<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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,317,004
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     200,000
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               1,587,010
<CASH>                                           3,543
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          61,063
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,869,082
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                408,460
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            326,961
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 75,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           48,750
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                     850,854
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,869,082
<PREMIUMS>                                     835,420
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             71,601
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               7,542
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   3,877
<BENEFITS>                                     504,248
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    185,705
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            32,233
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                192,669
<INCOME-TAX>                                    49,558
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            143,111
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   143,111
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.60
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.58
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0