There are many aspects of the livery industry that are completely unique and unlike other businesses which incorporate commercial vehicles. One factor in particular is your workforce.

Many livery businesses operate by using “independent contractors”. Although you can secure commercial auto or workers compensation coverage through a number of agencies, are you confident in their ability to determine what coverages you and your independent contractors require and need from your insurance program?

Because of their “independence”, most for-hire chauffeurs and drivers find themselves without the proper insurance coverage. In Massachusetts, the attorney general has alerted businesses to the law which establishes when the business is responsible for obtaining workers comp coverage for any independent contractor or “sole proprietors” in which they use.

Without the proper coverage in place for those ‘independent contractors ‘ that meet the rules for coverage, you could find yourself paying, from your own pocket, their lost wages from their regular daytime job and their limo nighttime and weekend work as well as their medical and rehabilitation costs.

In a recent blog post, which highlighted some of the country’s high-risk jobs, livery drivers were found to be among the riskiest, in regards to accident and injury while on the job. According to the article, public taxi and limousine drivers have a higher risk of injury than any other commercial drivers—this can be the result of automobile collision, lifting luggage or other objects in and out of the trunk or vehicle malfunctions.

By securing a Massachusetts workers compensation policy, you can help safeguard your assets and protect your livery business by providing protection from:

Medical expenses
Lost income/wages
Rehabilitation costs
Death benefits
And more…
Interested in learning more about the livery insurance coverages designed to protect your business? At Wolpert Insurance, we are experts when it comes to limo insurance. We are ready to work with you to secure you the specialized protection you need, at the most competitive rate. From workers compensation to liability insurance, rest easy that your vehicle, the driver and its passengers will be safe and secure.

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At Wolpert Insurance, our goal is to provide the livery market with protection they can trust. As specialists in limo and group auto coverage, we can configure an exceptionally competitive insurance program for those in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire & Maine.

Do you know what to do if one or multiple vehicles that you own are caught in accident? According to the Amesbury News, there are some rules and regulations to follow if your driver does experience a disaster while driving on the road.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles has recorded that more than 140,000 crashes occur annually in Massachusetts, and only about 300 are filed to the State. This proves that a crash can happen anywhere and at any time. This is why the police stress the importance of wearing safety belts. In addition, while taking precautions to prevent a crash, you should also know what to do afterwards:

Leaving the scene is criminal

If one of your livery operators is involved in a crash, regardless of how serious, they should not leave. Leaving the scene can result in a criminal summons to court and significant penalties if convicted. You are required to exchange your name, address, license, and insurance information with the other party involved. If you hit a parked car, you must make an effort to locate the owner. The best practice to follow is to contact police and the officers will assist with the exchange of paperwork and answer questions you may have.

Mandatory paperwork

When the damage in a crash exceeds $1000 or there is an injury or fatality, you must file a State Crash Report within 5 days. The crash report form is on the Registry of Motor Vehicles website. A copy must be submitted to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, one is sent to the police agency with jurisdiction and your insurance company will need one too. You’ll be asked to provide information about you, your vehicle and the others involved. You’ll also be asked to draw a diagram of the crash and write a few sentences describing what happened.

If your vehicles are involved in an accident, it is important to alert your coverage provider immediately. In addition, being in a unique industry requires a specialized policy, which is why we offer livery insurance, and strive to work with commercial livery companies that know and value the business.

With the Livery Exchange Program, your auto insurance coverage protects your fleet of your limos, taxis, and more. We cover important livery components such as safety and loss control services or physical damage on rented autos. In addition, our group auto insurance helps cover many people at a time and many vehicles. Are you interested in our customizable options? Contact the Wolpert Insurance team today and learn how you can secure comprehensive coverage solutions for your livery fleet!

Do you own a taxi cab? Manage a fleet of limousines? Well, there are a few considerations one must be aware of before launching your livery business—and that begins with knowing the difference between the various commercial passenger vehicles.

The Taxicab

A taxicab, quite simply, is a car fitted with a taximeter and traditionally is hired, along with the driver, to carry passengers to specific destinations for a fee. The taximeter, which is typically the unique differentiating aspect of a cab, determines the final fee for transfer; based on the time and distance covered during a passenger’s ride.

The Limousine

On the other hand, a limousine serves a slightly different purpose. Whether you refer to the movies – where limos are depicted as a luxurious means of travel, often operated by a perfectly poised chauffer – or you think back to your high school prom, where you all crammed in the back, fiddling with the partition (which in reality is installed to protect the drivers safety, not necessarily for passenger privacy). However, like taxicabs, limousines also pick up and transfer passengers to various locations, chosen by the client.

No matter what your livery business includes – taxicabs, limos or both – you need specialized coverage that takes into consideration the distinct risks your industry faces. Standard limo insurance programs can offer your business:

General Liability Coverage
Commercial Auto Liability
Hired and Non-Owned Auto, Uninsured / Underinsured Motorists
Medical Payment and Personal Injury
Physical Damage Coverage Based on Amount of Insurance
And more…
Interested in learning more about the coverages designed to protect your livery business? At Wolpert Insurance, we are experts when it comes to limo insurance. We are ready to work with you to secure you the specialized protection you need, at the most competitive rate. From workers compensation to liability insurance, rest easy that your vehicle, the driver and its passengers will be safe and secure.

Vanity plates can be ordered for a variety of autos including: private passenger, commercial, motorcycle, livery, bus, camper or antique vehicles. In the state of Massachusetts, all specialty vanity plates must begin with two letters and cannot exceed more than six characters. By logging on to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation site you can search possible plates and determine if your plate of choice has already been issued.

As a livery operator, you can choose to have vanity plate that represents your business; however you are required to order a unique plate, meant specifically for your line of work. Every limousine operated by a charter-party carrier is required to be equipped with a special license plate (commonly referred to as a livery plate) issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. What’s classified as a “limousine” typically includes any luxury sedan, of either standard or extended length, with a seating capacity of not more than nine passengers, including the driver. The bottom line is that to carry passengers for a fee you must have a livery or taxicab plate.

To get your livery vehicle out on the road, aside from your livery plate you must have obtained livery insurance; conveying proof of financial responsibility. This commonly includes a Liability Insurance Certification as well as the expiration date of your insurance policy and our Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

At Wolpert Insurance, we are experts when it comes to livery insurance. We are ready to work with you to secure you the specialized protection you need, at the most competitive rate. From workers compensation to liability insurance, rest easy that your vehicle, the driver and its passengers will be safe and secure.