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US auto insurance shopping growth slows in Q2, still above historic highs
About 47.2% of policies in force were shopped at least once in the prior 12 months, while rate revisions were split between 38% increases, 36% decreases, and 27% rate-neutral.
US auto insurance shopping growth slowed to 1.4% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, down from 3.2% in the first quarter, according to the latest LexisNexis Risk Solutions US Insurance Demand Meter. New policy growth eased to 3.3% from 3.6%, and LexisNexis still classified the market as warm rather than moving toward contraction.
Shopping activity stayed near record levels even with the slower growth rate. By the end of Q2, 47.2% of auto insurance policies in force had been shopped at least once in the prior 12 months, and rate revisions during the quarter were roughly evenly split, with 38% reflecting increases, 36% decreases, and 27% rate-neutral.
Looking at distribution channels, the exclusive agent segment outgrew both direct and independent agents for a third consecutive quarter, expanding to 6.8% in Q2. Direct channel growth slowed sharply to 9.4% from its earlier pace, while the independent agent channel continued contracting for a third straight quarter, with the decline easing to negative 6.4% from negative 7.9%.
LexisNexis attributed the shift to a more disciplined market phase. Jeff Batiste, senior vice president and general manager for US auto and home insurance at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, said insurers are pursuing growth with clearer guardrails, making precision segmentation more critical. Policyholders aged 66 and older showed the strongest shopping growth for the 14th consecutive quarter, but that segment decelerated to 4.1% in Q2 from 7.1% in Q1.