Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenues:
Net premiums earned	$ 185,714,110	$ 175,014,872	$ 367,478,690	$ 344,171,019
Investment income, net of investment expenses	6,342,152	5,649,870	12,720,521	11,405,269
Net realized investment gains	1,517,310	1,097,306	598,971	3,646,281
Lease income	122,403	127,924	245,996	269,774
Installment payment fees	1,306,197	1,304,129	2,654,158	2,439,771
Equity in earnings of Donegal Financial Services Corporation	787,856	386,615	1,419,970	619,565
Total revenues	195,790,028	183,580,716	385,118,306	362,551,679
Expenses:
Net losses and loss expenses	135,753,645	128,005,914	292,336,913	242,439,372
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	30,579,000	28,700,000	60,244,000	56,383,000
Other underwriting expenses	28,492,434	28,259,223	57,815,072	56,748,504
Policyholder dividends	1,213,588	1,212,292	2,515,771	2,046,557
Interest	566,284	382,958	1,030,432	746,633
Other expenses	518,123	416,798	1,044,335	859,253
Total expenses	197,123,074	186,977,185	414,986,523	359,223,319
(Loss) income before income tax (benefit) expense	(1,333,046)	(3,396,469)	(29,868,217)	3,328,360
Income tax (benefit) expense	(543,191)	(1,077,821)	(10,900,284)	542,190
Net (loss) income	$ (789,855)	$ (2,318,648)	$ (18,967,933)	$ 2,786,170
Class A Common Stock [Member]
(Loss) earnings per common share:
Common stock - basic	$ (0.03)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.68)	$ 0.11
Common stock - diluted	(0.03)	(0.08)	(0.68)	0.10
Class B Common Stock [Member]
(Loss) earnings per common share:
Common stock - basic	(0.03)	(0.08)	(0.63)	0.09
Common stock - diluted	(0.03)	(0.08)	(0.63)	0.09
Common stock - basic and diluted	$ (0.03)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.63)	$ 0.09