<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-07-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001048685</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>METALICO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MEA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000903106</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RFE MANAGEMENT CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RFE MANAGEMENT CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>36 GROVE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW CANAAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06840</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001319564</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RFE Investment Partners V, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RFE MANAGEMENT CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>36 GROVE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW CANAAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06840</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001319567</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RFE Associates V, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RFE MANAGEMENT CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>36 GROVE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW CANAAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06840</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001145246</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FOSTER MICHAEL J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RFE MANAGEMENT CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>36 GROVE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW CANAAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06840</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001319570</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Landis Howard C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RFE MANAGEMENT CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>36 GROVE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW CANAAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06840</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001319568</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Parsons James A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RFE MANAGEMENT CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>36 GROVE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW CANAAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06840</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-07-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-07-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4017561</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares of Preferred Stock were converted on a 1 for 1 basis and had no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares are held directly by RFE Investment Partners V, L.P. (&quot;RFE V&quot;).  RFE Associates V, L.P. (&quot;RFE Associates&quot;) is the general partner of RFE V, and RFE Management Corp. (&quot;RFE Management&quot;) is an investment manager.  Messrs. Michael J.  Foster, Howard C. Landis and James A. Parsons are general partners of RFE Associates and officers and/or directors of RFE management.  Each Reporting Person disclaims the existence of a &quot;group&quot; and disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities (except to the extent of such Reporting Person's pecuniary interest in such securities) other than any securities reported herein as being directly owned by such Reporting Person and this report shall not be deemed an admission that such Reporting person is the beneficial owner of any such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for an other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Donald Juricic, by power of attorney, for RFE Magagement Corp.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Donald Juricic, by power of attorney, for RFE Investment Partners V, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Donald Juricic, by power of attorney, for RFE Associates V, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Donald Juricic, by power of attorney, for Michael J. Foster</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Donald Juricic, by power of attorney, for Howard C. Landis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Donald Juricic, by power of attorney, for James A. Parsons</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
