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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LYtHxzpZfMR6FIKgXMCWxxMwmLPI5g2HS7YWUAIjrW4DEia6EaGMQhO5eUgUnHvH
 O+7qVNLh0+YcwRONUzsURA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000860748-03-000030.txt : 20031223
<SEC-HEADER>0000860748-03-000030.hdr.sgml : 20031223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031223132157
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000860748-03-000030
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROESKE RICHARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214026

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-18298
		FILM NUMBER:		031070293

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EAST WACKER DR
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNITRIN INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000860748
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				954255452
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EAST WACKER DR
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3126614600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EAST WACKER DR
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601
</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>2003-12-22</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000860748</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITRIN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UTR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214026</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROESKE RICHARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE EAST WACKER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><officerTitle> Vice President &amp;</officerTitle><otherText>Principal Accounting Officer</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1585</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>37.0508</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>21398.65</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><
value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1457</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>41.81</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20151.126</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativ
eTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>37.0508</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1585</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1999-12-25</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-05-04</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1585</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTra
nsactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Total includes shares acquired under a bank-sponsored dividend reinvestment plan, which are exempt from reporting by SEC Rule 16a-11.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Rights to buy.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Reporting person holds a total of 73,962 options under the Unitrin, Inc. 1990, 1997 and 2002 Stock Option Plans.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Richard Roeske</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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