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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,
 A1Un79PbNesd2W+PR+0su7EOXRv+3OlN4ut7EPi5MdfTaraOiIiUUhg5g22Z249k
 mTfctTlCGk0TYQC9BQrSAA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000813461-03-000023.txt : 20030915
<SEC-HEADER>0000813461-03-000023.hdr.sgml : 20030915
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030915164652
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000813461-03-000023
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030915
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030915

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WESTCORP /CA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000813461
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				510308535
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		23 PASTEUR RD
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92618-3804
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9497271000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		23 PASTEUR RD
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92718-3804

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	WESTCORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900917

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARTIN DAWN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001179878

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09910
		FILM NUMBER:		03896089

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		952 CARNATION AVE
		CITY:			COSTA MESA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92626
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7146419271

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		952 CARNATION AVE
		CITY:			COSTA MESA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92626
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-15</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000813461</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WESTCORP /CA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>wes</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179878</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARTIN DAWN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>23 PASTEUR ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92618</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>SVP/Chief Information Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>12.67</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natur
eOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.67</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2000-04-27</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-04-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecu
rityShares><value>1500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3500</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">1,250 vested 4/27/2000 and 250 vested 4/27/2001</footnote><footnote id="F2">1,000 vested 4/27/2001, 1,250 vested 4/27/2002 and 1,250 vested 4/27/2003. Not exercised.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Dawn Martin by: Guy Du Bose POA</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-15</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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