Mercury General Corporation Increases Dividend 10.4%

    LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29 Mercury General Corporation
, a major California automobile insurer with operations in several
other states, announced that its Board of Directors, on January 26, 2001,
declared a first quarter dividend of $.265, an annual rate of $1.06,
representing a 10.4% increase over the rate paid in 2000.  The increased
dividend will be paid on March 29, 2001 to shareholders of record on March 15,
2001.
    Since dividends were instituted in the first quarter of 1986, Mercury
General's dividend has increased at least once each year with the overall
compound rate of increase over fifteen years averaging 22%.