gio

I didn't realize that's how it worked. The manual is pretty ambiguous. I already got a "freebie" ticket last year (speeding) but when I renewed my insurance this year I was still at step 9 (shouldn't I have gone to step 10?).

Right now, I am still at step 9, but I am facing *3* tickets that I got for a "dangerous lane change" (lane charge, no blinker, and tailgating). If I am found guilty of them all that would put me at... step 14 for the next 6 years? Man, that sucks. I am fighting them in court btw.

gio

It is not a good system. It was intended to prevent insurers from screwing over drivers but it doesn't seem to work that way. Most companies won't do business in MA because of the regulations. Even so, we still have tons of radio and TV ads for Geicko on local TV and radio (some advertiser messed up - they are wasting their money).

Despite the regulations, many companies still offered "safe driver" discounts which you could get if you were a reasonably safe driver.
There was a news feature last year on how all but one or two companies did away with these discounts. And in MA most people are reluctant to shop around for insurance because it previously never helped them with lower rates, but this news program was urging people to do so to encourage competition. Yes, MA, in general, sucks. That and Fleet coming and taking over all the banks. Ugh. Don't even get me started on the excise tax and poor road quality.

HobbitCar

Was your ticket in MA? If so, you should be at step 10, like me :-)
If not, then it may not have gone into the system. This has also happened to me, but I wasn't about to call and complain that my out-of-state ticket didn't raise my rates...

The really interesting thing is that, although the whole thing is regulated and these rules do apply, the insurance companies themselves do seem pretty haphazard about applying them. And I think the rules are confusing enough that a lot of the agents don't understand it. MA is all regulated, but I switched insurance companies 3 times in 3 years a while ago and got 3 different rates for the same coverage. Go figure.

Lexx

When you sign the ticket, I believe you are stating that you are guilty of the offense. Outlook=bad

gio

my rates this year were exactly the same as last year.

HobbitCar

Very good for you. You should be at step 10. Don't complain about it though :-)

TTP

but you don't admit to being 'guilty'.

BillK

Mine just went up around $80/6 months at renewal (State Farm)...

hschneTT

Its similar to eathquake insurance in CA, hurricane insurance in FLA, and hail damage insurance here in CO. At some point the insurers can't make money paying out more than they take in, whether its government mandated rates, required coverage or frequent natural disasters.

MA would not be the first state that mandated insurance coverage only to have it backfire by the insurers pulling out of the state.

Is this a new system, or has it been in place for a while?

Lexx

Maybe..but I think the chances of appealing it are slim to none