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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 12b-25

                                          Commission File Number 0-8162


                           NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING


(Check One):   [_] Form 10-K    [_] Form 11-K    [_] Form 20-F    [X] Form 10-Q
               [_] Form N-SAR

               For Period Ended: JUNE 30, 2000

     [_]  Transition Report on Form 10-K

     [_]  Transition Report on Form 20-F

     [_]  Transition Report on Form 11-K

     [_]  Transition Report on Form 10-Q

     [_]  Transition Report on Form N-SAR

          For the Transition Period Ended:

     Read attached  instruction  sheet before  preparing  form.  Please print or
type.

     Nothing in this form shall be  construed to imply that the  Commission  has
verified any information contained herein.

     If the  notification  relates  to a portion of the  filing  checked  above,
identify the item(s) to which the notification relates:



                                     PART I
                             REGISTRANT INFORMATION


________________________________________________________________________________
Full Name of Registrant

                        ACCEL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

________________________________________________________________________________
Former Name if Applicable



________________________________________________________________________________
Address of Principal Executive Office (Street and Number)

                             75 WEST STREET

________________________________________________________________________________
City, State and Zip Code

                           SIMSBURY, CT  06070



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                                    PART II
                             RULE 12b-25(b) AND (c)

     If the subject  report could not be filed  without  unreasonable  effort or
expense  and  the  registrant  seeks  relief  pursuant  to Rule  12b-25(b),  the
following should be completed. (Check appropriate box.)
[X]  |    (a)  The reasons  described in  reasonable  detail in Part III of this
     |         form  could  not be  eliminated  without  unreasonable  effort or
     |         expense;
     |
     |    (b)  The subject annual report,  semi-annual report, transition report
     |         on Form 10-K,  Form  20-F,  Form 11-K or Form  N-SAR,  or portion
[X]  |         thereof  will  be  filed  on or  before  the  15th  calendar  day
     |         following  the  prescribed  due date;  or the  subject  quarterly
     |         report or transition report on Form 10-Q, or portion thereof will
     |         be filed on or  before  the  fifth  calendar  day  following  the
     |         prescribed due date; and
     |
[_]  |    (c)  The  accountant's  statement  or other  exhibit  required by Rule
     |         12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.


                                    PART III
                                   NARRATIVE

     State below in reasonable  detail why the Form 10-K, 11-K, 20-F 10-Q, N-SAR
or the  transition  report  portion  thereof  could  not  be  filed  within  the
prescribed time period. (Attach extra sheets if needed.)

FORM 10-Q CAN NOT BE FILED WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME PERIOD WITHOUT
UNREASONABLE EFFORT OR EXPENSE, BECAUSE THE REGISTRANT IS EXPERIENCING
DIFFICULTIES IN ABSORBING THE ACCOUNTING FOR NEW BUSINESSES ACQUIRED
DURING THE YEAR 2000; AND THE REGISTRANT NEEDS ADDITIONAL TIME TO PROPERLY
ACCOUNT FOR THOSE BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS OCCURRING DURING THIS REPORTING YEAR.


                                    PART IV
                               OTHER INFORMATION

(1)  Name  and  telephone  number  of  person  to  contact  in  regard  to  this
     notification

     RICHARD A. LAWRENCE                            (860)        843-7600
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                       (Name)                     (Area Code) (Telephone Number)

(2)  Have all other periodic  reports  required under Section 13 or 15(d) of the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment Company Act
     of 1940 during the preceding 12 months or for such shorter  period that the
     registrant was required to file such report(s) been filed? If the answer is
     no, identify report(s).
                                                                 [X] Yes  [_] No


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(3)  Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations from
     the corresponding  period for the last fiscal year will be reflected by the
     earnings  statements  to be  included  in the  subject  report  or  portion
     thereof?
                                                                 [_] Yes  [X] No

     If so: attach an explanation of the anticipated  change,  both  narratively
and  quantitatively,  and, if  appropriate,  state the reasons why a  reasonable
estimate of the results cannot be made.


                         ACCEL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
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                  (Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Has  caused  this  notification  to be signed on its  behalf by the  undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.


Date August 14, 2000            By /s/ Gerald H. Pastor
    -------------------            ---------------------------------------------
                                   Gerald H. Pastor
                                   President and Chief Executive Officer


                                By /s/ Richard A. Lawrence
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                                   Richard A. Lawrence
                                   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer &
                                   Treasurer