<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-22-020498.txt : 20220804
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-22-020498.hdr.sgml : 20220804
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20220804181409
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-22-020498
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20220701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20220804
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20220804

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:		221138073

	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>2022-07-01</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>2022-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>34813</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>173.709</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2022-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>26158</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>173.709</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>144467</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Abbe Investsments, Ltd.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2022-07-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>577</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>577</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 26,158 shares released to the Reporting Person 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; and 8,655 shares forfeited from escrow to the Issuer pursuant to the terms of the above referenced Escrow Agreement.</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>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares acquired 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>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Beth Sibley, attorney-in-fact for Lincoln Pereira</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-08-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
