60-day extension now applies to both commercial and non-commercial vehicle inspections

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is implementing a 60-day extension to commercial vehicle inspections expiring in March and April. The RMV announced the 60-day extension for non-commercial vehicle inspections on March 20th. These initiatives recognize the importance of commercial vehicle drivers to the supply chain during the State of Emergency declaration, and will continue to prioritize reducing customer volumes in physical locations.

In an effort to help customers maintain proper social distancing, as today, March 26, the annual motor vehicle safety and emissions inspection expiration dates are being extended as follows:

• All commercial and non-commercial vehicle inspection stickers that expire on March 31, 2020 (designated by a number 3 on the inspection sticker) must be inspected by May 31, 2020.
• All commercial and non-commercial vehicle inspection stickers that expire on April 30, 2020 (designated by a number 4 on the inspection sticker) must be inspected by June 30, 2020.
• Commercial and non-commercial vehicles that are issued a failed inspection sticker (indicated by a sticker with a red or black letter ‘R’) that is due to expire in the month of March, 2020, must be re-inspected by May 31, and all vehicles issued a failed inspection sticker due to expire in the month of April, 2020, must be re-inspected by June 30. Additionally, the one free retest for these vehicles is also extended to May 31 or June 30 provided the retest is performed at the same inspection station that performed the initial inspection.
• Regardless of the date of inspection, vehicles issued a failed inspection sticker due to a safety defect (indicated by a sticker with a red letter ‘R’) are prohibited from operating until appropriate repairs have been completed.
• All motorcycle inspection stickers originally set to expire on May 31 must be inspected by June 30.

As a reminder, the RMV is also extending the time during which newly registered vehicles must be inspected, which is typically within seven days of the date of registration.

• Any newly registered commercial and non-commercial vehicle purchased between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2020 must be inspected by May 31.
• Any newly registered commercial and non-commercial vehicle purchased between April 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020 must be inspected by June 30.

Please share this information with colleagues, customers, and constituents.

Getting a homeowners insurance quote can only take a few minutes when you have all of your information at hand. Knowing the details of your house, including what kind of safety features you have installed, may help you qualify for money-saving discounts and help ensure that you choose the coverage that meets your needs.

There can be more questions involved in getting a homeowners quote than a car insurance quote, so it can be helpful to gather your paperwork and be ready to answer specific questions about your home in advance. Here’s a checklist to help you get started.

1. Who lives at your house? You may be asked for contact information about you and anyone else who lives at your house, how long you’ve lived there, your marital status, whether you run a business from the home and whether you own a dog or any pets.
2. What’s your insurance history? It’s good to be ready with details about your existing coverage, if your home is already covered by homeowners insurance. Do you have a mortgage on the home? Are there any prior insurance claims? How much would it cost you to rebuild your home?
3. What’s your house like? You’ll likely be asked a series of questions, including the year your house was built, the type and age of the roof, the style of the home, its exterior finish and whether or not you have a garage. You’ll also probably want to know the square footage of your home and may be asked for details on the number of bathrooms or fireplaces. This information helps determine the cost to rebuild your home and may help with determining the amount of coverage that fits your needs.
4. What improvements have you made? If you have made upgrades to your home since you bought it, such as replacing the roof, installing a central air system, finishing your basement, remodeling a kitchen or other updates that increase the value of your home, your existing homeowners policy may not reflect the current value and replacement cost of your home.
5. What kind of safety devices do you have? If you have certain safety devices, including smart or connected home technology, a security system or fire sprinklers, you may qualify for a discount on your insurance.

Having all of this information ready to go can make it easier for you to get a quote and can help you get coverage to protect you and your family that fits your needs.

Contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance for help getting coverage that meets your needs and budget.

The Massachusetts RMV is taking an important step following Governor Charlie Baker’s declaration of a State of Emergency the week of March 9th and to complement the work that has been underway for weeks across state government to keep residents safe and healthy.

Due to the recent activity surrounding COVID 19 (Corona Virus), the RMV is taking measures to reduce customer visits in our Service Centers and AAA offices. One of these actions includes extending the expiration date of certain credentials.

All Class D and Class DM driver’s licenses, ID cards, and Learner’s Permits that have expired or are expiring between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020, will have a 60-day extension applied to the current expiration date.

• This deadline extension will not apply to customers with Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) or those whose end of stay in the United States is the same as the expiration date on their driver’s license, ID card, or Learner’s Permit.
• The RMV will implement this 60-day extension to the current expiration date for Class D, Class DMs, ID cards, and Learner’s Permits within the RMV system the week of 3/16 – all people with expired/expiring credentials physically dated between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020, will have an active status within the RMV system with extended expiration date. For example, if the credential expires on April 15, 2020, the RMV system will extend the expiration to June 15, 2020 and display the same. The RMV is not providing updated credentials to reflect the extended date.
• This does not apply to vehicle registrations at this time. Most vehicle registrations can be renewed online at Mass.Gov/RMV.

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Maybe you bought your home decades ago and the balance on your home loan is getting close to zero. Once you've made your last payment, your mortgage lender will no longer have any say in whether you carry insurance. But, consider the fact that you've spent years investing in your home and building equity and should a loss occur, you will want to have the protection of insurance for that investment. Your home is your safe haven, the place where you raise your family and create memories that last a lifetime. Homeowners insurance can help protect that investment well into the future.

What Will Happen If My Home Is Damaged and I Don't Have Homeowners Insurance?

If your home or property is damaged by a fire, windstorm or another covered event, your homeowners insurance can help pay for the necessary repairs. But if damage occurs to your home and you don’t have homeowners insurance, you may have to pay out of pocket for repairs or find other resources to help rebuild your home. In a worst-case scenario, you could lose your entire investment. Keeping your homeowners insurance in good standing is a good way to ensure you’ll be able to cover the costs to repair and/or replace your home and belongings if they are damaged by a covered loss.

Learn more about homeowners insurance, or if you want a comparison quote, contact Lallis & HIggins Insurance.

The amount of homeowners insurance you may need depends on the value of your home and your possessions. First, talk to your agent about a recommended dollar amount that will cover the value of the structure of your home, but also crunch the numbers to determine how much it would cost to rebuild in your area.

Next take an inventory of your belongings to see if their value falls within the policy dollar limit for personal property, typically set at 50% to 70% of the amount of insurance on the dwelling. Consider getting Replacement Cost overage, which can pay the amount needed to replace your items, rather than Actual Cash Value coverage. Think about how much Additional Living Expenses coverage you'd need if you were displaced from your home for an extended period. And finally, decide on the amount of liability coverage you need. The Insurance Information Institute (III) recommends you buy enough to cover your assets, or at least $300,000 to $500,000 worth of coverage for the average homeowner.

Keep in mind that many insurance carriers offer discounts if you bundle multiple policies, install smart home technology or have a ‘green’ home. Check with your carrier or insurance agent to learn about ways you can potentially save on your homeowners insurance.

When Do I Need to Get Homeowners Insurance?

It's a good idea to start shopping for homeowners insurance as soon as you sign a contract to buy a home. This allows you to shop around for quotes and gives you time to get your policy in place before closing on the purchase. Typically, you will have a month or more between the time you sign a contract and the day you close on your new home. Do you need to have homeowners insurance before closing? Yes, you'll typically need to prove at closing that you've paid the first full year of premiums on your homeowners insurance.

How Long Does It Take to Get Homeowners Insurance?

If you are buying homeowners insurance for the first time, you probably wonder about the timeline for getting covered. The good news is that getting a homeowners insurance quote typically takes just a few minutes. If you decide to move forward and you're in a hurry, you may be able to get a homeowners insurance policy in a few hours depending on the type of property you are looking to insure. Otherwise, it typically takes one to three days to get homeowners insurance.

Lallis & Higgins Insurance allows you to customize your coverage to fit your unique needs. We'll help you understand the risks you face and get the coverage to help prepare you for the unexpected. Contact us. 

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