Variable Interest Entity	3 Months Ended
Variable Interest Entity	Mar. 31, 2014
Variable Interest Entity [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entity	Note 4. Variable Interest Entity Erie Insurance Exchange The Exchange is a reciprocal insurance exchange domiciled in Pennsylvania, for which Indemnity serves as attorney-in-fact. Indemnity holds a variable interest in the Exchange due to the absence of decision-making capabilities by the equity owners (subscribers/policyholders) of the Exchange and due to the significance of the management fee the Exchange pays to Indemnity as its decision maker. As a result, Indemnity is deemed to have a controlling financial interest in the Exchange and is considered to be its primary beneficiary. Consolidation of the Exchange’s financial results is required given the significance of the management fee to the Exchange and because Indemnity has the power to direct the activities of the Exchange that most significantly impact the Exchange’s economic performance. The Exchange’s anticipated economic performance is the product of its underwriting results combined with its investment results. The fees paid to Indemnity under the subscriber’s agreement impact the anticipated economic performance attributable to the Exchange’s results. Indemnity earns a management fee from the Exchange for the services it provides as attorney-in-fact. Indemnity’s management fee revenues are based upon all premiums written or assumed by the Exchange. Indemnity’s Board of Directors determines the management fee rate to be paid by the Exchange to Indemnity. This rate cannot exceed 25% of the direct and assumed written premiums of the Exchange, as defined by the subscriber’s agreement signed by each policyholder. Management fee revenues and management fee expenses are eliminated upon consolidation. The shareholders of Indemnity have no rights to the assets of the Exchange and no obligations arising from the liabilities of the Exchange. Indemnity has no obligation related to any underwriting and/or investment losses experienced by the Exchange. Indemnity would, however, be adversely impacted if the Exchange incurred significant underwriting and/or investment losses. If the surplus of the Exchange were to decline significantly from its current level, its financial strength ratings could be reduced and, as a consequence, the Exchange could find it more difficult to retain its existing business and attract new business. A decline in the business of the Exchange would have an adverse effect on the amount of the management fees Indemnity receives. In addition, a decline in the surplus of the Exchange from its current level may impact the management fee rate received by Indemnity. Indemnity also has an exposure to a concentration of credit risk related to the unsecured receivables due from the Exchange for its management fee. If any of these events occurred, Indemnity’s financial position, financial performance, and/or cash flows could be adversely impacted. All property and casualty and life insurance operations are owned by the Exchange, and Indemnity functions solely as the management company. Indemnity has not provided financial or other support to the Exchange for any of the reporting periods presented. At March 31, 2014, there are no explicit or implicit arrangements that would require Indemnity to provide future financial support to the Exchange. Indemnity is not liable if the Exchange was to be in violation of its debt covenants or was unable to meet its obligation for unfunded commitments to limited partnerships.

Disclosure of the significant judgments and assumptions made in determining whether a variable interest (as defined) held by the entity requires the variable interest entity (VIE) (as defined) to be consolidated and (or) disclose information about its involvement with the VIE, individually or in aggregate (as applicable); the nature of restrictions, if any, on the consolidated VIE's assets and on the settlement of its liabilities reported by an entity in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets and liabilities; the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with involvement in the VIE; how involvement with the VIE affects the entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows; the lack of recourse if creditors (or beneficial interest holders) of the consolidated VIE have no recourse to the general credit of the primary beneficiary (if applicable); the terms of arrangements, giving consideration to both explicit arrangements and implicit variable interests, if any, that could require the entity to provide financial support to the VIE, including events or circumstances that could expose the entity to a loss; the methodology used by the entity for determining whether or not it is the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity; the significant factors considered and judgments made in determining that the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance are shared (as defined); the carrying amounts and classification of assets and liabilities of the VIE included in the statement of financial position; the entity's maximum exposure to loss, if any, as a result of its involvement with the VIE, including how the maximum exposure is determined and significant sources of the entity's exposure to the VIE; a comparison of the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities and the entity's maximum exposure to loss; information about any liquidity arrangements, guarantees, and (or) other commitments by third parties that may affect the fair value or risk of the entity's variable interest in the VIE; whether or not the entity has provided financial support or other support (explicitly or implicitly) to the VIE that it was not previously contractually required to provide or whether the entity intends to provide that support, including the type and amount of the support and the primary reasons for providing the support; and supplemental information the entity determines necessary to provide.

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