-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 ksc4XM1lZGgEptO/Bw7RQQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001162675-10-000012.txt : 20100512
<SEC-HEADER>0001162675-10-000012.hdr.sgml : 20100512
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100512192450
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001162675-10-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100510
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100512
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100512

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COGHILL CLINT D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001235155

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22239
		FILM NUMBER:		10825862

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COGHILL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001162675
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22239
		FILM NUMBER:		10825863

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 N WACKER DR
		STREET 2:		STE 4350
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3123242000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 N WACKER DR
		STREET 2:		STE 4350
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-05-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001162675</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COGHILL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 N WACKER DR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 4350</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001235155</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COGHILL CLINT D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></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>2010-05-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.02</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7718410</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Indirectly by Coghill Capital Management, LLC and Clint D. Coghill</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Equity Swap</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.54</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>1</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>897793</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.04</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-04-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-05-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>ABTL Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>897793</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2739672</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Indirectly by Coghill Capital Management, LLC and Clint D. Coghill</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Principal of investment manager or investment manager to the investment management entity in whose account the reported securities are held.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reported transaction relates to the sale of the subject securities by CCM SPV II, LLC, a private investment vehicle managed by Coghill Capital Management, L.L.C., and which received the subject securities in connection with certain in-kind redemptions by investors from CCM Master Qualified Fund, Ltd.  CCM SPV II, LLC is not (and never has been) itself a &quot;10% owner&quot; subject to Section 16.  Further, Coghill Capital Management, L.L.C. and Clint D. Coghill have no pecuniary interest in CCM SPV II, LLC or the subject securities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Under the terms of these total return equity swap agreements (the &quot;Swaps&quot;) (i) CCM Master Qualified Fund, Ltd or CCM SPV II, LLC, as the case may be, will be obligated to pay to the counterparty any capital depreciation of the reference shares as of maturity, plus interest, and (ii) the counterparty will be obligated to pay to the CCM Master Qualified Fund, Ltd or CCM SPV II, LLC, as the case may be, any capital appreciation of the reference shares as of maturity.  Any dividends received by the counterparty on the reference shares during the term of the Swaps will be paid to CCM Master Qualified Fund, Ltd or CCM SPV II, LLC, as the case may be.  All balances will be cash settled at maturity and there will be no transfer of voting or dispositive power over the reference shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Coghill Capital Management, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Clint D. Coghill</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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