<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-13-021544.txt : 20130409
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-13-021544.hdr.sgml : 20130409
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130409165458
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-13-021544
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130401
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130409
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130409

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Byrd Heath
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001574017

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13395
		FILM NUMBER:		13751561

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4401 COLWICK ROAD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28211

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001043509
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-AUTO DEALERS & GASOLINE STATIONS [5500]
		IRS NUMBER:				562010790
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0207

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4401 COLWICK ROAD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28211
		BUSINESS PHONE:		704-566-2400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4401 COLWICK ROAD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28211
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd376573.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001043509</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SAH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001574017</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Byrd Heath</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4401 COLWICK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28211</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>53763</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 42,098 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of restricted stock units granted by the Compensation Committee of Sonic Automotive, Inc. pursuant to the Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, 1,911 of which are subject to a one year defined earnings per share performance condition and will vest on March 31, 2014 if the performance condition is met and 40,187 of which are subject to forfeiture based on the satisfaction of performance criteria for fiscal year 2013 and, if the performance criteria are met, will vest in three annual installments, with twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares vesting on March 31, 2014, thirty percent (30%) of the shares vesting on March 22, 2015 and forty-five percent (45%) of the shares vesting on March 22, 2016.  Restricted stock units may only be settled in shares of Class A Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Heath R. Byrd</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-04-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
