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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P0UXYXGHFTHSgqQjZ9TdUlh5kZJaIf2MMtF93Zn16L0FB4UuNUz1F3gMiTUEJBuM
 GcV0I4kaPOoxznSVQGMxpQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000350698-04-000014.txt : 20040729
<SEC-HEADER>0000350698-04-000014.hdr.sgml : 20040729
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040729180652
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000350698-04-000014
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040727
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040729

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AUTONATION INC /FL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000350698
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-AUTO DEALERS & GASOLINE STATIONS [5500]
		IRS NUMBER:				731105145
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		110 SE 6TH ST
		CITY:			FT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9547696000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		110 SE 6TH ST
		CITY:			FT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33301

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	REPUBLIC INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19951215

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	REPUBLIC WASTE INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	REPUBLIC RESOURCES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900226

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FERRANDO JONATHAN P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001228777
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-AUTO DEALERS & GASOLINE STATIONS [5500]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13107
		FILM NUMBER:		04940121

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		110 SE 6TH ST
		CITY:			FT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9547696000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		110 SE 6TH STREET-20TH FLOOR
		CITY:			FT. LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33301
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000350698</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AUTONATION INC /FL</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228777</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FERRANDO JONATHAN P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>110 SE 6TH STREET-20TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FT. LAUDERDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33301</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Gen'l Counsel &amp; Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.77</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>175600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>175600</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>175600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vests in four equal annual installments beginning on July 27, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">N/A</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jonathan P. Ferrando</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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