Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Net premiums earned	$ 133,548,261	$ 124,702,041
Investment income, net of investment expenses	4,615,776	4,815,443
Net realized investment (losses) gains	(88,532)	1,340,564
Lease income	212,790	215,397
Installment payment fees	1,641,550	1,710,241
Equity in earnings of Donegal Financial Services Corporation	409,242	1,088,906
Total revenues	140,339,087	133,872,592
Expenses:
Net losses and loss expenses	97,632,392	85,533,016
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	21,319,000	19,560,000
Other underwriting expenses	20,458,719	18,751,511
Policyholder dividends	394,503	475,273
Interest	365,482	487,149
Other expenses	962,207	982,354
Total expenses	141,132,303	125,789,303
(Loss) income before income tax (benefit) expense	(793,216)	8,083,289
Income tax (benefit) expense	(158,802)	1,607,853
Net (loss) income	$ (634,414)	$ 6,475,436
Class A common stock [Member]
(Loss) earnings per common share:
Common stock - basic	$ (0.02)	$ 0.26
Common stock - diluted	$ (0.02)	$ 0.25
Class B common stock [Member]
(Loss) earnings per common share:
Common stock - basic	$ (0.02)	$ 0.23
Common stock - diluted	$ (0.02)	$ 0.23
Common stock - basic and diluted	$ (0.02)	$ 0.23