<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001043509-23-000017.txt : 20231003
<SEC-HEADER>0001043509-23-000017.hdr.sgml : 20231003
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20231003082343
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001043509-23-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	S-8
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		4
FILED AS OF DATE:		20231003
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20231003
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20231003

FILER:

	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:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		S-8
		SEC ACT:		1933 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-274836
		FILM NUMBER:		231301602

	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>S-8
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>sonicforms-82023.htm
<DESCRIPTION>S-8
<TEXT>
<html><head>
<!-- Document created using Wdesk -->
<!-- Copyright 2023 Workiva -->
<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="i07301e54cb4a40e29e758f8387f90a27_1"></div><div style="min-height:18pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 3, 2023</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:115%">                                                                                                                                               </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:115%">Registration No. 333- </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">                                                                                                                           </font></div><div style="padding-left:17.27pt;padding-right:17.27pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:98.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:3pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"><div style="padding-left:23pt;padding-right:23pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:2pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"><div style="margin-top:2pt;padding-left:23pt;padding-right:23pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="margin-top:4pt;padding-left:22.5pt;padding-right:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">UNITED STATES </font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Washington,&#160;D.C. 20549</font></div><div style="margin-top:3pt;padding-left:30.67pt;padding-right:30.67pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">_________________</font></div><div style="margin-top:1pt;padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">FORM&#160;S-8</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:14pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">UNDER</font><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:14pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:14pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></div><div style="margin-top:3pt;padding-left:30.67pt;padding-right:30.67pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">_________________</font></div><div style="margin-top:2pt;padding-left:28.8pt;padding-right:34.35pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:24pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div><div style="margin-top:3pt;padding-left:30.67pt;padding-right:30.67pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">_________________</font></div><div style="padding-left:28.8pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:95.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:48.753%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.115%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:47.732%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.37pt;padding-right:0.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Delaware</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.4pt;padding-right:0.4pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">56-2010790</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.37pt;padding-right:0.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(State or other jurisdiction of<br>incorporation or organization)</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.4pt;padding-right:0.4pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(I.R.S. Employer<br>Identification No.)</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="padding-left:28.8pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:95.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:48.753%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.115%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:47.732%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.37pt;padding-right:0.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">4401 Colwick Road</font></div><div style="padding-left:0.37pt;padding-right:0.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Charlotte, North Carolina</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.4pt;padding-right:0.4pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:0.4pt;padding-right:0.4pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">28211</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.37pt;padding-right:0.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.4pt;padding-right:0.4pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Zip Code)</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">_________________</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2012 Formula Restricted Stock and Deferral Plan for Non-Employee Directors</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Full title of the plan)</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.67pt;padding-right:31.67pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">_________________</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Stephen K. Coss</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Senior Vice President and General Counsel</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Sonic Automotive, Inc.</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">4401 Colwick Road</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Charlotte, North Carolina 28211</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Name and address of agent for service)</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">_________________</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(704)&#160;566-2400 </font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">_________________</font></div><div style="padding-left:28.8pt;padding-right:34.35pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Copies to&#58;</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:3pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">D. Ryan Hart, Esq.</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Moore &#38; Van Allen PLLC</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">100 North Tryon Street, Suite 4700</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-4003</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(704) 331-1000</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt;padding-left:30.67pt;padding-right:30.67pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">_________________</font></div><div style="padding-left:27.35pt;padding-right:27.35pt"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;smaller reporting company,&#8221; and &#8220;emerging growth company&#8221; in Rule&#160;12b-2 of the Exchange Act. </font></div><div style="padding-left:28.8pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:86.250%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:20.800%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.249%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:26.114%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.732%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:37.064%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.249%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:6.792%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.7pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Large accelerated filer</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9746;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accelerated filer</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9744;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.7pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-accelerated filer</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9744;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Smaller reporting company</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9744;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="9" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"><div style="padding-left:24pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-indent:-24pt"><font><br></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Emerging growth company</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9744;</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="padding-left:27.35pt;padding-right:27.35pt"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  &#9744;</font></div><div style="padding-left:22.5pt;padding-right:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:98.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:3pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"><div style="padding-left:23pt;padding-right:23pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"><div style="margin-top:1pt;padding-left:23pt;padding-right:23pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="height:18pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><div id="i07301e54cb4a40e29e758f8387f90a27_4"></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:18pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="-sec-extract:summary;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">EXPLANATORY NOTE</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Sonic Automotive, Inc. (the &#8220;Registrant&#8221;) is filing this registration statement on Form S-8 to register an additional 100,000 shares of its Class&#160;A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, for issuance under the Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2012 Formula Restricted Stock and Deferral Plan for Non-Employee Directors, amended and restated effective as of May&#160;15, 2023 (formerly known as the Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2012 Formula Restricted Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors).  The securities registered hereby are of the same class and relate to the same employee benefit plan as those securities registered on the Registrant&#8217;s registration statements on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 19, 2012 (Registration No. 333-180815) and April 27, 2017 (Registration No. 333-217504) (together, the &#8220;Prior Registration Statements&#8221;).  Accordingly, pursuant to General Instruction&#160;E to Form S-8, the Registrant hereby incorporates by reference herein the contents of the Prior Registration Statements and hereby deems such contents to be a part hereof, except as otherwise updated or modified hereby.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">PART II</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-54pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-54pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Item 6.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-54pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Set forth below is a description of certain provisions of the Registrant&#8217;s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the &#8220;Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation&#8221;), the Registrant&#8217;s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the &#8220;Amended and Restated Bylaws&#8221;) and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the &#8220;DGCL&#8221;), as such provisions relate to the indemnification of the directors and officers of the Registrant.  This description is intended only as a summary and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Amended and Restated Bylaws and the DGCL.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys&#8217; fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person&#8217;s conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of an action by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person is adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court deems proper.  The Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the Registrant will indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to include a provision in its certificate of incorporation eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director or officer to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of (i)&#160;a director or officer for any breach of the director&#8217;s or officer&#8217;s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders&#59; (ii)&#160;a director or officer for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law&#59; (iii)&#160;a director for unlawful payment of dividends or purchase or redemption of shares&#59; (iv)&#160;a director or officer for any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit&#59; or (v)&#160;an officer in any action by or in the right of the corporation.  The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation contains a provision limiting the personal liability of the Registrant&#8217;s directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Section 145 of the DGCL also permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation.  The Registrant maintains directors&#8217; and officers&#8217; liability insurance for its directors and officers, as permitted in the Amended and Restated Bylaws.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:18pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:18pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="margin-top:6pt;padding-left:54pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-54pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Item 8.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Exhibits.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:98.333%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:7.233%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:3.419%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:85.481%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.367%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Exhibit No.</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Description</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="9" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:0.75pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.1</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000156459017007512/sah-ex31_318.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Sonic Automotive, Inc., dated August&#160;7, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&#160;3.1 to the Annual Report on Form&#160;10-K for the year ended December&#160;31, 2020 (File No. 001-13395)).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.2</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000156459017007512/sah-ex33_315.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Sonic Automotive, Inc., dated June&#160;16, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&#160;3.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form&#160;10-Q for the quarter ended March&#160;31, 2017 (File No. 001-13395)).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.3</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000156459017007512/sah-ex34_316.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Sonic Automotive, Inc., dated April&#160;18, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&#160;3.4 to the Quarterly Report on Form&#160;10-Q for the quarter ended March&#160;31, 2017 (File No. 001-13395)).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.4</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000104350921000012/exhibit44.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Sonic Automotive, Inc., dated May&#160;3, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed June 8, 2021 (File No. 333-256891)).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.5</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000104350923000014/q22023exhibit36.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Sonic Automotive, Inc., dated May&#160;16, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&#160;3.6 to the Quarterly Report on Form&#160;10-Q for the quarter ended June&#160;30, 2023 (File No. 001-13395)).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.6</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000104350921000001/amendedandrestatedbylaws.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Amended and Restated Bylaws of Sonic Automotive, Inc., dated February&#160;10, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&#160;3.1 to the Current Report on Form&#160;8-K filed February&#160;12, 2021 (File No. 001-13395)).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.7</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/0000950168-97-003028.txt" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Specimen Class&#160;A Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&#160;4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form&#160;S-1&#47;A filed October&#160;17, 1997 (File No. 333-33295)).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">5.1*</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="mvaopinionforms-8.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Opinion of Moore&#160;&#38; Van Allen PLLC.</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">23.1*</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="kpmgopinions-8.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Consent of KPMG LLP.</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">23.2*</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="mvaopinionforms-8.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Consent of Moore&#160;&#38; Van Allen PLLC (included in Exhibit&#160;5.1).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">99.1</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000104350923000006/sah-20230403.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2012 Formula Restricted Stock and Deferral Plan for Non-Employee Directors, amended and restated effective as of May 15, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed April 3, 2023 (File No. 001-13395)).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">107.1*</font></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="sonicforms-8feetables.htm" style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Calculation of Filing Fee Tables.</a></font></div></td></tr></table></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="margin-top:6pt;padding-left:18pt;padding-right:-36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">*&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Filed herewith.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:18pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:18pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">SIGNATURES</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Charlotte, State of North Carolina, on this 3rd day of October, 2023.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:252pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:252pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">By&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Heath R. Byrd&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:288pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Heath R. Byrd</font></div><div style="padding-left:288pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Executive Vice President and </font></div><div style="padding-left:288pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Chief Financial Officer</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:6pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on this 3rd day of October, 2023&#58;</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36.9pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:83.333%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:40.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:56.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.77pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Signature</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.77pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Title</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; David Bruton Smith&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">David Bruton Smith</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Chairman and Chief Executive Officer</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Principal Executive Officer)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Jeff Dyke&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Jeff Dyke</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">President and Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Heath R. Byrd&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Heath R. Byrd</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; William I. Belk&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">William I. Belk</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; William R. Brooks&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">William R. Brooks</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Michael Hodge&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Michael Hodge</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Keri A. Kaiser&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Keri A. Kaiser</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; B. Scott Smith&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">B. Scott Smith</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Marcus G. Smith&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Marcus G. Smith</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Eugene Taylor&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">R. Eugene Taylor</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="margin-top:6pt;padding-left:18pt;padding-right:-36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:18pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div></body></html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-FILING FEES
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>sonicforms-8feetables.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-FILING FEES
<TEXT>
<html><head>
<!-- Document created using Wdesk -->
<!-- Copyright 2023 Workiva -->
<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="ibfb240018d124edd8b3bd6a7eed8ab62_1"></div><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="padding-right:-27pt;text-align:right"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Exhibit 107.1</font></div><div style="text-align:right"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:right"><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Calculation of Filing Fee Tables</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">S-8</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Form Type)</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Table 1&#58; Newly Registered Securities</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:8.148%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:14.940%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.038%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:13.495%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:10.460%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.038%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:10.316%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.765%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Security</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Type</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Security Class Title</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Fee Calculation</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Rule</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Amount Registered&#160;(1)</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit&#160;(2)</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Maximum Aggregate Offering Price&#160;(2)</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Fee Rate</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-right:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Amount of Registration Fee</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Equity</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000;border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Class&#160;A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000;border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Other</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000;border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">100,000 shares</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$48.34</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$4,834,000</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">0.00014760</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-right:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$713.50</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="12" style="border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000;border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:right"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:right"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Total Offering Amounts</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$4,834,000</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-right:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$713.50</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="12" style="border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000;border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:right"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:right"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Total Fee Offsets</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-right:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="12" style="border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000;border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:right"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:right"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Net Fee Due</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000;border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000;border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000;border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:0.5pt solid #000000;border-left:0.5pt solid #000000;border-right:0.5pt solid #000000;border-top:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:2.75pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$713.50</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;padding-right:-27pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(1)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:6.34pt">Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Securities Act&#8221;), the registration statement on Form&#160;S-8 to which this exhibit relates also covers any additional shares of Class&#160;A Common Stock of Sonic Automotive, Inc. (the &#8220;Registrant&#8221;) that may become issuable under the Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2012 Formula Restricted Stock and Deferral Plan for Non-Employee Directors by reason of any stock split, stock dividend or other similar transaction.</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;padding-right:-27pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(2)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act, based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant&#8217;s Class&#160;A Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on September 28, 2023.</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;padding-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;padding-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div></body></html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>kpmgopinions-8.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-23.1
<TEXT>
<html><head>
<!-- Document created using Wdesk -->
<!-- Copyright 2023 Workiva -->
<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="i93261d1deb64403c85c2a4ad97ff73a7_33"></div><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="text-align:right"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:right"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Exhibit 23.1</font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">KPMG LLP</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Suite 1000</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">620 S. Tryon Street </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-1842</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We consent to the use of our reports dated February 17, 2023, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Sonic Automotive, Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, incorporated herein by reference.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#47;s&#47; KPMG LLP</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Charlotte, North Carolina</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">October 3, 2023</font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div></body></html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23.2
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>mvaopinionforms-8.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-23.2
<TEXT>
<html><head>
<!-- Document created using Wdesk -->
<!-- Copyright 2023 Workiva -->
<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="ib75b2f328b524c0181c45d3230fc27dd_1"></div><div style="min-height:108pt;width:100%"><div style="text-align:right"><font style="color:#929292;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Exhibit 5.1</font></div><div style="text-align:right"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:right"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:right"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">October 3, 2023</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Sonic Automotive, Inc.</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">4401 Colwick Road</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Charlotte, North Carolina 28211</font></div><div style="padding-left:22.3pt;text-indent:-22.3pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Re&#58;  &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Sonic Automotive, Inc. &#8211; Registration Statement on Form S-8</font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Ladies and Gentlemen&#58;</font></div><div style="text-indent:24.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We have acted as counsel to Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Company</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;), in connection with the registration statement on Form S-8 (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Registration Statement</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;) that is being filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Commission</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;) by the Company pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Securities Act</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;), relating to the registration of an additional 100,000 shares (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Shares</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;) of the Company&#8217;s Class&#160;A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, which may be issued pursuant to the Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2012 Formula Restricted Stock and Deferral Plan for Non-Employee Directors, amended and restated effective as of May 15, 2023 (formerly known as the Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2012 Formula Restricted Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors) (the&#160;&#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Plan</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;).</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In rendering our opinion, we have examined, and are familiar with, and have relied as to factual matters solely upon, originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records or other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of the opinion set forth herein, including, without limitation (i)&#160;the Registration Statement, (ii)&#160;the Plan, (iii)&#160;the Company&#8217;s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, (iv)&#160;the Company&#8217;s Amended and Restated Bylaws and (v)&#160;certain actions of the Company&#8217;s board of directors and stockholders reflected in the Company&#8217;s minute book (collectively, the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Registration Documents</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;).</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In rendering our opinion, we have assumed the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons executing documents and certificates submitted to us, the genuineness of all signatures, the compliance with fiduciary duties, the authenticity of original and certified documents submitted to us, and the conformity to original or certified documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed or reproduction copies.  As to various questions of fact relevant to the opinion expressed herein, we have relied upon, and assumed the accuracy and completeness of, statements contained in the Registration Documents and certificates or comparable documents and oral or written statements and other information of or from public officials and officers and representatives of the Company and others.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and sold by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:0.05pt;margin-top:0.05pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:0.05pt;margin-top:0.05pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:90pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:108pt;width:100%"><div><font style="color:#929292;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Sonic Automotive, Inc.</font></div><div><font style="color:#929292;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">October 3, 2023</font></div><div><font style="color:#929292;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 2</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="margin-bottom:0.05pt;margin-top:0.05pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The opinion expressed herein is limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as currently in effect, and no opinion is expressed with respect to such law as subsequently amended, or any other laws, or any effect that such amended or other laws may have on the opinion expressed herein.  The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters stated herein and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein.  The opinion expressed herein is given as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to advise you of any changes in applicable laws after the date hereof or of any facts that might change the opinion expressed herein that we may become aware of after the date hereof or for any other reason.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter with the Commission as Exhibit&#160;5.1 to the Registration Statement.  In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of such persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission.</font></div><div style="text-indent:24.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Very truly yours,</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#47;s&#47; MOORE &#38; VAN ALLEN PLLC</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">MOORE &#38; VAN ALLEN PLLC</font></div><div style="height:90pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div></body></html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
