As of July 1st, 2011 the Merit Rating Board is now a part of the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The Merit Rating Board maintains the operator driving records for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts which includes traffic law violations, at-fault and comprehensive insurance claim records and out-of-state driving records. The primary mission of the Merit Rating Board is “…to maintain and update individual driving records and to report this information to Massachusetts auto insurers and other government agencies involved in transportation and public safety.” In addition to those duties the Merit Rating Board is also responsible for the following:
- The administration of the Safe Driver Insurance Plan;
- Traffic Law Violations;
- At-Fault Auto Insurance Claims
- Policy Inquiries from Insurers
- Out-of-State Driving Records
- MRB Administrative Procedures
- The SDIP Computer Software
- Customers Inquiring About their Driving Record
- The MRC On-Line Service
The SDIP provides for the collection and exchange of private passenger motor vehicle insurance claims and traffic law violations as well as providing the point-based system on which a driver’s insurance premium is determined. The SDIP was established under Massachusetts law by Chapter 175, Section 113B. Agents interested in reading the regulations outlining the program can view them at 211 CMR 134.000 as well as to review a list of definitions used in the SDIP at 211 CMR 134.03.
Auto insurers looking to enter the Massachusetts automobile insurance marketplace, can download the Merit Rating Board’s Guide entitled “Instructions to Apply for Authority to Sell Private Passenger Automobile Insurance in Massachusetts” which gives step by step instructions on who to contact and what forms to fill out.
