Data Methodology
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- +9 years writing about insurance, pets, and entertainment.
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Erandi García is Freeway’s Bilingual Senior Copywriter. With nearly 10 years of experience in content creation, her career has allowed her to explore the world through internationa…
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- 10+ years in journalism and content creation, with a B.A. in Journalism from Arizona State University.
- Senior Copywriter & Content Manager at Freeway Insurance, specializing in consumer-friendly insurance content.
Cyndi Wright is the senior copywriter and content manager at Freeway Insurance. With a career that has spanned many facets of writing across a variety of platforms, Cyndi loves …
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Rose Carter is an accomplished content strategist and marketing leader with a proven track record of creating impactful, results‑driven content. With expertise in writing, editing,…
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- Senior Vice President, Business Intelligence & Analytics
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A results-driven leader, Hung Huynh is a seasoned expert in analytics, boasting a rich career spanning over 26 years across various business, operations …
Policy-Based Pricing Analysis for Car Insurance
Many publicly available car insurance pricing studies rely on quote requests or insurer rate filings. Quote-request data reflects what consumers were offered during the shopping process, while filed rates represent what insurers propose to charge under specific underwriting assumptions.
This analysis is based on actual bound personal auto insurance policies issued during the study period. The data reflects completed transactions rather than estimate requests, providing insight into realized premiums.
Policy Data vs. Quote Request Data
Auto insurance pricing analysis can be derived from several data sources, including quote requests, filed rates, and bound policy records. Each reflects a different stage of the pricing lifecycle.
- Quote‑request data captures consumer shopping activity and preliminary pricing outputs generated during the quoting process.
- Filed rates represent approved rating structures submitted to regulators and reflect theoretical pricing models under specified assumptions.
- Bound policy data reflects premiums associated with completed and issued policies under final underwriting review.
This report is based on issued policy data derived from written premiums (WP). Because the dataset reflects finalized transactions, it incorporates:
- Final underwriting determinations
- Coverage selections actually purchased
- Applied discounts and rating factors
- Renewal premiums and mid-term adjustments
- Carrier participation and availability shifts across markets
As a result, the analysis reflects realized market pricing rather than quoted estimates or proposed rate filings. This distinction is particularly relevant in a 2026 market environment, where underwriting standards, carrier appetite, and renewal pricing behavior continue to influence what consumers ultimately pay.
Auto Insurance Data Sample and Scope
This report analyzes more than 1.5 million issued personal auto insurance policies during the study period.
The dataset includes:
- Personal auto policies only (commercial auto excluded)
- New business and renewal policies
- Aggregated results across carriers and geographic regions
All results are anonymized and reported in aggregate form.
Individual premiums vary based on driver profile, location, coverage selections, and underwriting criteria.
Standardized Coverage Assumptions
To ensure consistent comparisons across states and vehicle types, pricing analysis is based on standardized parameters:
- Drivers age 20–70
- Clean driving records
- Average or better credit profiles (where permitted)
- Liability coverage policies include:
- Bodily injury limits of $15,000-$60,000 per person
- Property damage limits between $10,000–$25,000 per accident
- Full-coverage policies include:
- Bodily injury limits of $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000‑$50,000 per accident
- $1,000 comprehensive deductible
- $1,000 collision deductible
These assumptions allow meaningful, standardized comparisons while recognizing that actual coverage selections may vary.
Rolling Median Methodology
Insurance markets have experienced notable rate movement and carrier availability changes in recent years.
To reduce short-term volatility, this analysis uses a two-year rolling median calculation. Rolling medians smooth temporary spikes or anomalies while preserving underlying pricing trends.
This approach provides a more stable representation of sustained market movement than single-point-in-time snapshots.
Data Updates
Data is updated on an ongoing basis based on issued policies and applications processed during the study period. This ensures the dataset reflects current underwriting activity and realizes premium levels.
Methodology Disclosure
This analysis is based on aggregated and anonymized personal auto insurance policy data issued during the study period. Commercial auto products are excluded.
Pricing information reflects historical issued policy premiums and does not constitute a quote, offer, or guarantee of coverage. Individual premiums vary based on underwriting criteria, coverage selections, location, driving history, credit profile (where permitted), and carrier eligibility.
Results represent aggregated outcomes and may not reflect current rates available to individual consumers.