XML 31 R18.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.6.0.2

Dividends | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016
Dividends [Abstract] |
Dividends | Dividends The following table presents shareholder dividends paid:
| Year Ended December 31,
| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
| (Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
Total paid | $ | 137,201 |  |  | $ | 136,386 |  |  | $ | 135,496 |
Per share paid | $ | 2.4825 |  |  | $ | 2.4725 |  |  | $ | 2.4625 |
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. As of December 31, 2016, the insurance subsidiaries of the Company are permitted to pay approximately $144 million in dividends in 2017 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 2016, 2015, and 2014, the Insurance Companies paid Mercury General ordinary dividends of $111 million, $133 million, and $225 million, respectively. On February 3, 2017, the Board of Directors declared a $0.6225 quarterly dividend payable on March 30, 2017 to shareholders of record on March 16, 2017.

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