Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Nov. 05, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	Protective Insurance Corp
Entity Central Index Key	0000009346
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		14,331,211
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Address, State or Province	IN
Common Class A (voting) [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,608,294
Common Class B (non-voting) [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,722,917