<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-18-027267.txt : 20180910
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-18-027267.hdr.sgml : 20180910
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180910175713
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-18-027267
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180910
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180910
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180910

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Pereira Lincoln
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001570998

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13461
		FILM NUMBER:		181063575

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 GESSNER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77024

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001031203
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-AUTO DEALERS & GASOLINE STATIONS [5500]
		IRS NUMBER:				760506313
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 GESSNER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77024
		BUSINESS PHONE:		713-647-5700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 GESSNER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77024
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-09-10</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001031203</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GPI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001570998</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pereira Lincoln</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>800 GESSNER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77024</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-09-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7196</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>72.849</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>34745</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>218309</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Abbe Investsments, Ltd.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Forfeiture of shares pursuant to Escrow Agreement dated February 28, 2013 entered into pursuant to a Share Purchase Agreement dated effective January 24, 2013, as amended February 27, 2013, by and between the Issuer, the Reporting Person, the other shareholders of UAB Motors Participacoes, S.A. (all as defined in the above referenced Escrow Agreement and Share Purchase Agreement), and UAB Motors Participacoes, S.A., as Intervening and Consenting Party.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Stock price calculated using the average closing price per share of Issuer common stock for the thirty (30) trading days immediately preceding the date on which determination of the amount to be allocated against the Stock Escrow Deposit is required to be made (all as further defined in Section 11 of the Escrow Agreement dated as of February 28, 2013).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Beth Sibley, attorney-in-fact for Lincoln Pereira</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-09-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
