SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 3, 2003

                           MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION

               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

          California                   0-3681                  95-221-1612
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of      (Commission            (I.R.S. Employer
        Incorporation)               File Number)           Identification No.)

                             4484 Wilshire Boulevard
                          Los Angeles, California 90010

                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

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                                 (323) 937-1060

              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

      (c) Exhibits.

            99.1  Press Release, dated November 3, 2003, issued by Mercury
                  General Corporation, furnished pursuant to Item 12 of Form
                  8-K.

Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

      The following information is furnished pursuant to Item 12, "Results of
Operations and Financial Condition," and shall not be deemed "filed" for
purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or
otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section.

      On November 3, 2003, Mercury General Corporation issued a press release
announcing its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003.
A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

      The information contained in this Current Report, including the exhibit,
shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing of Mercury General
Corporation, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any
general incorporation language in such filing.


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                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: November 3, 2003          MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION

                                By: /s/ THEODORE STALICK
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                Name: Theodore Stalick
                                Its:  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


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                                  Exhibit Index

Exhibit 99.1. Press Release, dated November 3, 2003, issued by Mercury General
Corporation.


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