Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenues:
Net premiums earned	$ 187,661,705	$ 177,283,816	$ 555,140,395	$ 521,454,835
Investment income, net of investment expenses	6,620,491	5,979,834	19,341,012	17,385,103
Net realized investment gains	3,463,504	561,429	4,062,475	4,207,710
Lease income	119,934	113,409	365,930	383,183
Installment payment fees	1,305,778	1,373,892	3,959,936	3,813,663
Equity in earnings of Donegal Financial Services Corporation	732,768	403,647	2,152,738	1,023,212
Total revenues	199,904,180	185,716,027	585,022,486	548,267,706
Expenses:
Net losses and loss expenses	140,726,106	114,386,379	433,063,019	356,825,751
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	31,110,000	29,008,000	91,354,000	85,391,000
Other underwriting expenses	24,528,860	31,790,251	82,343,932	88,538,755
Policyholder dividends	1,050,200	1,376,115	3,565,971	3,422,672
Interest	651,768	466,262	1,682,200	1,212,895
Other expenses, net	560,260	176,970	1,604,595	1,036,223
Total expenses	198,627,194	177,203,977	613,613,717	536,427,296
(Loss) income before income tax (benefit) expense	1,276,986	8,512,050	(28,591,231)	11,840,410
Income tax (benefit) expense	70,630	1,403,476	(10,829,654)	1,945,666
Net (loss) income	$ 1,206,356	$ 7,108,574	$ (17,761,577)	$ 9,894,744
Class A Common Stock [Member]
(Loss) earnings per common share:
Common stock - basic	$ 0.04	$ 0.27	$ (0.64)	$ 0.37
Common stock - diluted	0.04	0.26	(0.64)	0.36
Class B Common Stock [Member]
(Loss) earnings per common share:
Common stock - basic	0.04	0.24	(0.59)	0.33
Common stock - diluted	0.04	0.24	(0.59)	0.33
Common stock - basic and diluted	$ 0.04	$ 0.24	$ (0.59)	$ 0.33