COLUMBIA, S.C., May 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The South Carolina legislature instituted major regulation reform in the automobile insurance industry in 1997 and again in 1999. Since then, the number of insurers writing policies has doubled and overall rate levels have declined.

As more companies enter a state, auto insurance rates often decline. The newest auto insurance company to open in South Carolina, Unitrin Direct, could save new customers up to 20% on their car insurance rates. "We streamline our marketing efforts and pass the savings on to the consumer," said Scott Carter, Unitrin Direct president. "Savings is one benefit we plan to offer South Carolina drivers, but it's our focus on the customer that sets us apart. 'The right choice is simple' is our message, and we take it seriously. Unitrin Direct goes out of its way to make buying auto insurance simple and affordable."

In addition to pressing the competition on price, the company brings convenient online auto insurance options to South Carolina with its easy-to-use website, http://www.unitrindirect.com/. "We're constantly finding ways to simplify the process of getting an online auto insurance quote with our innovative website," said Elio Mariani, Unitrin Direct South Carolina product manager. "For example, we're about to test a new promotion for South Carolina residents with our E-signature service. Our customers save time by signing their policy documents online. Because this eliminates mail delays and hard-copy expenses, we're able to offer a sizable discount incentive to qualifying customers who sign electronically. Even customers who prefer to talk directly with a licensed agent can take advantage of signing their documents online; all they need is an e-mail address."

To speak with an experienced Unitrin Direct agent, customers can call (800) 642-5354. When customers use the "click-to-call" button online, an agent will call them immediately. "If you're in the middle of getting a car insurance quote, you might want to ask questions to an agent directly," said Mariani. "Click-to-call is just another feature that makes the process simple for our customers."

About Unitrin Direct:

Unitrin Direct is dedicated to simplifying auto insurance with the right balance of competitive rates, stability and service. As a subsidiary of Unitrin, Inc. , in Chicago, Unitrin Direct is part of a Unitrin family of companies that has six million policyholders and $9 billion in assets. The Unitrin Property and Casualty Insurance Group is rated "A" (excellent) by A.M. Best Company, a leading provider of financial information for the global insurance industry.

Unitrin Direct launched in South Carolina on May 16, 2006. Currently, the company offers affordable automobile insurance in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

CONTACT: Tom Mercer, Vice President, Marketing, Unitrin Direct (West
Coast), +1-760-597-4517, Tmercer@Unitrindirect.com, or Elio Mariani, South
Carolina Product Manager, Unitrin Direct, +1-813-775-2116,
Emariani@UnitrinDirect.com

Web site: http://www.unitrindirect.com/