FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
SMITH O BRUTON
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC [SAH] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director __X__ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Executive Chairman
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC., 5401 EAST INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
09/27/2018
(Street)

CHARLOTTE, NC 28212		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Class B Common Stock (1) 09/27/2018   P   976,875 (2)     (1)   (1) Class A Common Stock 976,875 $ 21.44 (3) 9,858,125 (4) I by SFC
Class B Common Stock (1)               (1)   (1) Class A Common Stock 2,171,250   2,171,250 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
SMITH O BRUTON
C/O SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
5401 EAST INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD
CHARLOTTE, NC 28212		   X   X   Executive Chairman  

Signatures

 /s/ O. Bruton Smith   10/01/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(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).
(1) Shares of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class B Common Stock are convertible into shares of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class A Common Stock on a 1-for-1 basis at the option of the reporting person and there is no expiration date.
(2) The reported securities were purchased in a private, non-market transaction and are held by Sonic Financial Corporation ("SFC"), a North Carolina corporation of which the reporting person is a shareholder, an officer and a director.
(3) Based solely on the average of the closing price of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class A Common Stock for the 30-day trading period ended September 21, 2018, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.
(4) Represents the entire amount of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class B Common Stock held by SFC. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class B Common Stock held by SFC, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

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