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Statutory Financial Information and Restrictions on Dividends and Transfers of Funds (Dividends) (Details) (USD $) | 9 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended |  | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended |  | 3 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2012 Selective Insurance Company of America [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Selective Insurance Company of America [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Selective Insurance Company of America [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Selective Way Insurance Company [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Selective Way Insurance Company [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Selective Insurance Company of South Carolina [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Selective Insurance Company of South Carolina [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Selective Insurance Company of the Southeast [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Selective Insurance Company of the Southeast [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Selective Insurance Company of New York [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Selective Insurance Company of New York [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Selective Insurance Company of New England [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Selective Insurance Company of New England [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Selective Insurance Company of New England [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Selective Auto Insurance Company of New Jersey [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Selective Auto Insurance Company of New Jersey [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Selective Casualty Insurance Company [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Selective Fire and Casualty Insurance Company [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Mesa Underwriting Specialty Insurance Company [Member] | Sep. 30, 2012 Parent Company [Member]
Capital Contribution To Subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 19,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 74,400,000 | $ 31,900,000 | $ 13,300,000 |
Maximum ordinary dividends |  | 103,600,000 | [1] |  |  |  | 50,700,000 | [1] |  | 22,200,000 | [1] |  | 9,100,000 | [1] |  | 6,900,000 | [1] |  | 7,300,000 | [1] |  |  | 1,400,000 | [1] |  | 6,000,000 | [1] |  |  |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 45,700,000 |  |  | 28,700,000 | [2] | 50,700,000 |  |  | 12,500,000 |  |  | 800,000 |  |  | 500,000 |  |  | 1,600,000 |  |  |  | 1,000,000 |  |  | 600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Extraordinary Dividends Paid To Parent | 134,000,000 |  |  | 134,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  | 0 |  |  | 0 |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |
Total dividends paid | 179,700,000 |  |  | 162,700,000 |  |  |  |  | 12,500,000 |  |  | 800,000 |  |  | 500,000 |  |  | 1,600,000 |  |  |  | 1,000,000 |  |  | 600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Retained earnings | 1,131,115,000 | 1,116,319,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,100,000,000
Investments In Subsidiaries And Parent Company Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,000,000,000
Remaining Retained Earnings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 87,000,000
Remaining Debt Interest Payments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 7,000,000
[1] | 1 Based on December 31, 2011 statutory data.
[2] | 2 SICA's ordinary dividends paid in the 12-month period ended September 30, 2012 were $50.7 million.

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