8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 15, 2004

                           MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

          California                   0-3681                   95-221-1612
(State or Other Jurisdiction of      (Commission             (I.R.S. Employer
        Incorporation)               File Number)            Identification No.)

                             4484 Wilshire Boulevard
                          Los Angeles, California 90010
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                                   ----------

                                 (323) 937-1060

              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                   ----------

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[_]   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
      CFR 230.425)

[_]   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 425 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14.a-12)

[_]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[_]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Item 8.01. Other Events

      On October 15, 2004, Mercury General Corporation issued a press release
regarding preliminary estimates of losses resulting from the four hurricanes
that ravaged Florida during the third quarter ended September 30, 2004. A copy
of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

      (c)   Exhibits.

            99.1  Press release issued by Mercury General Corporation on October
                  15, 2004.


                                      -2-


                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: October 15, 2004                  MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION



                                        By: /s/Theodore Stalick
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name:  Theodore Stalick
                                        Its:  Chief Financial Officer


                                      -3-


                                  Exhibit Index

Exhibit 99.1.    Press release issued by Mercury General Corporation October 15,
                 2004.


                                      -4-

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1



  Mercury General Corporation Announces Third Quarter Hurricane Loss Estimate

    LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mercury General Corporation
(NYSE: MCY) announced today estimates of its total losses from the four
hurricanes that ravaged Florida during the third quarter.
    Mercury estimates total losses from the four storms to be approximately
$24 million.  The after-tax effect on third quarter net income is estimated to
be approximately $16 million ($0.29 per diluted share).  This estimate is
based on the total number of currently reported claims and the number of
unreported claims anticipated as a result of the hurricanes.
    Included in the $24 million loss estimate is an estimated $7 million in
losses related to Hurricane Charley.  On August 26, 2004 the Company announced
previously estimated losses from that storm to be within a $7 million to
$9 million range.
    As previously announced, Mercury will be releasing its full results for
the third quarter ended September 30, 2004 on Monday, November 1, 2004.  The
Company's Chief Executive Officer, George Joseph and President, Gabriel
Tirador will host an investor conference call and webcast that same day at
10:00 A.M. Pacific Time (1:00 P.M. Eastern Time) to review the Company's
results of operations for the third quarter period.

    All interested investors will be able to access the conference call at
1 (877) 807-1888 or the webcast at http://www.mercuryinsurance.com.  A replay
of the call will be available beginning at 1:30 P.M. Pacific Time and running
through November 8, 2004.  The replay telephone numbers are (800) 642-1687
(USA) or (706) 645-9291 (International).  The conference ID# is 1398662.  The
replay will also be available on our website shortly following the call.

    Mercury General Corporation and its subsidiaries are a multiple line
insurance organization offering predominantly personal automobile and
homeowners insurance through a network of independent agents and brokers in
many states.  For more information, visit our website at
http://www.mercuryinsurance.com.

    The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe
harbor" for certain forward-looking statements.  The statements contained in
this press release regarding the Company's estimated losses from the four
recent hurricanes to hit Florida are forward-looking statements based on the
Company's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and
their potential effects on the Company.  There can be no assurance that future
developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by the Company.
Actual results may differ from those projected in the forward-looking
statements.  These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and
uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the Company) and are
subject to change based upon various factors, including but not limited to the
following risks and uncertainties: uncertainties related to estimates,
assumptions and projections generally; the possibility actual loss experience
may vary adversely from the estimates made to determine the Company's loss
reserves; inflation and changes in economic conditions: court decisions and
trends in litigation and various legal, regulatory and litigation risks.  The
Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as the result of new information, future
events or otherwise.  For a more detailed discussion of some of the foregoing
risks and uncertainties, see the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

SOURCE  Mercury General Corporation
    -0-                             10/15/2004
    /CONTACT:  Theodore Stalick, VP/CFO of Mercury General Corporation,
+1-323-937-1060/
    /Web site:  http://www.mercuryinsurance.com /
    (MCY)

CO:  Mercury General Corporation
ST:  California
IN:  FIN INS
SU:  CCA