AUTOBYTEL INC (Form: 3, Received: 04/07/2009 12:45:16)

FORM 3	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES	OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0104 Expires: February 28, 2011 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5
	Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person ^*
SZATKOWSKI RICK
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (MM/DD/YYYY) 4/1/2009
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AUTOBYTEL INC [ABTL]

(Last)        (First)        (Middle)
18872 MACARTHUR BLVD., SUITE 200
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
_____ Director                            _____ 10% Owner
___ X ___ Officer (give title below)          _____ Other (specify below)
SVP, Business Development /

(Street)
IRVINE, CA 92612

(City)              (State)              (Zip) 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
_ X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4) 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4) 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5) 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)

Common Stock ⁽³⁾ 25000 D

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivate Security
(Instr. 4) 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(MM/DD/YYYY) 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4) 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5) 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)

Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares

Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) ⁽¹⁾ 6/21/2017 Common Stock 75000 $4.18 D

Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) ⁽²⁾ 9/29/2018 Common Stock 75000 $1.06 D

Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) ⁽⁴⁾ 3/3/2019 Common Stock 75000 $0.35 D

Explanation of Responses:

( 1) 33 1/3% vested and became exercisable on 6/21/2008 and 1/36 shall vest and become exercisable at the end of each successive monthly anniversary thereafter for the following 24 months ending on the third anniversary.

( 2) 33 1/3% shall vest and become exercisable on 9/29/2009 and 1/36 shall vest and become exercisable at the end of each successive monthly anniversary thereafter for the following 24 months ending on the third anniversary.

( 3) Award to reporting person of restricted stock in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3. Restrictions on 33 1/3% shall lapse on 9/29/2009 and restrictions on remaining restricted stock awarded shall lapse on 1/36 of the restricted stock awarded at the end of each successive monthly anniversary thereafter for the following 24 months ending on the third anniversary of the award date. Lapse of restrictions is contingent upon reporting person's continued employment with the Company.

( 4) Grant to reporting person of options to buy shares of common stock in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3. 33 1/3% shall vest and become exercisable on 3/3/2010 and 1/36 shall vest and become exercisable at the end of each successive monthly anniversary thereafter for the following 24 months ending on the third anniversary of the grant date. In addition to the foregoing time vesting requirements, 1/3 of the options can be exercised only if the closing price of the Company's common stock exceeds two times the exercise price over a consecutive 30-day trading period; and 1/3 of the options can be exercised only if the closing price for the Company's common stock exceeds three times the exercise price over a consecutive 30-day trading period.

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships

Director 10% Owner Officer Other

SZATKOWSKI RICK
18872 MACARTHUR BLVD.
SUITE 200
IRVINE, CA 92612

SVP, Business Development

Signatures

Glenn E. Fuller as attorney-in-fact for Richard Szatkowski 4/6/2009

^** Signature of Reporting Person Date

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock ⁽³⁾	25000	D

*Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g.* , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)**
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YYYY)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security		6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	⁽¹⁾	6/21/2017	Common Stock	75000	$4.18	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	⁽²⁾	9/29/2018	Common Stock	75000	$1.06	D
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	⁽⁴⁾	3/3/2019	Common Stock	75000	$0.35	D

Explanation of Responses:
( 1)	33 1/3% vested and became exercisable on 6/21/2008 and 1/36 shall vest and become exercisable at the end of each successive monthly anniversary thereafter for the following 24 months ending on the third anniversary.
( 2)	33 1/3% shall vest and become exercisable on 9/29/2009 and 1/36 shall vest and become exercisable at the end of each successive monthly anniversary thereafter for the following 24 months ending on the third anniversary.
( 3)	Award to reporting person of restricted stock in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3. Restrictions on 33 1/3% shall lapse on 9/29/2009 and restrictions on remaining restricted stock awarded shall lapse on 1/36 of the restricted stock awarded at the end of each successive monthly anniversary thereafter for the following 24 months ending on the third anniversary of the award date. Lapse of restrictions is contingent upon reporting person's continued employment with the Company.
( 4)	Grant to reporting person of options to buy shares of common stock in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3. 33 1/3% shall vest and become exercisable on 3/3/2010 and 1/36 shall vest and become exercisable at the end of each successive monthly anniversary thereafter for the following 24 months ending on the third anniversary of the grant date. In addition to the foregoing time vesting requirements, 1/3 of the options can be exercised only if the closing price of the Company's common stock exceeds two times the exercise price over a consecutive 30-day trading period; and 1/3 of the options can be exercised only if the closing price for the Company's common stock exceeds three times the exercise price over a consecutive 30-day trading period.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
SZATKOWSKI RICK 18872 MACARTHUR BLVD. SUITE 200 IRVINE, CA 92612			SVP, Business Development

Signatures
Glenn E. Fuller as attorney-in-fact for Richard Szatkowski		4/6/2009
^** Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note:	File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.