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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 U0MCj0ucLa9HTBfSjU5QvsmDRvjbDU+IfWbVWwF/vfkKoYrjvwOaA42LJw4VQRq9
 HVv9IoGrTKPUWO053fjWsg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-036340.txt : 20031217
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-036340.hdr.sgml : 20031217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031217170757
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-036340
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031217

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORMAN BRUCE E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001240165

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12257
		FILM NUMBER:		031060553

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MERCURY INSURANCE
		STREET 2:		4484 WILSHIRE BLVD
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90010
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3239371060

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MERCURY GENERAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000064996
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				952211612
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4484 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90010
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2139371060

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LOS ANGELES
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd26190.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-15</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000064996</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MERCURY GENERAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MCY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001240165</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NORMAN BRUCE E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>27200 TOURNEY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARITA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91355</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>200</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>70272</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnersh
ip><natureOfOwnership><value>By Trust</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7100</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>45.75</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>63172</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Trust</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDe
rivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Gift</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes ESOP allocation for disposition since last report</footnote><footnote id="F3">Includes ESOP allocation for disposition since last report</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Judy Walters, Attorney-in-Fact for Bruce Norman</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-17</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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