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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-12-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000049615</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ID SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IDSY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001058854</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CANNELL CAPITAL LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>245 MERIWETHER CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>83414</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>2018-12-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>117616</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.1723</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2247326</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By partnerships and corporations</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-12-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5885</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.2803</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2253211</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By partnerships and corporations</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">As of December 26, 2018, Tonga Partners, LP, Cuttyhunk II Fund, Tristan Partners, LP, Tristan Offshore Fund, Ltd. and sundry separately managed accounts (collectively the &quot;Cannell Investment Vehicles&quot;) owned in the aggregate 2,253,211 shares of the common stock of the common stock of I.D.Systems, Inc</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Cannell Capital LLC acts as the investment sub-adviser to the Cuttyhunk II Fund, the investment advisor to Tristan Offshore Funds, Ltd. and the sundry separately managed accounts, and serves as the general partner of and investment adviser to Tonga Partners, LP and Tristan Partners, LP. J. Carlo Cannell is the sole managing member of Cannell Capital LLC. As such, Mr. Cannell possesses sole power to vote and direct the disposition of all securities of I.D.Systems, Inc. held by the Cannell Investment Vehicles. Thus, for the purposes of Reg. Section 240.13d-3, as of December 26, 2018, Mr. Cannell beneficially owns 2,253,211 shares. Mr. Cannell's interest in the securities reported herein is limited to the extent of his pecuniary interest in each of the Cannell Investment Vehicles, if any.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ J. Carlo Cannell, on behalf of Cannell Capital LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-12-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
