Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	May 01, 2017
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	AUTOBYTEL INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001023364
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,071,584
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2017
Trading Symbol	ABTL