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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H43bGdYF3zV0lY1IlzSWMzOuQ7anhkqSlV3pWBemkzCtwSt3wuEN0kayPgEBW3XB
 yDMKZ1HR05RYdq5BKIm3SA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-015845.txt : 20030806
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-015845.hdr.sgml : 20030806
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030806192435
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-015845
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030805
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030806

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KORST CHRISTOPHER A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201323

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25370
		FILM NUMBER:		03827431

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5700 TENNYSON PKWY STE 180
		CITY:			PLANO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75024

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RENT A CENTER INC DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000933036
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EQUIPMENT RENTAL & LEASING, NEC [7359]
		IRS NUMBER:				481024367
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5700 TENNYSON PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		THIRD FLOOR
		CITY:			PLANO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75024
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2144192613

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5700 TENNYSON PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		THIRD FLOOR
		CITY:			PLANO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75024

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RENTERS CHOICE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19941128
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-05</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000933036</issuerCik><issuerName>RENT A CENTER INC DE</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>RCII</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001201323</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>KORST CHRISTOPHER A</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>5700 TENNYSON PKWY., THIRD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>PLANO</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>75024</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior VP - General Counsel</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></
reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common stock, par value $.01 per share</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>46.25</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common stock, par value 
$.01 per share</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>68.47</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock, par value $.01 per share</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>130.009</val
ue></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Issuer 401(k) Plan</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Purchase)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>46.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2" /></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDispos
edCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>47500</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The information in this report is based on a plan statement dated as of June 30, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F2">On July 12, 2001, the reporting person was granted 50,000 options to purchase the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), pursuant to the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan.  Pursuant to the reporting person's stock o
ption agreement, 20,000 of the options vest over a period of four years, in the amounts of 5,000 on July 12, 2002; 5,000 on July 12, 2003; 5,000 on July 12, 2004; and 5,000 on July 12, 2005.  For the remaining 30,000 options, the agreement provides for graduated vesting upon the passage of legislation in certain states in which the Company does business.  The agreement further provides that all 50,000 options shall vest upon the enactment of United States federal legislation governing the rent-to-own industry that is favorable to the Company.  The options expire 10 years from the date of the grant.  As of the reporting date, 7,500 options are available for exercise by the reporting person pursuant to this grant.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Includes 47,500 options to purchase the Company's Common Stock pursuant to the reporting person's July 12, 2001 grant, 7,500 of which are currently exercisable.  </footnote></footnotes><remarks>On December 31, 2002, Rent-A-Center, Inc. (the "Company") became the successor 
of Rent-A-Center East, Inc. (formerly known as Rent-A-Center, Inc.) pursuant to a merger.  The merger resulted in the Company becoming a parent holding company of Rent-A-Center East, Inc., but did not alter the proportionate interests of security holders.</remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Christopher A. Korst</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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