Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Jun. 30, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation Transamerica Advisors Life Insurance Company (“TALIC” or the “Company”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Transamerica Corporation (“TA Corp”, “the Parent”), which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of AEGON N.V., a limited liability share company organized under Dutch law. AEGON N.V. and its subsidiaries and joint ventures have life insurance and pension operations in over twenty countries in Europe, the Americas, and Asia and are also active in savings and investment operations, accident and health insurance, and general insurance and have limited banking operations in a number of these countries. The Company is a life insurance company that conducts its business primarily in the annuity markets and to a lesser extent in the life insurance markets of the financial services industry. The Company is domiciled in the State of Arkansas and is currently licensed to sell insurance and annuities in forty-nine states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. The Company is currently subject to primary regulation by the Arkansas Insurance Department.
Basis of Reporting	Basis of Reporting The accompanying Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company also submits financial statements to insurance industry regulatory authorities, which are prepared on the basis of statutory accounting principles (“SAP”). The interim Financial Statements are unaudited; all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair statement of the Financial Statements have been included. These unaudited Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. For a complete discussion of the Company’s 2016 Financial Statements and accounting policies, refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. The nature of the Company’s business is such that results of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.
Accounting Estimates and Assumptions	Accounting Estimates and Assumptions The preparation of financial statements in conformity to GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Those estimates are inherently subject to change and actual results could differ from those estimates. Included among the material (or potentially material) reported amounts and disclosures that require extensive use of estimates are: fair value of certain investments (including derivatives), asset valuation allowances, deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred sales inducements, value of business acquired, goodwill, policyholder liabilities, income taxes, and potential effects of unresolved litigated matters.
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events The Financial Statements are adjusted to reflect events that occurred between the Balance Sheet date and the date when the Financial Statements are issued, provided they give evidence of conditions that existed at the Balance Sheet date. Events that are indicative of conditions that arose after the Balance Sheet date are disclosed, but do not result in an adjustment of the Financial Statements themselves. No subsequent events have been identified through August 14, 2017 that require adjustments to or disclosure in the Financial Statements.
Future Accounting Guidance	There were no new accounting pronouncements applicable for the interim reporting period ended June 30, 2017.