We had an excellent quarter with an 89.5% combined ratio, 10% premium growth, and policies in force growth of 12% versus a year ago. That policies in force growth equates to 4.2 million more policyholders or almost 7 million more vehicles in force than a year ago. While growth is lower than in recent years, we are still gaining significant market share and capitalizing on the opportunities for growth through robust media spend and competitive rates. Year to date, our combined ratio is 87.3% with 13% premium growth and comprehensive income of $10 billion, which is over 30% ahead of 2024.
Rounding out our key performance metrics, our trailing 12-month comprehensive return on equity stands at 37.1%. Just given the increased competition, policy in-force growth has decelerated, specifically in personal auto. So we want to make sure our cost per sale is lower than our targeted acquisition costs, and that remains to be the case. Overall for a year, things you have to buy in advance, but ongoing, we have the lever to increase or decrease depending on competition.
How does that help you formulate your view about growth, right, both in the near term like in the fourth quarter, but then also as we think about 2026? That's why we got out in advance of rates to capture all the growth that we did when we did. And probably the biggest growth point for us, Elyse, is when we think of Robinsons. And so as we think about our growth, we think about we have a framework with the youth that we're using called a new business readiness growth.