insurance is on facebook. “Like Us” @: facebook

 

Substitute Transportation

Everything you wanted to know about your auto insurance Substitute Transportation coverage, but forgot to ask until after your auto accident …

  1. First question, always, is: “Do I have substitute transportation coverage?”
  2. The next question is: “How much coverage do I have?”
  • If you were not at fault in the accident & if the other party was at-fault & if they have insurance, then the other company is liable to put you in a rental vehicle whether you have Substitute Transportation Coverage on your policy or not.
  • Substitute Transportation Coverage starts at $15 per day/ $450 total for appx. $12 annually.
  • $30 per day/ $900 total costs appx. $52 annually.
  • You can usually get in an economy-type rental vehicle for appx. $25 per day.
  • If you rent a “substitute transportation” vehicle in the United States, Canada, and U.S. territories & possessions, your MA auto insurance coverage follows that rental vehicle. So, in other words, as long as your vehicle carries collision & comprehensive coverage (& adequate liability limits) then you do not need to purchase additional insurance from the rental car company.  

Bad Dog!

There are over 4.5 million dog bites each year. These dog bites account for almost 25% of annual homeowner insurance liability claims. If you are a dog owner who’s in the market for a homeowner insurance policy, you should know what you might be up against.

Certain breeds may exclude you from coverage in the voluntary market. These breeds include (but are not limited to): Akita, Cane Corso, Chow, Doberman, German Sheperd, Mastiff, Pit Bull, Ridgeback, Rottweiler, and Wolf Hybrid.

Any dog with a past history of biting will exclude the owner from voluntary market coverage.