<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-11</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-12-12</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000018808</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001023068</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEEHAN WILLIAM J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>77 GROVE ST</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RUTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>05701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Trans/Gen Plng &amp; Reg Affair</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.4375</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2003-12-11</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.4375</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1994-05-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-05-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.075</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2003-12-11</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4300</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.075</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-05-07</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-05-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock - $6 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4300</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Form 4 filed previously on December 12, 2003 showed these shares in Column 5. subcolumn (A)indicating an acquisition.  These shares should have been indicated in subcolumn (D) indicating a disposition.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mary C. Marzec/By POA for William J. Deehan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

