US auto insurance shopping growth slowed in the third quarter of 2026, while the share of policies shopped over the year stayed close to its record, according to the LexisNexis U.S. Insurance Demand Meter published on 12 November 2026.
Quarterly year-on-year shopping growth was 0.7% in Q3, down from 1.4% in Q2. New business growth was 3.2%, down from 3.3%. LexisNexis Risk Solutions rated both measures "Warm" for a third consecutive quarter.
At the end of Q3, 47.2% of policies in force had been shopped at least once in the previous 12 months, unchanged from Q2. The record of 47.3% was set in Q1.
The exclusive agent channel outpaced the direct and independent agent channels for a second consecutive quarter, with growth of 4.5% in Q3, down from 6.8% in the previous quarter. Non-standard shopping grew 5.4%, up from a 9% decline in Q2 and positive for the first time in 2026, while standard shopping grew 1.3%, down from 2.6%.
Twenty-eight states posted positive growth in Q3, compared with 42 in Q2 and 37 in Q1. Michigan led with 7%, followed by New Jersey at 6.8%, Connecticut and Georgia at 6.6% each, and Nevada at 6.2%.
The report also found that policies lost over a 60-day period account for 18% of active policies annually. Of those, nearly 30% exit the market and roughly 70% remain active. First-year policyholders make up 40% of lost policies and more than 50% of market exits.
"Consumers remain highly sensitive to rate changes, which has helped keep auto insurance shopping volumes elevated. As the market continues to evolve, rate increases may no longer be the only dominant driver of shopping activity," said Jeff Batiste, Senior Vice President, Client Engagement, at LexisNexis Risk Solutions.
"Broader affordability pressures continue to shape household decisions, prompting consumers to take a closer look at what they are paying and the value they receive from their coverage. For insurers, understanding these shifting motivations will be critical to identifying the right opportunities and engaging consumers with the right offer," Batiste added.
The Demand Meter is a quarterly analysis of US auto insurance shopping volume and frequency and new business volume. LexisNexis Risk Solutions is part of RELX.
