XML 73 R19.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3.a.u2

Dividends | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019
Dividends [Abstract] |
Dividends | Dividends The following table presents shareholder dividends paid:
| Year Ended December 31,
| 2019 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
| (Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
Total paid | $ | 139,071 |  |  | $ | 138,478 |  |  | $ | 137,886 |
Per share paid | $ | 2.5125 |  |  | $ | 2.5025 |  |  | $ | 2.4925 |
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, 2019, the insurance subsidiaries of the Company are permitted to pay approximately $151 million in dividends in 2020 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 2019, 2018, and 2017, the Insurance Companies paid Mercury General ordinary dividends of $114 million, $135 million, and $109 million, respectively. On February 7, 2020, the Board of Directors declared a $0.6300 quarterly dividend payable on March 31, 2020 to shareholders of record on March 17, 2020.

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