Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of components of the Property and Casualty Group's and EFL's deferred policy acquisition costs assets

(in millions)	Erie Insurance Group
	2012			2011
Property and Casualty Group
Deferred policy acquisition costs asset at beginning of year	$	343		$	327
Capitalized deferred policy acquisition costs	726			684
Amortized deferred policy acquisition costs	(705		)	(668		)
Deferred policy acquisition costs asset at end of year – Property and Casualty Group	$	364		$	343
Erie Family Life Insurance Company
Deferred policy acquisition costs asset at beginning of year	$	144		$	140
Capitalized deferred policy acquisition costs	17			18
Amortized deferred policy acquisition costs	(10		)	(12		)
Change in shadow deferred policy acquisition costs	(11		)	(2		)
Deferred policy acquisition costs asset at end of year – EFL	$	140		$	144
Deferred policy acquisition costs asset at end of year – Erie Insurance Group	$	504		$	487