Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended								0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 Subsidiary	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013 Options Granted Prior To 2008 [Member] Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Options Granted Prior To 2008 [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Options Granted Subsequent To January 1, 2008 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Building [Member] Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Building [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Furniture Equipment And Purchase Software [Member] Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Furniture Equipment And Purchase Software [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Software [Member]	Aug. 09, 2013 Swap [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Swap [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Swap [Member]	Aug. 09, 2013 LIBOR [Member] Swap [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Note No1 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Note No2 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Call Option [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Call Option [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Unsecured Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of insurance companies	13
Percentage of direct premiums written as private passenger automobile lines of insurance	79.10%	79.00%	80.00%
Percentage of private passenger automobile premiums written in California	81.00%	78.00%	77.00%
Percentage by which dividend income on non redeemable preferred stock, partnership, common stock is partially tax-sheltered	70.00%
Other liabilities	$ 170,665,000	$ 153,972,000																	$ 100,000	$ 200,000
Marketable securities, fixed maturities	4,300,000
Marketable securities, equity securities	12,500,000
Debt instrument, fair value																	120,000,000	20,000,000			50,000,000	0
Term of swap agreement													3 years
Basis spread on variable rate																1.20%
Notional amount	149,000,000			149,000,000
Swap agreement collateral														40,000,000	40,000,000
Insurance companies security deposits	17,000,000	16,000,000
Deferred policy acquisition cost amortization	505,517,000	477,788,000	481,721,000
Advertising expenses	20,000,000	19,000,000	21,000,000
Useful life, in years								30 years	40 years	3 years	7 years	5 years
Impairment charges	0	0	0
Goodwill impairment loss	0
Premiums written, net	$ 2,730,000,000	$ 2,650,000,000	$ 2,580,000,000
Broker direct premiums percentage account		2.00%	2.00%
Option vesting term, years					4 years	5 years	4 years