<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM MERCURY
GENERAL CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,459,758
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     235,009
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               1,748,089
<CASH>                                           6,216
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          68,329
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,108,001
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                477,635
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            372,076
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                112,889
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           50,701
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                     934,765
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,108,001
<PREMIUMS>                                     931,950
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             78,536
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               2,784
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   4,383
<BENEFITS>                                     664,609
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    204,768
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            44,742
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 98,315
<INCOME-TAX>                                    14,954
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             83,361
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    83,361
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.54
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.54
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0