Transactions With Affiliates (Details 3) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Ceded reinsurance transactions with unaffiliated reinsurers
Premiums earned	$ 258,064,301	$ 242,186,814	$ 144,554,336
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	111,156,162	106,450,018
Donegal Mutual [Member]
Ceded reinsurance transactions with unaffiliated reinsurers
Premiums earned	33,046,914	22,123,229	4,516,313
Losses and loss expenses	22,569,557	16,038,590	3,463,112
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	15,457,605	14,181,338	4,590,424
Liability for losses and loss expenses	$ 18,285,182	$ 11,868,641	$ 4,006,231