SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC — Director's Dealing 2012

Aug 17, 2012

SEC Form 4 — Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership

Issuer: SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC (SAH)
CIK: 0001043509
Period of Report: 2012-08-16

Reporting Person: SMITH DAVID BRUTON (Director, Executive Vice President)

Non-Derivative Transactions

Date	Security	Code	Shares	Price	A/D	Holdings After	Ownership
2012-08-16	Class A Common Stock	M	2900	$16.20	Acquired	109657	Direct
2012-08-16	Class A Common Stock	M	18918	$1.81	Acquired	128575	Direct
2012-08-16	Class A Common Stock	S	21818	$18.00	Disposed	106757	Direct

Derivative Transactions

Date	Security	Exercise Price	Code	Shares	A/D	Expiration	Underlying	Ownership
2012-08-16	Options to Purchase	$16.20	M	2900	Disposed	2012-10-23	Class A Common Stock (2900)	Direct
2012-08-16	Options to Purchase	$1.81	M	18918	Disposed	2019-03-30	Class A Common Stock (18918)	Direct

Holdings (Non-Derivative)

Security	Shares	Ownership
Class A Common Stock	69686	Indirect

Footnotes

F1: Mr. Smith disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by SMDA Development I, LLC except to the extent of his pecuniary interest, if any, therein.

F2: Options vested in three equal installments beginning on October 23, 2003.

F3: Options vested in three equal installments beginning on March 30, 2010.