Withdrawal begins Feb. 1, 2027, with nonrenewals starting in December and Liberty Mutual renewal-rights offers available through participating independent agents
The Massachusetts Division of Insurance has approved Main Street America Protection Insurance Company’s plan to withdraw from the state’s voluntary private passenger automobile insurance market, affecting approximately 9,880 policies and $19 million in written premium.
Insurance Commissioner Michael T. Caljouw approved the withdrawal on October 16, 2026, subject to conditions governing policyholder servicing, nonrenewal notices and the insurer’s continuing obligations to the Massachusetts Automobile Insurance Plan (MAIP). Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers (CAR) announced the approval in Bulletin No. 1229 on October 19.
The withdrawal, scheduled to take effect February 1, 2027, will proceed through an orderly run-off of existing policies. Under the approved plan, Main Street America will begin issuing nonrenewal notices in December, while independent agents will assist policyholders in obtaining replacement coverage, including through a renewal-rights arrangement with Liberty Mutual Insurance.
Nonrenewal Notices to Begin December 12
Main Street America filed its withdrawal plan on October 1, 2026, pursuant to CAR Rule 38.B and Massachusetts regulation 211 CMR 97.06.
The plan establishes the following timetable:
- December 12, 2026: Nonrenewal notices begin.
- July 2027: Anticipated completion of postcard and transition communications.
- December 11, 2027: Last scheduled date for nonrenewal notices.
- January 31, 2028: Final scheduled expiration of voluntary policies in the run-off.
Under Massachusetts law, an insurer’s withdrawal from the voluntary automobile insurance market does not provide grounds for midterm cancellation of existing policies. General Laws c. 175, § 22C limits insurer-initiated cancellations to specified statutory grounds, which do not include a decision to withdraw from the market.
Accordingly, Main Street America will continue servicing its existing voluntary automobile policies through their scheduled expiration dates, subject to the cancellation provisions otherwise permitted by law. The company will provide 51 days’ advance notice of nonrenewal, exceeding the 45-day statutory and regulatory requirement under c. 175, § 113F and 211 CMR 97.06(3)(a).
The company’s servicing commitments extend to reopened claims and claims reported after policy expiration when coverage exists under the applicable policy.
As of July 2026, Main Street America’s Massachusetts voluntary personal auto book comprised 9,880 policies in force, representing $19,031,844 in written premium.
Liberty Mutual Renewal-Rights Transaction Preserves Agent Choice
A significant feature of the withdrawal is Main Street America’s renewal-rights transaction with Liberty Mutual Insurance, under which eligible policyholders may receive replacement coverage offers.
The arrangement preserves the role of independent agents, who own the renewal rights to their books of business and maintain discretion over whether their customers participate in the Liberty Mutual offering.
Policyholders are not required to accept a Liberty Mutual offer and may obtain replacement coverage through their independent agents or another insurer.
According to the withdrawal plan, 3,972 Massachusetts policyholders were associated with agents who had opted into the Liberty Mutual arrangement as of July 2026. That figure does not represent policies transferred to Liberty Mutual or completed replacement coverage transactions.
Main Street America reported that it maintains nearly 800 appointed independent agents in Massachusetts. Its plan provides for continued agent communications, customer service assistance and escalation procedures during the withdrawal.
The insurer has established customer service assistance at (877) 927-5672, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
Main Street America Will Retain Its MAIP Responsibilities
Although Main Street America is withdrawing from the voluntary personal auto market, it will remain responsible for its Massachusetts assigned-risk business.
As of July 2026, its MAIP portfolio included 867 policies in force, representing $3,048,755 in written premium.
Under the approved plan, the insurer will continue servicing existing MAIP assignments through their applicable three-year assignment periods. It also must satisfy continuing MAIP assessments, expenses and CAR reporting obligations.
Importantly, Main Street America Protection Insurance Company will retain its Massachusetts insurance licenses after completing the voluntary business run-off.
The insurer represented to regulators that it will continue as the underwriting company accepting and servicing MAIP assignments for American Family Insurance Group companies writing automobile insurance in Massachusetts.
In his approval letter, Commissioner Caljouw noted that CAR had confirmed this commitment addressed a MAIP servicing issue identified during its review.
American Family Insurance Claims Services, Inc., which handles claims for Main Street America and American Family, will continue servicing MAIP claims, including claims reopened or reported after policy expiration.
Commissioner Finds Withdrawal Meets CAR Requirements
The Division notified CAR of the proposed withdrawal on October 2, 2026. Under CAR Rule 38.B, CAR’s Governing Committee, member insurers and producer associations had 10 days to request a public hearing concerning the proposed withdrawal.
No hearing request was filed.
In approving the plan, Commissioner Caljouw found that Main Street America had provided for an orderly withdrawal consistent with CAR Rule 38.B and that the withdrawal would not adversely affect the orderly and equitable operation of the Massachusetts private passenger motor vehicle insurance market.
The approval requires the insurer to comply with its withdrawal plan and supplemental representations, continue meeting applicable financial and reporting obligations, service existing MAIP assignments and issue nonrenewal notices only in accordance with Massachusetts law.
Withdrawal Reflects Broader Commercial Lines Strategy
The Massachusetts withdrawal follows Main Street America’s August 2024 announcement that it would exit personal lines insurance to concentrate on commercial lines business distributed through independent agents.
The company’s Massachusetts homeowners and personal umbrella withdrawal was separately approved by the Division on December 22, 2025.
Parent company American Family Insurance Group continues to operate in the Massachusetts voluntary automobile market through other insurance companies and distribution channels. Its withdrawal filing states that Midvale Indemnity Company has reintroduced its automobile product in the Commonwealth.
According to CAR market-share information reported by Agency Checklists for June 2026, the American Family reporting group ranked 18th in Massachusetts private passenger auto exposures, with 13,096 exposures representing approximately 0.51% of the statewide total.
The withdrawal plan identifies the continuing availability of Main Street America’s commercial insurance offerings in Massachusetts, while the company’s voluntary personal auto policies will be phased out under the approved timetable.
