<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           141,480
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                       6,168
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 147,648
<CASH>                                          17,854
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              14,065
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           6,943
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 344,377
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                105,523
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             64,031
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 13,261
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            87
<OTHER-SE>                                     118,086
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   344,377
<PREMIUMS>                                      19,063
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              2,071
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  44
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   2,115
<BENEFITS>                                      10,367
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      1,958
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            12,263
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  4,348
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,064
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              3,284
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,284
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.36
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                  60,786<F1>
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                 61,751<F1>
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>(Before reinsurance recoverable.)
</FN>