v2.4.0.6
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Provided In Connection With Outstanding Debt Of Subsidiaries (Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2012
Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities:    
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities $ 128,502 $ 171,104
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities    
Proceeds from sales and maturities of fixed maturity investments trading 2,349,666 2,656,296
Purchases of fixed maturity investments trading (2,075,088) (2,551,249)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of fixed maturity investments available for sale 37,699 20,385
Sales of equity investments trading 67,073 0
Net sales (purchases) sales of short term investments (192,557) (305,867)
Net sales (purchases) of other investments 33,080 (9,663)
Net sales of other assets 0 125
Dividends and return of capital from subsidiaries 0 0
Contributions to subsidiaries 0 0
Due to (from) subsidiary 0 0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 219,873 (189,973)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities    
Dividends paid – RenaissanceRe common shares (12,329) (13,886)
Dividends paid – preference shares (6,275) (8,750)
RenaissanceRe common share repurchases (111,299) (3,635)
Net (repayment) drawdown of debt (97,483) 0
Third party DaVinciRe share transactions (114,154) 88,146
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (341,540) 61,875
Effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash 3,432 992
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 10,267 43,998
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 325,358 216,984
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 335,625 260,982
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (Parent Guarantor) [Member]
   
Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities:    
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities (38,748) (74)
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities    
Proceeds from sales and maturities of fixed maturity investments trading 398,658 382,538
Purchases of fixed maturity investments trading (20,604) (302,878)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of fixed maturity investments available for sale 0 0
Sales of equity investments trading 0  
Net sales (purchases) sales of short term investments 27,794 (43,739)
Net sales (purchases) of other investments 0 0
Net sales of other assets   0
Dividends and return of capital from subsidiaries 32,152 185,961
Contributions to subsidiaries (184,115) (200,769)
Due to (from) subsidiary 11,310 7,965
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 265,195 29,078
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities    
Dividends paid – RenaissanceRe common shares (12,329) (13,886)
Dividends paid – preference shares (6,275) (8,750)
RenaissanceRe common share repurchases (111,299) (3,635)
Net (repayment) drawdown of debt (100,000)  
Third party DaVinciRe share transactions 0 0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (229,903) (26,271)
Effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash 0 0
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents (3,456) 2,733
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 6,298 10,606
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 2,842 13,339
RenRe North America Holdings Inc. (Subsidiary Issuer) [Member]
   
Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities:    
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities (10,446) (11,568)
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities    
Proceeds from sales and maturities of fixed maturity investments trading 41,451 92,508
Purchases of fixed maturity investments trading (27,121) (49,796)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of fixed maturity investments available for sale 0 0
Sales of equity investments trading 0  
Net sales (purchases) sales of short term investments (4,912) (1,729)
Net sales (purchases) of other investments 0 0
Net sales of other assets   0
Dividends and return of capital from subsidiaries 2,126 4,299
Contributions to subsidiaries (625) (36,700)
Due to (from) subsidiary (517) (1,194)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 10,402 7,388
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities    
Dividends paid – RenaissanceRe common shares 0 0
Dividends paid – preference shares 0 0
RenaissanceRe common share repurchases 0 0
Net (repayment) drawdown of debt 0  
Third party DaVinciRe share transactions 0 0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities 0 0
Effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash 0 0
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents (44) (4,180)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 1,528 4,920
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 1,484 740
Other RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. Subsidiaries and Eliminations (Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries) [Member]
   
Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities:    
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities 177,696 [1] 182,746 [1]
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities    
Proceeds from sales and maturities of fixed maturity investments trading 1,909,557 [1] 2,181,250 [1]
Purchases of fixed maturity investments trading (2,027,363) [1] (2,198,575) [1]
Proceeds from sales and maturities of fixed maturity investments available for sale 37,699 [1] 20,385 [1]
Sales of equity investments trading 67,073 [1]  
Net sales (purchases) sales of short term investments (215,439) [1] (260,399) [1]
Net sales (purchases) of other investments 33,080 [1] (9,663) [1]
Net sales of other assets   125 [1]
Dividends and return of capital from subsidiaries (34,278) [1] (190,260) [1]
Contributions to subsidiaries 184,740 [1] 237,469 [1]
Due to (from) subsidiary (10,793) [1] (6,771) [1]
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (55,724) [1] (226,439) [1]
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities    
Dividends paid – RenaissanceRe common shares 0 [1] 0 [1]
Dividends paid – preference shares 0 [1] 0 [1]
RenaissanceRe common share repurchases 0 [1] 0 [1]
Net (repayment) drawdown of debt 2,517 [1]  
Third party DaVinciRe share transactions (114,154) [1] 88,146 [1]
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (111,637) [1] 88,146 [1]
Effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash 3,432 [1] 992 [1]
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 13,767 [1] 45,445 [1]
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 317,532 [1] 201,458 [1]
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 331,299 [1] $ 246,903 [1]
[1] Includes all other subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and eliminations.