-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VQaQ3gddcj8dWBdFrldj5djKN7RAC247RmYsizKhkdmjHVZ7PQ8opIYgtjBnO9PZ
 sBR/szyFALY2DQy4tBT/jQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000867579-03-000224.txt : 20030730
<SEC-HEADER>0000867579-03-000224.hdr.sgml : 20030730
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030730200006
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000867579-03-000224
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030728
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030730

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAFECO CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000086104
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				910742146
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4333 BROOKLYN AVE NE
		STREET 2:		SAFECO PLAZA
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98185
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2065455000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4333 BROOKLYN AVE NE
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98185

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GENERAL AMERICA CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19680529

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RUDDY JAMES W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205174

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06563
		FILM NUMBER:		03812873

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SAFECO
		STREET 2:		4333 BROOKLYN AVENUE NE
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98185
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2065455000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SAFECO
		STREET 2:		4333 BROOKLYN AVENUE NE
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98185
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-28</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000086104</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAFECO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SAFC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205174</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RUDDY JAMES W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SAFECO PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4333 BROOKLYN AVENUE N.E.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98185</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Sr. Vice Pres. &amp; Gen. Counsel</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-28</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>.753</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>36.65</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><valu
e>Common Stock </value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>.753</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>149.909</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">These Phantom Stock Units accrued under the Safeco Corporation Deferred Compensation and Supplemental Benefit Plan for Executives and will be settled in cash following termination of the reporting person's employment with Safeco Corporation.  </footnote><footnote id="F2">1 for 1 </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Catherine Romero Wright, Attorney-in-Fact for James W. Ruddy  </signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-30</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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