What's New In Personal Lines


Automobile Facts
• Husband and Wife have been replaced with "lawfully married individuals."
• Motorcycles are now rated by driving experience. Experience will be calculated by the date their motorcycle license was first received. Motorcycle permits will be rated as an inexperienced operator.
• A new Massachusetts driver must provide evidence of licensure from the state or country where the operator was previously licensed in order to assign the correct operator classification. If no evidence is provided, the operator will be assigned an inexperienced class.

In 2006 Massachusetts Personal Automobile driving records changed from the current Safe Driver Insurance Plan to a Merit Rating Band. This plan assigns drivers to a Merit Rating Band based on the number of incidents in the past 5 years.

a. Merit Rating Band 1: 0 accidents or violations in the past 5 years
b. Merit Rating Band 2: 1 - 3 accidents or violations in the past 5 years
c. Merit Rating Band 3: 4 - 7 accidents or violations in past 5 years
d. Merit Rating Band 4: 8 - 9 accidents or violations in the past 5 years

This was developed to increase fairness among drivers based on accident and violation history, improve customer understanding, and provide financial incentives to drive safely.