-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KI1QZT0o24J2P8YPV+bumTHB0GlAO9jfFV9LHo7tjVxsSicIOHIM+JSiHfmtKVPX
 E6pU1jJakOhZ4+zBbxEyXQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-033184.txt : 20040630
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-033184.hdr.sgml : 20040630
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040630180438
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-033184
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040430
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040630

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			McCathron Richard
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001294172

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12257
		FILM NUMBER:		04892415

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		512-346-3724

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8240 N. MOPAC EXPRESSWAY, #215
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78759

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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd46859.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-30</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000064996</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MERCURY GENERAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MCY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001294172</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>McCathron Richard</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8240 N. MOPAC EXPRESSWAY, #215</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AUSTIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78759</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>539</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>ESOP Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.22</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-08-10</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-08-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.77</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-10-27</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-10-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>51.3650</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-04-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Judy Walters, Attorney-In-Fact for Richard McCathron</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----