On October 16, 2026, Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner Michael T. Caljouw approved Main Street America Protection Insurance Company’s plan to withdraw from the state’s voluntary private passenger auto market. Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers announced the approval in Bulletin No. 1229 on October 19.
The plan affects roughly 9,880 Massachusetts auto policies. If you are one of those drivers, nonrenewal notices start going out in December. If you are not, this is still worth a few minutes, because it is a good reminder of how quickly a carrier decision can land in your mailbox.
What is happening and when
Main Street America announced in August 2024 that it would exit personal lines insurance and focus on commercial business. Its Massachusetts homeowners and personal umbrella withdrawal was approved by the Division of Insurance in December 2025. Personal auto is the next step.
According to the withdrawal plan, as reported by Agency Checklists:
December 12, 2026: nonrenewal notices begin.
February 1, 2027: the withdrawal formally takes effect.
December 11, 2027: last scheduled date for nonrenewal notices.
January 31, 2028: final scheduled expiration of policies in the run-off.
In other words, this is a gradual wind-down. Each policy runs until its normal expiration date, and the notice arrives ahead of that renewal.
Your policy will not be canceled midterm
This is the part that should lower your blood pressure. Massachusetts law limits the reasons an insurer can cancel an auto policy in the middle of the term, and a company deciding to leave the market is not one of them. Main Street America will keep servicing existing policies, including billing, endorsements, and claims, through their scheduled expiration dates.
The company has also said it will give 51 days’ advance notice of nonrenewal. That is more than the 45 days Massachusetts requires. Claims that are reopened or reported after your policy expires will still be handled if the loss happened while the policy was in force.
The Liberty Mutual offer is optional
As part of the exit, Main Street America has a renewal rights arrangement with Liberty Mutual. Some eligible policyholders may receive a replacement offer from Liberty Mutual through their independent agent. As of July 2026, about 3,972 policyholders were with agents who had opted into that arrangement.
The bulletin is clear on one point: you do not have to accept that offer. You can take it, or you can have your agent shop the market and place you with another company. A replacement offer may be a fine fit. It may also come with different pricing, different coverage options, or different discounts than you have today. The only way to know is to compare it against your current declarations page, line by line.
What to do before your notice arrives
You do not need to wait for the letter. If your auto policy is with Main Street America, or you are not sure who your carrier is, here is a short to-do list:
- Check your declarations page. The insurance company name is listed near the top. Note your renewal date, since that tells you roughly when your notice will come.
- Confirm your liability limits. Massachusetts raised its compulsory minimums for policies written or renewing on or after July 1, 2025: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $30,000 for property damage. The minimum is a floor, not a recommendation. Many drivers, especially homeowners, choose higher limits.
- Look at your optional coverages. Collision, comprehensive, substitute transportation, towing, and the deductibles on each. Make sure any replacement policy matches or improves on what you have.
- Check your umbrella. If you have a personal umbrella, it often requires minimum auto liability limits underneath it. Changing auto carriers can create a gap if the new limits do not line up. Main Street America’s own umbrella business in Massachusetts is already winding down, so this is worth a look.
- Think about bundling. If your home or condo policy is with a different company, moving auto may be a chance to put both with one carrier. Sometimes that helps on price and claims handling. Sometimes it does not. It depends on the carriers and your situation.
- Do not let it lapse. Have new coverage bound and effective on the day the old policy expires. A gap in auto coverage can create headaches you do not need and may affect what you pay later.
The bigger picture for Massachusetts drivers
Main Street America’s book is small relative to the whole Massachusetts market. But carriers adjusting their appetite in this state is not new, and it will not be the last time. Some companies are leaving, some are tightening underwriting, and some are coming back in. The drivers who handle these changes best are the ones who know what they have before a letter forces the question.
An independent agency can quote multiple carriers at once, which matters when your current company is the one stepping away.
Send us your declarations page
Whether you are a Main Street America policyholder or you just want a second set of eyes on your coverage, send us your current auto declarations page. We will review your limits, your optional coverages, and how your auto policy fits with your home and umbrella, and show you your options before your renewal date arrives.
