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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-09-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000889609</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CPSS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001259957</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEVINE LEICHTMAN CAPITAL PARTNERS INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>335 N. MAPLE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 240</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001259958</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEVINE ARTHUR E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>335 N. MAPLE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 240</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001259959</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEICHTMAN LAUREN B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>335 N. MAPLE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 240</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001438895</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Levine Leichtman Capital Partners IV, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>335 N. MAPLE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 240</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001439015</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LLCP Partners IV GP, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>335 N. MAPLE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 240</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90210</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>2013-09-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18372</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.7035</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1167613</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the weighted average sales price for a number of sale transactions effected at prices ranging from $5.67 to $5.76. The Reporting Person has provided to the issuer, and undertakes to provide upon request by the SEC staff, or any security holder of the issuer, information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This Form 4 is being filed by more than one reporting person. Levine Leichtman Capital Partners IV, L.P. (the &quot;Partnership&quot;) is the direct beneficial owner of the securities described above. LLCP Partners IV GP, LLC (the &quot;General Partner&quot;) is the sole general partner of the Partnership. Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, Inc. (&quot;Capital Corp.&quot;) is the sole manager of the General Partner. Arthur E. Levine is a director and shareholder of, and the President of, Capital Corp. Lauren B. Leichtman is a director and shareholder of, and the Chief Executive Officer of, Capital Corp. Each of the General Partner, Capital Corp., Mr. Levine and Ms. Leichtman may be deemed to be an indirect beneficial owner of the equity securities reported herein and disclaims beneficial ownership of such equity securities except to the extent of his, her or its indirect pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Steven E. Hartman for Steven E. Hartman, Vice President, on behalf of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, Inc., the sole manager of LLCP Partners IV, L.P., which is the sole general partner of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners IV, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-09-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Steven E. Hartman for Steven E. Hartman, Vice President, on behalf of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, Inc., the sole manager of LLCP Partners IV, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-09-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Steven E. Hartman for Steven E. Hartman, Vice President, on behalf of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, Inc.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-09-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Arthur E. Levine</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-09-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Lauren B. Leichtman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-09-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
