-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 D8BhC7UVVEH3wFkDt4DVhQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001129787-03-000098.txt : 20030702
<SEC-HEADER>0001129787-03-000098.hdr.sgml : 20030702
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030702140838
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001129787-03-000098
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030702

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INSURANCE AUTO AUCTIONS INC /CA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000880026
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-MOTOR VEHICLES & MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & SUPPLIES [5010]
		IRS NUMBER:				953790111
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		850 E ALGONQUIN RD
		STREET 2:		STE 100
		CITY:			SCHAUMGURG
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60173
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8478393939

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		850 E ALGONQUIN RD
		STREET 2:		STE 100
		CITY:			SCHAUMGURG
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60173

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UBBEN JEFFREY W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001159187
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19594
		FILM NUMBER:		03771124

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MANITIME PLAZA, SUITE 1400
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4153623700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MANITIME PLAZA, SUITE 1400
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111
</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>2003-06-30</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000880026</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INSURANCE AUTO AUCTIONS INC /CA</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IAAI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001159187</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>UBBEN JEFFREY W</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>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>12.66</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-30</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-09-30</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>5000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-09-30</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-06-30</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>5000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>0</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>12.66</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-30</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-09-30</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>5000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-09-30</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-06-30</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>5000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>19000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>see footnote 4</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options granted under 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.  The option becomes exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on 9/30/03.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Column 8 is not a required reportable field.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Jeffrey W. Ubben transferred the reported option to ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P., ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P. and ValueAct Capital International, Ltd.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The reported option is owned directly by ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P., ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P. and ValueAct Capital International, Ltd. and indirectly by VA Partners, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P. and ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P. and as the investment advisor of ValueAct Capital International, Ltd.  Jeffrey W. Ubben is a director of Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. and Managing Member of VA Partners, LLC, the General Partner of ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P. and ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P. and the investment advisor of ValueAct Capital International, Ltd.  Peter H. Kamin and George F. Hamel, Jr. are Managing Members of VA Partners, LLC, the General Partner of ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P. and ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P. and investment advisor of ValueAct Capital International, Ltd.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jeffrey W. Ubben</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter H. Kamin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>George F. Hamel, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P., by VA Partners, LLC., Its General Partner, by George F. Hamel, Jr., Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>ValueAct Capital Partners II, L.P., by VA Partners, LLC, Its General Partner, by George F. Hamel, Jr. Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>ValueAct Capital International, Ltd., by VA Partners, LLC, Its Investment Manager, by George F. Hamel, Jr. Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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