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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-08-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000909413</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HANOVER COMPRESSOR CO /</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000937541</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KAMIN PETER H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>265 FRANKLIN STREET, 16TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02110</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001129787</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VA PARTNERS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>FOURTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001375350</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VA Partners III, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE, 4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001351069</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ValueAct Capital Management, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE, 4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001351073</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ValueAct Capital Management, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE, 4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001159187</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>UBBEN JEFFREY W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE, FOURTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</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>2007-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4700</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9879100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1725500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares of common stock were disposed pursuant to the Agreement &amp; Plan of Merger, dated February 5, 2007, as amended, among Universal Compression Holdings, Inc. (&quot;Universal&quot;), Iliad Holdings, Inc. (now known as Exterran Holdings, Inc. (&quot;Exterran&quot;)), Ulysses Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Exterran, Hector Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Exterran, &amp; Hanover Compressor Company (&quot;Hanover&quot;) (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;).  As a result of the mergers contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Universal &amp; Hanover became wholly owned subsidiaries of Exterran &amp; the reporting person has the right to receive 0.325 shares of Exterran common stock for each share of hanover common stock &amp; the right to receive cash for any fractional share the reporting person otherwise would receive pursuant to the mergers.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Under an agreement with ValueAct Capital, Peter H. Kamin is deemed to hold the shares for the benefit of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. &amp; ValueAct Capital Master Fund III, L.P. &amp; indirectly for (i) VA Partners, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P.(ii) VA Partners III, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Master Fund III, L.P (iii) ValueAct Capital Management, L.P. as the manager of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. &amp; ValueAct Capital Master Fund III, L.P. &amp; (iv) ValueAct Capital Management, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Management, L.P. Peter H. Kamin is a director of Hanover Compressor Company &amp; a Managing Member of VA Partners, LLC, VA Partners III, LLC &amp; ValueAct Capital Management, LLC. Jeffrey W. Ubben &amp; George F. Hamel are Managing Members of VA Partners, LLC, VA Partners III, LLC &amp; ValueAct Capital Management, LLC. Mr. Kamin disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported stock except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reported shares are owned directly by ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. &amp; may be deemed to be beneficially owned by (i) VA Partners, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. (ii) ValueAct Capital Management, L.P. as the manager of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. &amp; (iii) ValueAct Capital Management, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Management, L.P.  Peter H. Kamin is a Managing Member of VA Partners, LLC &amp; ValueAct Capital Management, L.P.  Mr. Kamin disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Reported shares are owned directly by ValueAct Capital Master Fund III, L.P. &amp; may be deemed to be beneficially owned by (i) VA Partners III, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Master Fund III, L.P. (ii) ValueAct Capital Management, L.P. as the manager of ValueAct Capital Master Fund III, L.P. &amp; (iii) ValueAct Capital Management, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Management, L.P.  Peter H. Kamin is a Managing Member of VA Partners III, LLC &amp; ValueAct Capital Management, L.P.  Mr. Kamin disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Joint Filer Information

Name: ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P.
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: Peter H. Kamin
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Hanover Compressor Company (HC)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: August 20, 2007

Name: VA Partners, LLC
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: Peter H. Kamin
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Hanover Compressor Company (HC)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: August 20, 2007

Name: ValueAct Capital Master Fund III, L.P.
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: Peter H. Kamin
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Hanover Compressor Company (HC)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: August 20, 2007

Name: VA Partners III, LLC
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: Peter H. Kamin
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Hanover Compressor Company (HC)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: August 20, 2007

Name: ValueAct Capital Management, L.P.
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: Peter H. Kamin
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Hanover Compressor Company (HC)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: August 20, 2007

Name: ValueAct Capital Management, LLC
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: Peter H. Kamin
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Hanover Compressor Company (HC)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: August 20, 2007

Name: George F. Hamel, Jr.
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: Peter H. Kamin
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Hanover Compressor Company (HC)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: August 20, 2007

Name: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: Peter H. Kamin
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Hanover Compressor Company (HC)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: August 20, 2007</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Peter H. Kamin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VA PARTNERS, LLC, By:/s/ George F. Hamel, Jr., Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL MASTER FUND, L.P., By: VA PARTNERS, LLC, its General Partner, By:/s/ George F. Hamel, Jr., Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VA PARTNERS III, LLC, By:/s/ George F. Hamel, Jr., Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL MASTER FUND III, L.P., By:  VA PARTNERS III, LLC, its General Partner, George F. Hamel, Jr., Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL  MANAGEMENT, L.P., By: VALUEACT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, its General Partner, By:/s/ George F. Hamel, Jr., Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, By:/s/ George F. Hamel, Jr., Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ George F. Hamel, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeffrey W. Ubben</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
