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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,
 UNnx5gk1siGybpUOtEA68mcqAgo7ZhsnAdDwFJO7jK0kvvD6hLwsMVInqJyXtgnD
 D8ftCUcJMCLzrCY69FFqPQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-014094.txt : 20050711
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-014094.hdr.sgml : 20050711
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050711160703
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-014094
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050627
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050711
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050711

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN VANGUARD CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000005981
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AGRICULTURE CHEMICALS [2870]
		IRS NUMBER:				952588080
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4695 MACARTHUR COURT
		CITY:			NEWPORT BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92660
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9492601200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4695 MACARTHUR COURT
		CITY:			NEWPORT BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92660

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AEROCON INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720620

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KRAFT HERBERT A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001156998

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13795
		FILM NUMBER:		05948290

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9492601200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4695 MACARTHUR BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1250
		CITY:			NEWPORT BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92660
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-06-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000005981</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN VANGUARD CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AVD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001156998</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KRAFT HERBERT A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>19245 BERNETTA PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TARZANA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91356</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-06-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2812547</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares are held in a family trust where the reporting person is a trustee, except as to 10,376 shares held by the reporting person in an IRA.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Herbert A. Kraft</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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