Nature of Operations	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	Note 1. Nature of Operations Erie Indemnity Company (“Indemnity”) is a publicly held Pennsylvania business corporation that has since its incorporation in 1925 served as the attorney-in-fact for the subscribers (policyholders) at the Erie Insurance Exchange (“Exchange”). The Exchange, which also commenced business in 1925, is a Pennsylvania-domiciled reciprocal insurer that writes property and casualty insurance. Indemnity’s primary function, as attorney-in-fact, is to perform certain services for the Exchange relating to the sales, underwriting and issuance of policies on behalf of the Exchange. This is done in accordance with a subscriber’s agreement (a limited power of attorney) executed individually by each subscriber (policyholder), which appoints Indemnity as their common attorney-in-fact to transact certain business on their behalf and to manage the affairs of the Exchange. Pursuant to the subscriber’s agreement and for its services as attorney-in-fact, Indemnity earns a management fee calculated as a percentage of the direct premiums written by the Exchange and the other members of the Property and Casualty Group (defined below), which are assumed by the Exchange under an intercompany pooling arrangement. Indemnity has the power to direct the activities of the Exchange that most significantly impact the Exchange’s economic performance by acting as the common attorney-in-fact and decision maker for the subscribers (policyholders) at the Exchange. The Exchange, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, Erie Insurance Company (“EIC”), Erie Insurance Company of New York (“ENY”), Erie Insurance Property and Casualty Company (“EPC”), and Flagship City Insurance Company (“Flagship”), operate as a property and casualty insurer and are collectively referred to as the “Property and Casualty Group”. The Property and Casualty Group operates in 12 Midwestern, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states and the District of Columbia. Erie Family Life Insurance Company (“EFL”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Exchange, operates as a life insurer that underwrites and sells individual and group life insurance policies and fixed annuities. All property and casualty and life insurance operations are owned by the Exchange and Indemnity functions solely as the management company. The consolidated financial statements of Erie Indemnity Company reflect the results of Indemnity and its variable interest entity, the Exchange, which we refer to collectively as the “Erie Insurance Group” (“we,” “us,” “our”). “Indemnity shareholder interest” refers to the interest in Erie Indemnity Company owned by the Class A and Class B shareholders. “Noncontrolling interest” refers to the interest in the Erie Insurance Exchange held for the subscribers (policyholders).

Note 1. Nature of Operations

Erie Indemnity Company (“Indemnity”) is a publicly held Pennsylvania business corporation that has since its incorporation in 1925 served as the attorney-in-fact for the subscribers (policyholders) at the Erie Insurance Exchange (“Exchange”). The Exchange, which also commenced business in 1925, is a Pennsylvania-domiciled reciprocal insurer that writes property and casualty insurance.

Indemnity’s primary function, as attorney-in-fact, is to perform certain services for the Exchange relating to the sales, underwriting and issuance of policies on behalf of the Exchange. This is done in accordance with a subscriber’s agreement (a limited power of attorney) executed individually by each subscriber (policyholder), which appoints Indemnity as their common attorney-in-fact to transact certain business on their behalf and to manage the affairs of the Exchange. Pursuant to the subscriber’s agreement and for its services as attorney-in-fact, Indemnity earns a management fee calculated as a percentage of the direct premiums written by the Exchange and the other members of the Property and Casualty Group (defined below), which are assumed by the Exchange under an intercompany pooling arrangement.

Indemnity has the power to direct the activities of the Exchange that most significantly impact the Exchange’s economic performance by acting as the common attorney-in-fact and decision maker for the subscribers (policyholders) at the Exchange.

The Exchange, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, Erie Insurance Company (“EIC”), Erie Insurance Company of New York (“ENY”), Erie Insurance Property and Casualty Company (“EPC”), and Flagship City Insurance Company (“Flagship”), operate as a property and casualty insurer and are collectively referred to as the “Property and Casualty Group”. The Property and Casualty Group operates in 12 Midwestern, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states and the District of Columbia.

Erie Family Life Insurance Company (“EFL”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Exchange, operates as a life insurer that underwrites and sells individual and group life insurance policies and fixed annuities.

All property and casualty and life insurance operations are owned by the Exchange and Indemnity functions solely as the management company.

The consolidated financial statements of Erie Indemnity Company reflect the results of Indemnity and its variable interest entity, the Exchange, which we refer to collectively as the “Erie Insurance Group” (“we,” “us,” “our”).

“Indemnity shareholder interest” refers to the interest in Erie Indemnity Company owned by the Class A and Class B shareholders. “Noncontrolling interest” refers to the interest in the Erie Insurance Exchange held for the subscribers (policyholders).