Organization and Operations	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization and Operations	Autobytel Inc. (“Autobytel” or the “Company”) is an automotive marketing services company that assists automotive retail dealers (“Dealers”) and automotive manufacturers (“Manufacturers”) market and sell new and used vehicles through the Company's programs for online lead referrals (“Leads”), Dealer marketing products and services, online advertising programs and mobile products. The Company’s consumer-facing automotive websites (“Company Websites”), including its flagship website Autobytel.com®, provide consumers with information and tools to aid them with their automotive purchase decisions and the ability to submit inquiries requesting Dealers to contact the consumers regarding purchasing or leasing vehicles (“Vehicle Leads”). For consumers who may not be able to secure loans through conventional lending sources, the Company Websites provide these consumers the ability to submit inquiries requesting Dealers or other lenders that may offer vehicle financing to these consumers to contact the consumers regarding vehicle financing (“Finance Leads”). The Company’s mission for consumers is to be “Your Lifetime Automotive Advisor®” by engaging consumers throughout the entire lifecycle of their automotive needs. The Company was incorporated in Delaware on May 17, 1996. Its principal corporate offices are located in Irvine, California. The Company’s common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol ABTL. On January 13, 2014 (“AutoUSA Acquisition Date”), Autobytel and AutoNation, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Seller Parent”), and AutoNationDirect.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of Seller Parent (“Seller”), entered into and consummated a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement in which Autobytel acquired all of the issued and outstanding membership interests in AutoUSA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a subsidiary of Seller (“AutoUSA”). AutoUSA was a competitor to the Company and at the time of the acquisition was a (i) Lead aggregator purchasing internet-generated automotive consumer Leads from third parties and reselling those consumer Leads to automotive vehicle Dealers; and (ii) reseller of third party products and services to automotive Dealers. See Note 4.

Organization and Operations

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Autobytel Inc. (“Autobytel” or the “Company”) is an automotive marketing services company that assists automotive retail dealers (“Dealers”) and automotive manufacturers (“Manufacturers”) market and sell new and used vehicles through the Company's programs for online lead referrals (“Leads”), Dealer marketing products and services, online advertising programs and mobile products.

The Company’s consumer-facing automotive websites (“Company Websites”), including its flagship website Autobytel.com®, provide consumers with information and tools to aid them with their automotive purchase decisions and the ability to submit inquiries requesting Dealers to contact the consumers regarding purchasing or leasing vehicles (“Vehicle Leads”). For consumers who may not be able to secure loans through conventional lending sources, the Company Websites provide these consumers the ability to submit inquiries requesting Dealers or other lenders that may offer vehicle financing to these consumers to contact the consumers regarding vehicle financing (“Finance Leads”). The Company’s mission for consumers is to be “Your Lifetime Automotive Advisor®” by engaging consumers throughout the entire lifecycle of their automotive needs.

The Company was incorporated in Delaware on May 17, 1996. Its principal corporate offices are located in Irvine, California. The Company’s common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol ABTL.

On January 13, 2014 (“AutoUSA Acquisition Date”), Autobytel and AutoNation, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Seller Parent”), and AutoNationDirect.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of Seller Parent (“Seller”), entered into and consummated a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement in which Autobytel acquired all of the issued and outstanding membership interests in AutoUSA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a subsidiary of Seller (“AutoUSA”). AutoUSA was a competitor to the Company and at the time of the acquisition was a (i) Lead aggregator purchasing internet-generated automotive consumer Leads from third parties and reselling those consumer Leads to automotive vehicle Dealers; and (ii) reseller of third party products and services to automotive Dealers. See Note 4.