-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 C2Rw7OB7j135uAcPqlgaPYH/TNhqcRCNtul6T0STmVPnhFI82CY6dIEqaKvJXsUA
 Ab9vlWItU9YK7Edrs3FEwQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000879554-04-000024.txt : 20040527
<SEC-HEADER>0000879554-04-000024.hdr.sgml : 20040527
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040527111900
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000879554-04-000024
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040525
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040527

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHECKERS DRIVE IN RESTAURANTS INC /DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000879554
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				581654960
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4300 WEST CYPRESS STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			TAMPA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33607
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8132837000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4300 WEST CYPRESS STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			TAMPA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33607

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SUGARMAN BURT R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001007615

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19649
		FILM NUMBER:		04834017

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9000 SUNSET BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		16TH FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90069
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3102735678

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9000 SUNSET BOULVARD
		STREET 2:		16TH FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90069
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000879554</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHECKERS DRIVE IN RESTAURANTS INC /DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHKR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001007615</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SUGARMAN BURT R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9440 SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 407</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>49751</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.2016</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>88905</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.2016</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>49751</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1994-08-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-08-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>49751</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Brian R. Doster, as Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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