The Main Street America Group Introduces ‘Main Street Protection Auto’ in South Carolina

Business Wire

New Personal Auto Insurance Program Offers Competitive Rates and Additional Discounts for Broad Share of Marketplace

COLUMBIA, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Main Street America Group has introduced Main Street Protection Auto, its new private passenger auto insurance program for the preferred/standard marketplace in South Carolina via its statewide network of independent insurance agents.

Product highlights include 20 different types of discounts and a competitive lineup of bundled and standalone coverages that include many in-demand features such as new vehicle replacement, full glass coverage and replacement of parts using original manufactured equipment.

“Main Street Protection Auto is a total overhaul of our current private passenger auto program,” said Debbie Murphy, Main Street America’s vice president/head of personal lines. “Our new auto product features impactful changes on all fronts including an improved pricing position in our target market, enhanced coverages and improved ease of use of our Main Street Station personal lines processing platform for our South Carolina independent agents to write business with us.”

Murphy added that Main Street Protection Auto’s bundled coverage options, or elite endorsements, are available for any qualifying vehicles and features accident forgiveness, diminishing collision deductibles, loan/lease and extra medical coverages. These options can be mixed and matched based on an insured’s coverage needs.

Another distinguishing feature of Main Street Protection Auto is the myriad of discounts being offered to consumers. Main Street America’s insureds will be eligible for up to 20 discounts, such as a new business discount, accident and violation free discount, loyalty, new vehicle discount and discounts for paying in full or signing up for electronic funds transfer. Other discounts include savings for insureds that package their homeowners’ policies with a Main Street America carrier or have multiple vehicles on the policy.

Regarding quoting and business submission, several processing platform enhancements enable agents to quickly bridge from their comparative rater directly to the premium summary page where additional coverages or quote changes can be quickly made. There are fewer screens to simplify data entry and faster response times which enhance the overall user experience.

“This is an exciting time for Main Street America’s Southeast Region, especially with the recent release of Main Street Protection Auto in South Carolina, following our inaugural launch of this flagship personal auto program last summer in Virginia,” said Dave Randle, Main Street America’s Southeast Region president. “Main Street Protection Auto has been built from the ground up to improve our competitive position in the preferred and standard personal lines segments. Our agency customers played an important role in developing the concept and design of our new product and we are pleased to deliver one with great rates, discounts and coverage options that will attract the best personal lines insureds."

Randle added, “Our significant homeowners’ program rate reductions, as well as our competitively-priced personal umbrella program, make great companion policies, providing our South Carolina agent-customers with excellent cross-sell opportunities.”

Main Street America plans to implement Main Street Protection Auto in several of its New England and Northeast states throughout 2016. This includes Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

About The Main Street America Group

With roots dating back to 1923, The Main Street America Group is a mutual insurance holding company which writes business through its nine property/casualty insurance carriers: NGM Insurance Company, Old Dominion Insurance Company, Austin Mutual Insurance Company, Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance Company, Main Street America Assurance Company, Great Lakes Casualty Insurance Company, MSA Insurance Company, Spring Valley Mutual Insurance Company and Main Street America Protection Insurance Company. Based in Jacksonville, Fla., Main Street America offers a wide range of commercial and personal insurance, as well as fidelity and surety bond products, to individuals, families and businesses throughout the United States.

With nearly $1 billion in premium written exclusively by more than 3,000 independent insurance agents, the 93-year-old company insures over 600,000 policyholders in 36 states and writes bonds in 47 states and the District of Columbia. A.M. Best Company rates The Main Street America Group with an "A" (Excellent) financial strength rating and “a+” issuer credit rating. The company has $1.07 billion in surplus (capital) and $2.4 billion in total assets.

Main Street America is the founding company partner of Trusted Choice^®, the global branding program of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. Main Street America is also a founding company partner of the TrustedChoice.com consumer agent portal and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) Research Center. For more information about Main Street America, please visit our newsroom at http://news.msagroup.com or connect with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MainStreetAmerica.