-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 +izzNvm0eJMvnXrV3fzoZA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-09-021594.txt : 20090923
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-09-021594.hdr.sgml : 20090923
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090923173203
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-09-021594
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090922
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090923
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090923

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ozima Wesley
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001458093

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22239
		FILM NUMBER:		091083309

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		18872 MACARTHUR BOULEVARD
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92612

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AUTOBYTEL  INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001023364
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, DATA PROCESSING, ETC. [7370]
		IRS NUMBER:				330711569
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		18872 MACARTHUR BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92612-1400
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9492254500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AUTO BY TEL CORP
		STREET 2:		18872 MACARTHUR BLVD 2ND FL
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92612-1400

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AUTOBYTEL COM INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19981230

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AUTO BY TEL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960920
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001023364</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AUTOBYTEL  INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABTL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001458093</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ozima Wesley</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>AUTOBYTEL INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>18872 MACARTHUR BLVD., SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92612</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP &amp; Controller</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-09-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant to Reporting Person of options to buy shares of common stock in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.  33 1/3% shall vest and become exercisable on 9/22/2010 and 1/36 shall vest and become exercisable at the end of each successive monthly anniversary thereafter for the following 24 months ending on the third anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Glenn E. Fuller, attorney-in-fact for Wesley Ozima</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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