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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VE8cdnqE8XsFaSyupTcbma4r/5/4M16AwaCJZIrFZhGTC8jW4M0z0LdbTyhnzKw1
 1asb5vYGY/42Hp823JnNVg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001189738-03-000043.txt : 20031118
<SEC-HEADER>0001189738-03-000043.hdr.sgml : 20031118
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031118105649
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001189738-03-000043
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031118

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:			OBRIEN THOMAS C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001196038
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-MOTOR VEHICLES & MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & SUPPLIES [5010]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19594
		FILM NUMBER:		031009664

	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
</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>2003-11-14</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000880026</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INSURANCE AUTO AUCTIONS INC /CA</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IAAI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001196038</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OBRIEN THOMAS C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>INSURANCE AUTO AUCTIONS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>850 E. ALGONQUIN RD., STE. 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCHAUMBURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60173</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16503</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndire
ctOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>13.85</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>60000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>13.85</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-11-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><
value>60000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>420000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Restricted stock</footnote><footnote id="F2">Options granted under 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.  The option to buy shares of Insurance Auto Acutions, Inc. will become exercisable in 25% increments annually over four (4) years.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Thomas C. O'Brien</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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