<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> <RESTATED> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 780,693 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 117,686 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 939,697 <CASH> 4,062 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 35,455 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,103,406 <POLICY-LOSSES> 261,804 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 178,550 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 25,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 41,405 <OTHER-SE> 524,045 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,103,406 <PREMIUMS> 169,563 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 16,437 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 203 <OTHER-INCOME> 351 <BENEFITS> 117,418 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 35,833 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 5,858 <INCOME-PRETAX> 27,420 <INCOME-TAX> 5,510 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 21,910 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 21,910 <EPS-PRIMARY> .80 <EPS-DILUTED> .80 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0