EXHIBIT 10.73

                        SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE


     THIS SETTLEMENT  AGREEMENT AND RELEASE  ("Agreement") is entered into among
Smart Choice  Automotive  Group,  Inc.,  First Choice Auto Finance,  Inc., First
Choice Stuart 2, Inc., Jack Winters  Enterprises,  Inc., Jack Winters,  F. Craig
Clements, Killgore Pearlman P.A. and Mark L. Ornstein:

                                    RECITALS

     1. First Choice Auto Finance, Inc. entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement
on or about December 19, 1996,  for certain assets of Jack Winters  Enterprises,
Inc.  used  in  its  operation  of a  retail  automobile  dealership  for  Volvo
automobiles and other consumer vehicles.

     2. Jack Winters  Enterprises,  Inc., Jack Winters and F. Craig Clements and
First Choice Auto Finance, Inc. entered into a Management Agreement on March 27,
1997.

     3.  First  Choice  Auto  Finance,  Inc.  assigned  some of the  rights  and
obligations  of the December 19, 1996 Asset  Purchase  Agreement to First Choice
Stuart 2, Inc.

     4. Smart  Choice  Automotive  Group,  Inc.  is the parent  company of First
Choice Auto Finance, Inc. and First Choice Stuart 2, Inc.

     5. Jack Winters and F. Craig Clements are the  shareholders of Jack Winters
Enterprises, Inc.

     6. Mark L. Ornstein and his law firm,  Killgore  Pearlman,  P.A.,  were the
attorneys for Jack Winters  Enterprises  and its'  shareholders in regard to the
transaction contemplated by the December 19, 1996 Asset Purchase Agreement. Mark
L. Ornstein and Killgore  Pearlman  provided limited  assistance to Smart Choice
Automotive Group,  Inc, First Choice Auto Finance,  Inc. and First Choice Stuart
2, Inc. in preparing dealer  applications with the full knowledge and consent of
all parties involved.

     7. The  transaction  contemplated  by the December 19, 1996 Asset  Purchase
Agreement closed on August 21, 1997.

     8. Amongst other consideration,  Jack Winters Enterprises, Inc. and/or Jack
Winters  and/or  F.  Craig  Clements  received  18,362  shares  of Smart  Choice
Automotive  Group,  Inc.  stock and a  Promissory  Note from First  Choice  Auto
Finance, Inc. in the principal amount of $900,000 due and payable on 16 February
1998.

     9. Smart Choice Automotive Group, Inc., First Choice Auto Finance, Inc. and
First  Choice  Stuart  2, Inc.  have  raised  defenses  to the  Promissory  Note
described in paragraph 8.

     10. Jack Winters Enterprises, Inc., Jack Winters and F. Craig Clements deny
that any defense to the Promissory Note described in paragraph 8 exists.

     11. Smart Choice  Automotive Group,  Inc., First Choice Auto Finance,  Inc.
and First Choice Stuart 2, Inc. have alleged that a confidential attorney/client
relationship  existed with Mark L.  Ornstein and Killgore  Pearlman P.A. and was
breached, causing undisclosed damages.

     12. Mark L. Ornstein and Killgore  Pearlman  P.A. deny that a  confidential
attorney/client   relationship   existed  or  was  breached  with  Smart  Choice
Automotive Group, Inc., First Choice Auto Finance,  Inc. and First Choice Stuart
2, Inc. and maintain that they are owed fees for services rendered.

     13. The parties desire to resolve any and all claims that may exist between
them,  including  but  not  limited  to  those  arising  out of the  transaction
contemplated  by the December 19, 1996 Asset Purchase  Agreement,  the March 27,
1997 Management Agreement, and the alleged relationship between Mark L. Ornstein
and Killgore Pearlman P.A. and Smart Choice Automotive Group, Inc., First Choice
Auto Finance, Inc. and First Choice Stuart 2, Inc..

                                    AGREEMENT

     In  consideration  of the mutual  promises and releases set forth below and
other valuable  consideration,  the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
the parties agree as follows:

     1. Jack Winters Enterprises,  Inc., Jack Winters and F. Craig Clements will
return the $900,000 Promissory Note executed by First Choice Auto Finance,  Inc.
marked  "Canceled"  in  exchange  for three new  Promissory  Notes.  These three
Promissory Notes will be as follows:

     a.   Note 1. First Choice Auto  Finance,  Inc.  will promise to pay to Jack
          Winters  Enterprises,  Inc.,  Jack  Winters and F. Craig  Clements the
          principal  sum of $300,000,  together with interest at 6% on or before
          February 16, 1998;

     b.   Note 2. First Choice Auto  Finance,  Inc.  will promise to pay to Jack
          Winters  Enterprises,  Inc.,  Jack  Winters and F. Craig  Clements the
          principal  sum of $200,000,  together with interest at 6% on or before
          May 16, 1998;

     c.   Note 3. First Choice Auto  Finance,  Inc.  will promise to pay to Jack
          Winters  Enterprises,  Inc.,  Jack  Winters and F. Craig  Clements the
          principal  sum of $100,000,  together with interest at 6% on or before
          September 16, 1998.

     Smart Choice Automotive Group,  Inc., First Choice Auto Finance,  Inc., and
First  Choice  Stuart 2, Inc.  acknowledge  by execution of this Release that no
defenses will exist as to payment of these  Promissory  Notes.  Further,  should
First Choice Auto Finance,  Inc. fail to timely satisfy any Promissory Note when
due, all other outstanding Promissory Notes will be accelerated and become due.

     2. Jack Winters Enterprises,  Inc., Jack Winters and F. Craig Clements will
cause to be returned to Smart  Choice  Automotive  Group,  Inc. on February  16,
1998,  upon payment of the first  Promissory  Note  referenced  hereinabove  the
18,362  shares of stock  tendered  at closing  and  bearing  Certificate  Number
SC0247.

     3. First Choice  Stuart 2, Inc. and First Choice Auto  Finance,  Inc.  will
cooperate with  Clement-Winters  Group, Inc. in its efforts to sell the property
described as 4205 South Federal  Highway,  Stuart,  Florida 34997.  Said actions
will include, but will not be limited, to:

     a.   Providing   Clements-Winters   Group,   Inc.  and  its  Buyer  with  a
          Certificate of Insurance issued to First Choice Stuart 2, Inc., naming
          Buyer as an additional  insured and providing coverage as set forth in
          the current  Lease of the property with First Choice Stuart 2, Inc. by
          February 4, 1998;

     b.   Providing  Clements-Winters  Group, Inc. with an estoppel  certificate
          from First Choice Stuart 2, Inc.  setting forth the current  status of
          the  Lease by  February  4, 1998 in a form  approved  by  counsel  for
          Clements-Winters Group, Inc.;

     c.   Providing  Clements-Winters  Group,  Inc. with a letter  advising that
          First  Choice  Stuart 2, Inc.  will not be  exercising  its  option to
          purchase the lease premises by February 4, 1998.

     4. Smart Choice  Automotive  Group,  Inc. and/or First Choice Auto Finance,
Inc.  and/or  First  Choice  Stuart 2,  Inc.  will  immediately  bring the Reyna
Financial  Corporation  lease  payments  current  and will  assume  said  lease,
removing Jack Winters Enterprises, Inc., Jack Winters and F. Craig Clements from
all obligations under said lease.

     5. Mark L.  Ornstein and the law firm of Killgore  Pearlman P.A. will waive
right to all outstanding  invoices  directed to Smart Choice  Automotive  Group,
Inc. in exchange for the releases set forth in this Agreement.

                           RELEASE OF LIABILITY CLAIMS

     6. For and in consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged,  Smart Choice Automotive  Group,  Inc., First Choice Auto Finance,
Inc., First Choice Stuart 2, Inc., their subsidiaries, parent companies, holding
companies, and their respective officers,  directors,  employees, assigns, heirs
and  representatives,  do hereby  fully,  finally and  completely  release  Jack
Winters Enterprises,  Inc., Clements-Winters Group, Inc., Jack Winters, F. Craig
Clements,  and  their  officers,   directors,   employees,  assigns,  heirs  and
representatives from any and all claims,  damages and causes of action,  whether
known or unknown, whether accrued or not; it being the purpose hereof to forever
release and lay to rest all rights,  claims and benefits  which they may have or
have had against said  parties  from the  beginning of time to this date without
limitation  or  qualification.  

     7. For and in consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged,  Smart Choice Automotive  Group,  Inc., First Choice Auto Finance,
Inc., First Choice Stuart 2, Inc., their subsidiaries, parent companies, holding
companies, and their respective officers,  directors,  employees, assigns, heirs
and  representatives,  do hereby fully,  finally and completely release Killgore
Pearlman, P.A. and Mark L. Ornstein, and their officers,  directors,  employees,
assigns,  heirs and representatives from any and all claims,  conflict,  damages
and causes of action, whether known or unknown, whether accrued or not; it being
the purpose  hereof to forever  release  and lay to rest all rights,  claims and
benefits which they may have or have had against said parties from the beginning
of  time  to  this  date  without  limitation  or  qualification.  Smart  Choice
Automotive Group, Inc., First Choice Auto Finance,  Inc. and First Choice Stuart
2, Inc.  specifically  warrant that they have  reviewed  this Release with their
attorney,  Michael  S.  Hacker.  

     For and in  consideration,  the receipt and  sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged,  Jack Winters Enterprises,  Inc., Jack Winters, F. Craig Clements,
Killgore  Pearlman,  P.A.,  Mark L.  Ornstein,  and their  respective  officers,
directors,  employees,  assigns,  heirs and  representatives,  do hereby  fully,
finally and completely release Smart Choice Automotive Group, Inc., First Choice
Auto Finance,  Inc.,  First Choice Stuart 2, Inc.,  their  subsidiaries,  parent
companies, holding companies, and their officers, directors, employees, assigns,
heirs and representatives from any and all claims, damages and causes of action,
whether known or unknown, whether accrued or not; it being the purpose hereof to
forever  release and lay to rest all rights,  claims and benefits which they may
have or have had against said  parties  from the  beginning of time to this date
without limitation.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement is
meant to release Smart Choice Automotive Group, Inc., First Choice Auto Finance,
Inc. and First Choice Stuart 2, Inc. from the obligations  pursuant to the Lease
referenced  in paragraph 3 of the Agreement  section and the lease  guaranty and
obligations  under the Reyna lease and the  Promissory  Notes executed with this
Agreement  and  referenced  in paragraph 1 of the  Agreement  section. 

                  COMPLETE AGREEMENT/SUBSEQUENT MODIFICATIONS

     8. This Agreement  constitutes  the complete  agreement of the parties.  No
verbal  representations made prior to or  contemporaneously  with this agreement
are  enforceable  against  any party  hereto  unless  such  representations  are
included herein. The terms of this agreement may be altered or amended, in whole
or in part, only upon written  consent of all the parties to this agreement.  No
oral agreement may modify any term of this agreement.

                                  SEVERABILITY

     9.  In the  event  that  any  portion  of this  agreement  is  found  to be
unenforceable for any reason  whatsoever,  the unenforceable  provision shall be
considered to be severable,  and the remainder of this agreement  shall continue
in full force and effect.

                                 ATTORNEYS' FEES

     10. The parties shall each bear their own attorneys' fees and costs arising
from this agreement and the matters referred to herein.  Any party  successfully
bringing an action to enforce this Agreement shall be entitled to its reasonable
attorneys' fees and cost.

                  REPRESENTATION OF UNDERSTANDING OF AGREEMENT

     11. In entering  into this  Agreement,  the parties are  represented  by an
attorney(s) of his/its own choice.  The parties represent and warrant that he/it
has read all the terms of this  Agreement and that he/it fully  understands  and
voluntarily accepts these terms.

                                    EXECUTION

     12. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts  with the same force and
effect as if all signatures appeared on one documents.

                                     WAIVER

     13.  No waiver of any of the terms of this  Agreement  shall  constitute  a
waiver of any other  terms,  whether or not  similar,  nor shall any waiver be a
continuing  waiver. No waiver shall be binding unless executed in writing by the
party making the waiver.  Any party may waiver any  provisions of this Agreement
intended for its benefit, but such waiver shall in no way excuse the other party
from the performance of any of its other obligations under this Agreement.

                                  GOVERNING LAW

     14. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in accordance  with
the laws of the State of Florida.

         Dated this 30th day of January, 1998.

                                   Smart Choice Automotive Group, Inc.


                                   By:  /s/ Gary R. Smith  1-30-98
                                   -------------------------------
                                   President

                                   First Choice Auto Finance, Inc.



                                   By: /s/ Gary R. Smith   1-30-98
                                   -------------------------------
                                   President

                                   First Choice Stuart 2, Inc.



                                   By: /s/ Gary R. Smith   1-30-98
                                   -------------------------------
                                   President



                                   /s/ Michael S. Hacker
                                   ---------------------
                                   Michael S. Hacker, Counsel for     
                                   Smart Choice Automotive Group,  Inc.,
                                   First Choice Auto Finance, Inc., and
                                   First Choice Stuart 2, Inc.


                                   Jack Winters Enterprises, Inc.

     
                                   By: /s/ Jack Winters
                                   --------------------
                                   President

                                   /s/ Jack Winters
                                   ----------------
                                   Jack Winters             
     
                                   /s/ F. Craig Clements
                                   ---------------------
                                   F. Craig Clements


                                   /s/ Mark L. Ornstein
                                   --------------------
                                   Mark L. Ornstein, Counsel for
                                   Jack Winters Enterprises, Inc.,
                                   Jack Winters and F. Craig Clements

                                   KILLGORE PEARLMAN, P.A.



                                   By:  
                                   President


                                   /s/ Mark L. Ornstein
                                   --------------------
                                   Mark L. Ornstein