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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UqjUS+l5ymmJpR8VAh35jo28RMd3SBGcB5hU19Fspc1kdWjAroWm5XpSXW4xRHym
 KUHG0qqo1PQ7qisAxhzl8g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001258618-10-000012.txt : 20100908
<SEC-HEADER>0001258618-10-000012.hdr.sgml : 20100908
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100908185949
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001258618-10-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100907
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100908
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100908

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BERGER DAVID A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001258616

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09511
		FILM NUMBER:		101063145

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000728303
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-MOTOR VEHICLE SUPPLIES & NEW PARTS [5013]
		IRS NUMBER:				942490990
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1982 ZANKER RD
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95112
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4084368611

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1982 ZANKER RD
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95112

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COAST RV INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880619
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-09-07</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000728303</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258616</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERGER DAVID A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>350 WOODVIEW AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MORGAN HILL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95037</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice Presdient</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.68</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>41331</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David A. Berger</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-09-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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