-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ms6bzHLBgyfVadDzZbHO6kukzFtc/08jyalqpaUiCIhr4VXAA2iCxbvflGixxhfJ
 /bdtZydZaxNPkYTwXxxmwg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-020327.txt : 20030825
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-020327.hdr.sgml : 20030825
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030825182518
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-020327
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030821
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030825

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SIMON PETER
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001249859

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12257
		FILM NUMBER:		03865171

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MERCURY INSURANCE GROUP
		STREET 2:		4484 WILSHIRE BLVD
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90010
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3238577140

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MERCURY GENERAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000064996
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				952211612
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4484 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90010
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2139371060

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LOS ANGELES
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd16455.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-21</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000064996</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MERCURY GENERAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MCY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001249859</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SIMON PETER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>555 W. IMPERIAL HWY.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BREA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92821</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>22.0625</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature><
/nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>44.52</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>996</value></sharesOwnedFoll
owingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>ESOP Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>22.0625</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>22.0625</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2000-12-10</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-12-10</value
></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>44.8209</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-11-06</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-11-06</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3000</v
alue></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>29.77</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-10-27</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-10-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Options granted 12/10/99, vested 20% per year for
 five years</footnote><footnote id="F2">Options granted 11/6/98, vested 20% per year for five years</footnote><footnote id="F3">Options granted 10/27/00, vested 20% per year for five years</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Judy Walters, Attorney-in-Fact for Pete Simon</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-25</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
