Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)
25 Newport Avenue Extension
Quincy, MA 02171-1748
617-351-4500 (from the 339, 617, 781, 857 area codes) or 800-858-3926 (from the 351, 413, 508, 978 area codes)
www.massrmv.com

RMV staff members in the Customer Phone Information Center are available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can request forms to be mailed, book a driver’s license road test, provide change-of-address information or change-of-vehicle-garage location, conduct business transactions using a MasterCard, VISA or Discover Card You can renew a registration, pay a moving violation fine (e.g. speeding ticket, etc.), order a copy of your driving record, order a duplicate of your license (photo-image type only), pay license suspension reinstatement fees, order a duplicate vehicle registration or even request a vanity license plate.

The RMV’s Driver’s Manual (available online at the RMV website) is an invaluable resource for Massachusetts drivers. It contains:

Information you will need for obtaining a learner’s permit and driver’s license, including converting a license from another state or country;
Explanation of various penalties for both in-state and out-of-state motor vehicle violations;
Definition of at-fault accidents/violations and how these “surchargable”’ events can affect your driving record and result in a loss of license;
Description of how alcohol and drug abuse by a driver can result in the loss of driving privileges;
Discussion on how the failure to pay moving violation fines, parking violations, fines for the abandonment of a motor vehicle, excise taxes, child support and outstanding court warrants can result in the non-renewal of a license;
Explanation of the rules of the road and driving safety;
Guidance on what to do in special driving situations, such as emergencies and accidents;
Advice on what to do if you are stopped by a police officer;
Information on the registration process, renewals, duplicate registrations, transferring a registration to a newly acquired vehicle from your present vehicle, policies for new residents, and obtaining disabled plates or placards;
Requirements for vehicle inspections, the Lemon Aid Law and basic title transactions;
Information on the Safe Driver Insurance Plan under the Merit Rating system and the effect on your insurance premiums by surchargeable incidents
A listing of all Registry of Motor Vehicle branches and their office hours.

Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs
10 Park Plaza, Suite 5170
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 973-8787 (888) 283-3757 (toll free, Mass only)
www.mass.gov/consumer

Offers general advice on consumer problems; referrals to other agencies for complaint mediation; free brochures on the Lemon Aid Law, the Used Vehicle Warranty Law, the New Car Lemon Law, consumers’ auto repair rights, Small Claims Court. Administers the state’s new and used Lemon Law arbitration programs; call for an application or download application online.

Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Complaint and Information Section
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-8400
www.mass.gov/ago

Information on businesses’ complaint histories, general advice on consumer problems, referrals to local consumer offices or other agencies for complaint mediation or arbitration.

Local Consumer Programs:
Work in cooperation with the office of the Attorney General; mediate complaints on assorted consumer issues; CAR SMART and other consumer brochures available at no cost. Every city or town in Massachusetts is served by one the offices listed below. If it is not clear which office serves your location, call 617-727-8400 and ask the Attorney General’s hotline staff.

Berkshire County Consumer Advocates, Inc.
Pittsfield (413) 443-9128

Bentley Consumer Action Line
Brockton (800) 273-9494

Cambridge Consumers’ Council
www.cambridgema.gov/Consumer
Cambridge (617) 349-6150

Consumer Assistance Council, Inc.
www.consumercouncil.com
Hyannis (508) 771-0700
(800) 867-0701 (Mass only)

Fall River Consumer Service Program
Fall River (508) 324-2672

Greater Lawrence Community Action, Inc.
www.glcac.org/consumer.htm
Lawrence (978) 681-4990

Northwestern District Attorney/Franklin County
Greenfield (413) 774-5102

Consumer Protection Program Haverhill Community Action, Inc.
Haverhill (978) 373-1971

MASSPIRG Consumer Action Center
www.masspirg.org
Weymouth (781) 335-0280

Medford Consumer Advisory Commission
Medford (781) 393-2460

Mayor’s Office of Consumer Affairs & Licensing
Boston (617) 635-3834

Consumer Assistance Office of Metro West, Inc.
Natick (508) 651-8812

Middlesex Community College Law Center
Lowell (978) 656-3342

Newton-Brookline Consumer Office
Newton (617) 796-1292

Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office
Dedham (617) 769-6118

Northwestern District Attorney/Hampshire County
Northampton (413) 586-9225

Revere Consumer Affairs Office
Revere (781) 286-8114

South Shore Community Action Council
Plymouth (508) 747-7575 x225 or 226

Mayor’s Office of Consumer Information
Springfield (413) 787-6437

Molly Bish Center at Anna Maria College
Worcester (508) 849-3274

AARP Driver Safety Program
601 E St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20049
1-888-227-7669
www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety

Offers an 8-hour classroom course that helps older drivers improve skills and avoid traffic accidents and violations. Older Driver Skill Assessment and Resource
Guide available free by mail.

American Automobile Association (AAA)
Southern New England (Rockland Branch Office)
900 Hingham Street
Rockland, MA 02370
(781) 871-5880
www.aaa.com

Offers members and consumers online car care, car reviews, and auto pricing service.

Better Business Bureau, Inc.
(Eastern Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont)
235 West Central Street, Suite 1
Natick, MA 01760-3767
(508) 652-4800
www.bosbbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Central New England, Inc.
339 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
1-866-566-9222
www.worcester.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Central New England, Inc.
(branch of Worcester)
333 Park Street, Suite A
West Springfield, MA 01089
1-866-566-9222
www.springfield-ma.bbb.org

Reports on businesses; brochures on auto-related topics; general advice on consumer problems; mediation of individual complaints; arbitration on behalf of certain dealers and manufacturers. Regional toll-free number for BBB Auto Line arbitration program: 800-955-5100.

Center For Auto Safety
1825 Connecticut Ave., NW
Suite 330
Washington, DC 20009-5708
www.autosafety.org

Offers advice on auto problems; reports and information packets on specific defects; and referrals to class action suits or other avenues of redress.

Consumer Reports
101 Truman Avenue
Yonkers, NY 10703-1057
www.consumerreports.org

Reports on new and used cars, minivans, pickups, and SUVs. Publishes annual auto issue that includes new model ratings and profiles, crash test results, reliability records, and best and worst used car lists. Offers detailed pricing information through their New Car Price Service and Used Car Price Service.

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Consumer Regulations, Bank Examination Dept.
600 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, MA 02106-2076
(617) 973-3000
www.bos.frb.org/consumer/index.htm

Answers questions pertaining to the Federal Reserve System’s consumer protection regulations, including regulations governing credit and leasing transactions. Handles complaints against state member banks of the Federal Reserve System. Free copies of the consumer regulations and related publications are available upon request.

Federal Trade Commission
CRC-240
Washington, DC 20580
(877) 382-4357
www.ftc.gov

Provides publications on: leasing cars; car financing scams; octane ratings; vehicle repossession; credit; auto service contracts. Most are free; write for publications list.

Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
20 West Street
Boston, MA 02111-1218
and
73 State Street
Springfield, MA 01103
(617) 654-0400 (Boston)
(866) 627-7577 (Mass only)
www.massbar.org/lawhelp

Provides referrals to consumers seeking the assistance of a lawyer.

Massachusetts Consumers’ Coalition
c/o Cambridge Consumers’ Council
831 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 349-6152
(617) 349-6148 (fax)
www.massconsumers.org

Publisher of CAR SMART, a coalition of consumer groups and agencies concerned with protecting consumers and ensuring fairness in the marketplace.

Massachusetts Division of Insurance
One South Station
Boston, MA 02110-2208
(617) 521-7794
www.mass.gov/doi/consumer

Regulates all aspects of the insurance business. Provides information and assistance on insurance related problems.

National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA)
8400 Westpark Drive
McLean, VA 22102
(800) 252-6232
www.nadaguides.com

Publishes official used car guide that provides projected regional values for the following categories: average retail price; average loan value; and average trade-in or wholesale value.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
400 7th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20590
(888) 327-4236
www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Maintains a hotline for reporting or obtaining information on auto safety problems. Reports on recalls and service bulletins. Provides free guides on: tire grading; auto crash results; fuel economy; odometer laws; and printouts detailing other people’s problems with the same make and model vehicle.

National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence
101 Blue Seal Drive, SE., Suite 101
Leesburg, VA 20175
1-888-ASE-TEST
www.asecert.org/tips/tipsformotorists

Provides free consumer brochures on: communicating with mechanics; choosing repair shops; getting cars ready for summer heat or winter cold; and keeping cars tuned up and running well.

U.S. Department of Energy
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Inquiry and Referral Service
656 Quince Orchard Road, Suite 500
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
1-877-336-3463
www.fuleeconomy.org

Provides a free gas mileage guide, energy and conservation information for car owners.

Consumer Federation of America (CFA)
1620 I Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington DC 20006
202-387-6121
www.consumerfed.org

CFA is an advocacy, research, education and service organization. A major current focus is to encourage fuel efficiency and thereby reduce our dependency of imported oil.