Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 5,104,818	$ 11,848,913
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and other non-cash items	1,714,936	1,982,485
Net realized investment gains	(2,548,975)	(470,941)
Equity in earnings of Donegal Financial Services Corporation	(232,950)	(35,227)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Losses and loss expenses	14,184,710	(3,660,519)
Unearned premiums	22,771,640	18,928,727
Premiums receivable	(9,913,812)	(11,186,903)
Deferred acquisition costs	(2,054,993)	(411,902)
Deferred income taxes	584,983	495,645
Reinsurance receivable	(6,775,530)	5,691,794
Prepaid reinsurance premiums	(7,426,960)	(7,329,267)
Accrued investment income	(579,432)	(733,131)
Due to affiliate	12,142,750	(1,480,598)
Reinsurance balances payable	1,506,099	4,340
Current income taxes	935,703	4,574,295
Accrued expenses	(9,175,850)	(5,853,584)
Other, net	122,154	(118,330)
Net adjustments	15,254,473	396,884
Net cash provided by operating activities	20,359,291	12,245,797
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchases of fixed maturities, held to maturity	(19,450,746)	(8,718,771)
Purchases of fixed maturities, available for sale	(18,262,702)	(38,072,395)
Purchases of equity securities, available for sale	(3,695,056)	(3,147,400)
Maturity of fixed maturities:
Held to maturity	4,926,768	3,311,532
Available for sale	20,298,891	19,565,928
Sales of fixed maturities, available for sale	1,216,606	19,405,465
Sales of equity securities, available for sale	6,531,122	757,331
Net purchases of property and equipment	(194,753)	(133,525)
Net (purchases) sales of short-term investments	(897,339)	1,542,099
Net cash used in investing activities	(9,527,209)	(5,489,736)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Cash dividends paid	(3,628,577)	(3,426,299)
Issuance of common stock	1,865,399	958,762
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,763,178)	(2,467,537)
Net increase in cash	9,068,904	4,288,524
Cash at beginning of period	24,587,214	28,139,144
Cash at end of period	33,656,118	32,427,668
Cash paid during period - Interest	297,095	340,213
Net cash paid during period - Taxes	$ 0	$ 0