Organization and Operations of Autobytel	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization and Operations of Autobytel	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 its programs for online lead referrals (“Leads”), Dealer marketing products and services, and 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. Effective October 1, 2013 (“Advanced Mobile Acquisition Date”), the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of privately-held Advanced Mobile, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Advanced Mobile Solutions Worldwide, Inc., a Delaware corporation (collectively referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as “Advanced Mobile”). Advanced Mobile provides mobile marketing solutions (e.g., mobile applications, mobile portals, mobile websites, text-chat, mobile text marketing, self-service mobile messaging, quick response codes, text messaging, short message service and multimedia service) for the automotive industry. Text chat provides a web-based portal that allows Dealers to centrally manage text communications. The acquired assets consisted primarily of customer contracts, technology license rights and rights in domain names and short codes used for SMS texting. As a result of the acquisition, the Company will offer Manufacturers and Dealers the ability to connect with consumers using text communication via a secure platform. In addition, Autobytel will offer Dealers a comprehensive suite of mobile products, including mobile apps, mobile websites, Send2Phone capabilities and text message marketing. Advanced Mobile’s results of operations are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements beginning October 1, 2013. See Note 3 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. On January 13, 2014 (“AutoUSA Acquisition Date”), Autobytel, 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 dealers; and (ii) reseller of third party products and services to automotive Dealers. See Note 3 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Organization and Operations of Autobytel

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization and Operations of Autobytel

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 its programs for online lead referrals (“Leads”), Dealer marketing products and services, and 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.

Effective October 1, 2013 (“Advanced Mobile Acquisition Date”), the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of privately-held Advanced Mobile, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Advanced Mobile Solutions Worldwide, Inc., a Delaware corporation (collectively referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as “Advanced Mobile”). Advanced Mobile provides mobile marketing solutions (e.g., mobile applications, mobile portals, mobile websites, text-chat, mobile text marketing, self-service mobile messaging, quick response codes, text messaging, short message service and multimedia service) for the automotive industry. Text chat provides a web-based portal that allows Dealers to centrally manage text communications. The acquired assets consisted primarily of customer contracts, technology license rights and rights in domain names and short codes used for SMS texting. As a result of the acquisition, the Company will offer Manufacturers and Dealers the ability to connect with consumers using text communication via a secure platform. In addition, Autobytel will offer Dealers a comprehensive suite of mobile products, including mobile apps, mobile websites, Send2Phone capabilities and text message marketing. Advanced Mobile’s results of operations are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements beginning October 1, 2013. See Note 3 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

On January 13, 2014 (“AutoUSA Acquisition Date”), Autobytel, 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 dealers; and (ii) reseller of third party products and services to automotive Dealers. See Note 3 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.