<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000893877-16-000025.txt : 20160418
<SEC-HEADER>0000893877-16-000025.hdr.sgml : 20160418
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160418200613
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000893877-16-000025
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160414
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160418
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160418

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LITHIA MOTORS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001023128
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-AUTO DEALERS & GASOLINE STATIONS [5500]
		IRS NUMBER:				930572810
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OR
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		150 NORTH BARTLETT STREET
		CITY:			MEDFORD
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97501
		BUSINESS PHONE:		541-776-6401

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		150 NORTH BARTLETT STREET
		CITY:			MEDFORD
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97501

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEBOER SIDNEY B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001170769

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14733
		FILM NUMBER:		161577785

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		234 VISTA ST.
		CITY:			ASHLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97520
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-04-14</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2016-04-18</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001023128</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LITHIA MOTORS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LAD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001170769</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEBOER SIDNEY B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>150 N. BARTLETT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MEDFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97501</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-04-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33068</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>88.98</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>65820</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By DeBoer Family LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>163441</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2349</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By wife jointly</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Distribution from DeBoer Family LLC to certain members of DeBoer Family LLC, not including the Sidney B. DeBoer Trust. Shares distributed to the Sidney B. DeBoer Trust are reported on the next row down in Table I.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">DeBoer Family LLC redeemed membership interests in DeBoer Family LLC from certain of the members of DeBoer Family LLC. The price shown is the value of one share of the issuer's Class A Common Stock at the close of the New York Stock Exchange on April 14, 2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">As permitted by instruction 4(b)(iv) to Form 4, the reporting person is reporting beneficial ownership of all of shares of Lithia Motors, Inc. Class A Common Stock owned by DeBoer Family LLC. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and the inclusion of these shares in this report shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of all of the reported shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The reporting person is the settlor of the Sidney B. DeBoer Trust, and the Sidney B. DeBoer Trust is revocable by the reporting person at any time at the reporting person's option. DeBoer Family LLC is the direct owner of the securities shown in column 5 of Table I, and the Sidney B. DeBoer Trust is a member and the sole manager of DeBoer Family LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">These shares were received in redemption of the Sidney B. DeBoer Trust's membership interest in DeBoer Family LLC. In prior reports, the reporting person reported beneficial ownership of these shares indirectly through DeBoer Family LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">These shares were received in redemption of the Sidney B. DeBoer Trust's membership interest in DeBoer Family LLC and transferred to the reporting person's wife. In prior reports, the reporting person reported beneficial ownership of these shares indirectly through DeBoer Family LLC.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Larissa McAlister, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-04-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
