Mercury General Corporation Increases Dividend 10.0%

    LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3 -- Mercury General Corporation , a major California automobile insurer
with operations in several other states, announced that its Board of
Directors, on January 31, 2003, declared a first quarter dividend of $.33, an
annual rate of $1.32, representing a 10.0% increase over the rate paid in
2002.  The dividend will be paid on March 27, 2003 to shareholders of record
on March 17, 2003.
    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 seventeen years averaging 21%.

    The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe
harbor" for certain forward-looking statements.  The statements contained in
this press release are forward-looking statements based on the Company's
current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their
potential effects on the Company.  There can be no assurance that future
developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by the Company.
Actual results may differ from those projected in the forward-looking
statements.  These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and
uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the Company) and are
subject to change based upon various factors, including but not limited to the
following risks and uncertainties:  changes in the demand for the Company's
insurance products, and in general economic conditions; the accuracy and
adequacy of the Company's pricing methodologies; market risks associated with
the Company's investment portfolio; uncertainties related to estimates,
assumptions and projections generally; the possibility actual loss experience
may vary adversely from the actuarial estimates made to determine the
Company's loss reserves; inflation and changes in economic conditions; the
Company's ability to obtain and the timing of regulatory approval for
requested rate changes; legislation adverse to the automobile insurance
industry or business generally that may be enacted in California or other
states; the presence of competitors with greater financial resources and the
impact of competitive pricing; changes in driving patterns and loss trends;
acts of war and terrorist activities; court decisions and trends in litigation
and health care and auto repair costs and marketing efforts; and various
legal, regulatory and litigation risks.  The Company undertakes no obligation
to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as the
result of new information, future events or otherwise.  For a more detailed
discussion of some of the foregoing risks and uncertainties, see the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.