-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PeYkfU4gxikgRkrbSwWragwdbRWzVUxd7Rb+d5BfedXcIN22tBkFg88IZIlzKB6g
 py1lAT4/GC+BajSMN3jSKA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000933405-04-000025.txt : 20040514
<SEC-HEADER>0000933405-04-000025.hdr.sgml : 20040514
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040514105501
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000933405-04-000025
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040512
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040514

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AFTERMARKET TECHNOLOGY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000933405
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES [3714]
		IRS NUMBER:				954486486
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE OAK HILL CENTER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			WESTMONT
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60559
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6304556000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE OAK HILL CENTER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			WESTMONT
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60559

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RYAN MARY T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001256666

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21803
		FILM NUMBER:		04805126

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AFTERMARKET TECHNOLOGY CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE OAK HILL CENTER SUITE 400
		CITY:			WESTMONT
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60559
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6304552638

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AFTERMARKET TECHNOLOGY CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE OAK HILL CENTER SUITE 400
		CITY:			WESTMONT
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60559
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000933405</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AFTERMARKET TECHNOLOGY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATAC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001256666</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RYAN MARY T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>AFTERMARKET TECHNOLOGY CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE OAK HILL CENTER SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTMONT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60559</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10763</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>option to purchase common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.9</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock that vests in one-third increments on 5/12/2005, 5/12/2006 and 5/12/2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 10,000 shares that are restricted.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option vests and becomes exercisable in one-third increments on 5/12/2005, 5/12/2006 and 5/12/2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Excludes options with different terms that were previously reported on Form 3, 4 or 5.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mary T. Ryan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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