Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues:
Net premiums earned	$ 120,916,960	$ 108,506,809	$ 353,177,873	$ 317,293,489
Investment income, net of investment expenses	4,715,295	5,041,568	14,724,305	15,692,704
Net realized investment gains	1,312,137	2,458,609	5,150,450	7,147,703
Lease income	235,734	241,247	727,705	707,790
Installment payment fees	1,914,587	1,889,474	5,676,957	5,596,010
Equity in earnings of Donegal Financial Services Corporation	1,336,818	1,026,764	3,621,593	1,364,715
Total revenues	130,431,531	119,164,471	383,078,883	347,802,411
Expenses:
Net losses and loss expenses	82,105,094	89,411,543	245,099,666	246,686,904
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	18,864,000	17,282,000	54,980,000	50,902,000
Other underwriting expenses	19,130,875	15,286,807	57,617,438	49,826,197
Policyholder dividends	401,531	223,352	800,015	529,281
Interest	584,109	528,671	1,785,108	1,530,983
Other expenses	473,240	490,566	1,961,158	1,860,978
Total expenses	121,558,849	123,222,939	362,243,385	351,336,343
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)	8,872,682	(4,058,468)	20,835,498	(3,533,932)
Income tax expense (benefit)	2,033,298	(4,878,394)	3,962,900	(4,865,805)
Net income	$ 6,839,384	$ 819,926	$ 16,872,598	$ 1,331,873
Common Class A
Earnings per common share:
Class A common stock - basic	$ 0.27	$ 0.03	$ 0.67	$ 0.05
Class A common stock - diluted	$ 0.27	$ 0.03	$ 0.66	$ 0.05
Common stock - basic and diluted	$ 0.27	$ 0.03
Common Class B
Earnings per common share:
Class A common stock - basic	$ 0.25	$ 0.03	$ 0.61	$ 0.05
Class A common stock - diluted	$ 0.25	$ 0.03	$ 0.61	$ 0.05
Common stock - basic and diluted	$ 0.25	$ 0.03	$ 0.61	$ 0.05