SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC — Director's Dealing 2012

Mar 9, 2012

SEC Form 4 — Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership

Issuer: SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC (SAH)
CIK: 0001043509
Period of Report: 2012-03-09

Reporting Person: SMITH BRYAN SCOTT (Director, President and CSO)

Non-Derivative Transactions

Date	Security	Code	Shares	Price	A/D	Holdings After	Ownership
2012-03-09	Class A Common Stock	M	105555	$1.81	Acquired	309744	Direct
2012-03-09	Class A Common Stock	S	105555	$18.1194	Disposed	204189	Direct

Derivative Transactions

Date	Security	Exercise Price	Code	Shares	A/D	Expiration	Underlying	Ownership
2012-03-09	Options to purchase	$1.81	M	105555	Disposed	2019-03-30	Class A Common Stock (105555)	Direct

Holdings (Non-Derivative)

Security	Shares	Ownership
Class A Common Stock	69686	Indirect

Footnotes

F1: This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $18.00 per share to $18.32 per share. The price reported reflects the weighted average sales price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.

F2: 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.

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