<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM MERCURY
GENERAL CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,373,501
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     217,116
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               1,631,976
<CASH>                                           5,474
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          67,405
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,959,213
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                432,615
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            357,625
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 95,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        50,582
<OTHER-SE>                                     885,955
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,959,213
<PREMIUMS>                                     304,655
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             25,484
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               1,482
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   1,757
<BENEFITS>                                     213,644
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     67,106
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            14,919
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 36,038
<INCOME-TAX>                                     6,100
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             29,938
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    29,938
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.55
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.55
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0