LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Unitrin (Nachrichten) Direct, an auto insurance company that combines affordable coverage with a high-level of customer service, has been approved to do business in Kentucky, which could mean significant savings for the state's nearly three million licensed drivers.

Kentucky is the 23rd state where auto insurance has been made available by Unitrin Direct, a company with a proven history of saving its customers money and an A (excellent) rating by A.M. Best. Drivers who switch to Unitrin Direct from another carrier pay an average of $303 less for their coverage.*

"We've received an overwhelming response from people across the country who are thrilled with our low car insurance rates and outstanding customer service, and we're excited to bring that to Kentucky," said Tom Mercer, vice president, marketing. "This is a great opportunity for Kentucky drivers to comparison shop and see how much they could be saving on their auto insurance."

Using the latest communications technology, including newly installed Avaya and Tealeaf systems, Unitrin Direct has streamlined the process of getting either an online auto insurance quote or a phone quote from a licensed agent. By logging on to http://www.unitrindirect.com/ or calling (800) 642-5254, customers can find out in less than 10 minutes how much they might be able to save.

"One of our biggest priorities is to eliminate the hoops that customers normally have to jump through to get a lower rate," said Brian Crumbaker, senior vice president, operations and claims. "Unitrin Direct's technological upgrades make shopping for auto insurance faster and easier than ever."

Along with savings and convenience, Unitrin Direct also prides itself in giving customers easy access to help when they need it. With that in mind, the company has invested heavily in information technology. If policyholders are in an accident, they'll have a personal claims representative assigned to them to coordinate each and every detail of their claim so they can get back on the road quickly.

"Low rates don't prevent us from providing friendly, hands-on service," Mercer said. "That's one of the big advantages of our direct business model."

Unitrin Direct is offering new discounts for Kentucky residents, including up to a $75 break for buying their car insurance online and further savings for paying in full at the time the policy is purchased.

"We know that saving money is of great importance to anybody looking for car insurance," said Shaun McGovern, Kentucky product director for Unitrin Direct. "Our goal is to make driving in Kentucky more affordable."

About Unitrin Direct

Unitrin Direct is dedicated to providing its customers with outstanding service and quality coverage at competitive prices. The company makes auto insurance simple by offering people the choices they want with the convenience they deserve. The Unitrin Direct insurance companies are subsidiaries of Unitrin, Inc. in Chicago, and part of the Unitrin family of companies that has over six million policyholders, $9 billion in assets and is rated "A" (excellent) by A.M. Best Company, a leading provider of financial information for the global insurance industry. Unitrin Direct offers affordable automobile insurance in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. To get a free auto insurance quote, log on to http://www.unitrindirect.com/ or call (800) 642-5254.

*Average savings based on new customers who reported savings between March and June 2006.

Insurance underwritten by Unitrin Direct Property&Casualty Company and Unitrin Direct Insurance Company.

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Source: PR Newswire