Safe Driver Insurance Plan
The Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) is a program
created by state law that encourages safe driving
with lower premiums for drivers who do not cause
accidents or commit traffic violations and by ensuring
that high-risk drivers pay a greater share of insurance
costs. The SDIP premium adjustment is the last step
in your premium calculation, after
all rating factors and discounts have been applied.
New For 2006
Beginning with policies effective on or after January
1, 2006, the Massachusetts SDIP is converting from
a "step" to a "point" system.
This change will make the system of discounts and
surcharges easier to understand and comparable
to what is in place in other states. More importantly,
drivers in Massachusetts will have even greater
control over their premium through safe driving.
Your Driving Record Affects Your Rates
If you have at-fault accidents or commit traffic
violations, your driving record will accumulate
surcharge "points" depending on the nature
of the incient. You accumulate surcharge points
if you are responsible for an accident or commit
a traffic violation.
- Accidents - You receive surcharge
points if you are more than 50% at-fault for a
motor vehicle accident that results in damage to
property or bodily
injury of more than $500. If you disagree with
the determination that you are at fault for an
accident, you may appeal the surcharge to the Board
of Appeals.
- Traffic Violations - You also
receive surcharge points if you are convicted
of, or pay a fine for a traffic violation; or are
assigned to a drug or alcohol education program.
If you disagree with a traffic violation, you
must appeal it through the court system. Traffic
violations cannot be appealed to the Division
of Insurance Board of Appeals or the Merit Rating
Board.
Drivers with no at-fault accidents or moving violations
will have zero (0) surcharge points. Drivers with
at least 5 years of clean driving will receive considerable
discount.
No surcharge points will be assigned to any surchargeable
incident in the sixth (oldest) year of the policy
experience period.
The schedule
of surcharge points is as follows:
|
|
Surchargeable Incident |
Surcharge Points |
Major Traffic Violation
(i.e., D.U.I.)
Major At-Fault Accident (claim over $2,000)
Minor At-Fault Accident (claim over $500 to $2,000)
Minor Traffic Violation (i.e., speeding) |
5
4
3
2 |
No surcharge points are assigned to the first non-criminal
minor traffic violation in the 5 years immediately
preceding the effective date of your policy.
One significant change for 2006 is that at-fault
Bodily Injury Liability claims over $500 occurring
on or after January 1, 2006 will now be subject to
surcharge - even if there is no Property Damage Liability
(PDL) or Collision claim as a result of the incident.
As published by the Massachusetts Division of
Insurance in their Consumer Guide, "Ways to
save on your 2006 Automobile Insurance".
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