<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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,411,691
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     210,794
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               1,669,347
<CASH>                                           3,510
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          67,320
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,990,393
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                445,398
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            357,942
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 95,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           50,799
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                     899,031
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,990,393
<PREMIUMS>                                     616,842
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             51,671
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               2,159
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   3,845
<BENEFITS>                                     437,903
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    136,766
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            30,196
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 66,270
<INCOME-TAX>                                    10,330
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             55,940
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    55,940
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.03
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0