Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Revenues:
Net premiums earned	$ 142,149,561	$ 130,645,011	$ 412,286,978	$ 382,310,380
Investment income, net of investment expenses	4,299,044	4,624,287	13,529,304	14,110,288
Net realized investment gains	351,269	349,164	2,296,909	2,943,710
Lease income	217,144	212,581	643,726	638,535
Installment payment fees	1,641,459	1,768,537	4,964,708	5,212,420
Equity in earnings of Donegal Financial Services Corporation	476,906	735,380	1,234,773	2,499,854
Total revenues	149,135,383	138,334,960	434,956,398	407,715,187
Expenses:
Net losses and loss expenses	91,003,905	84,882,734	286,523,746	259,935,100
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	22,889,000	20,766,000	66,233,000	60,236,000
Other underwriting expenses	22,795,149	21,454,770	64,800,475	61,335,688
Policyholder dividends	933,910	456,675	1,935,660	1,272,530
Interest	368,417	431,899	1,177,034	1,252,747
Other expenses	531,178	828,674	2,145,963	3,223,467
Total expenses	138,521,559	128,820,752	422,815,878	387,255,532
Income before income tax expense	10,613,824	9,514,208	12,140,520	20,459,655
Income tax expense	1,865,113	1,860,474	2,087,553	3,701,498
Net income	$ 8,748,711	$ 7,653,734	$ 10,052,967	$ 16,758,157
Class A common stock [Member]
Earnings per common share:
Common stock - basic and diluted	$ 0.33	$ 0.30
Common stock - basic	$ 0.33	$ 0.30	$ 0.39	$ 0.66
Common stock - diluted	$ 0.33	$ 0.30	$ 0.38	$ 0.65
Class B common stock [Member]
Earnings per common share:
Common stock - basic and diluted	$ 0.30	$ 0.27	$ 0.35	$ 0.60
Common stock - basic	$ 0.30	$ 0.27	$ 0.35	$ 0.60
Common stock - diluted	$ 0.30	$ 0.27	$ 0.35	$ 0.60