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

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-09-11</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001789336</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ranganath Suneet</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4695 MACARTHUR COURT,  SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWPORT BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92660</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>See Remarks</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6751</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These restricted shares were granted to reporting person on June 28, 2019 in connection with his hiring. Such shares vest in equal tranches on each of the first, second and third anniversary of the commencement of his employment, which was May 1, 2019 and are subject to the terms and conditions of the issuer's standard time-based restricted shares agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>V.P. GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN &amp; MANUFACTURING

(2) The reporting person has executed a Power of Attorney dated September 20, 2019 permitting execution of Forms 3, 4 and 5 by two attorneys-in-fact; a copy of that Power of Attorney is filed herewith.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ SUNEET RANGANATH</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-09-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
