Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Revenues:
Net premiums earned	$ 169,156,147	$ 158,475,279
Investment income, net of investment expenses	5,755,399	5,546,509
Net realized investment (losses) gains	2,548,975	470,941
Lease income	141,850	178,360
Installment payment fees	1,135,642	1,362,460
Equity in earnings of Donegal Financial Services Corporation	232,950	35,227
Total revenues	178,970,963	166,068,776
Expenses:
Net losses and loss expenses	114,433,458	95,578,065
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	27,683,000	25,956,000
Other underwriting expenses	28,489,281	26,638,027
Policyholder dividends	834,265	831,887
Interest	363,675	408,480
Other expenses	442,455	637,778
Total expenses	172,246,134	150,050,237
Income before income tax expense	6,724,829	16,018,539
Income tax expense (benefit)	1,620,011	4,169,626
Net income	$ 5,104,818	$ 11,848,913
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Earnings per common share:
Common stock - basic	$ 0.19	$ 0.46
Common stock - diluted	0.18	0.46
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Earnings per common share:
Common stock - basic	0.17	0.42
Common stock - diluted	0.17	0.42
Common stock - basic and diluted	$ 0.17	$ 0.42