-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AOzs8jhfKREkXaGCUMgZ9dmvyfQwaSxvYJgH8zHk5ybIBBj5HNNFtYOUy1ZrttZp
 fuUUcaGKoAVQ0tExC2Dwag==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001227278-03-000003.txt : 20030523
<SEC-HEADER>0001227278-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20030523
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030523152508
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001227278-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030521
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030523

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PARKER A SCOTT III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227280

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-11774
		FILM NUMBER:		03718158

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		211 CASCADE DRIVE
		CITY:			HIGH POINT
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27265
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9199682200

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INVESTORS TITLE CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000720858
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TITLE INSURANCE [6361]
		IRS NUMBER:				561110199
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		121 N COLUMBIA ST
		STREET 2:		P O DRAWER 2687
		CITY:			CHAPEL HILL
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27514
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9199682200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		121 NORTH COLUMBIA STREET
		CITY:			CHAPEL HILL
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27514
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-21</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000720858</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INVESTORS TITLE CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ITIC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227280</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PARKER A SCOTT III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-02-11</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1950</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>23.04</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>81281</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>25.28</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-21</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>500</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>25.28</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-05-21</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-05-21</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>500</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>500</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant to reporting person of option to buy 500 shares of common stock immediately exercisable in full.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">77,905 owned directly, and 3,376 owned indirectly by wife.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>A. Scott Parker III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----