XML 33 R18.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Dividends | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015
Dividends [Abstract] |
Dividends | Dividends The following table presents shareholder dividends paid:
| Year Ended December 31,
| 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
| (Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
Total paid | $ | 136,386 |  |  | $ | 135,496 |  |  | $ | 134,776 |
Per share paid | $ | 2.4725 |  |  | $ | 2.4625 |  |  | $ | 2.4525 |
The Insurance Companies are subject to the financial capacity guidelines established by their domiciliary states. The payment of dividends from statutory unassigned surplus of the Insurance Companies is restricted, subject to certain statutory limitations. For 2015, the insurance subsidiaries of the Company are permitted to pay approximately $164 million in dividends to Mercury General without the prior approval of the DOI of domiciliary states. The above statutory regulations may have the effect of indirectly limiting the ability of the Company to pay shareholder dividends. During 2015, 2014, and 2013, the Insurance Companies paid the Mercury General ordinary dividends of $133 million, $225 million, and $120 million, respectively. On February 5, 2016, the Board of Directors declared a $0.62 quarterly dividend payable on March 31, 2016 to shareholders of record on March 17, 2016.

X
- Definition This includes a summary of shareholder dividends paid in total and per share. Further, this includes disclosures relating to statutory restrictions on the payment of dividends as prescribed by state regulatory authorities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mcy_DividendsAndStatutoryRestrictionsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | mcy_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DividendsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration