Document:

<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.19

                              SEPARATION AGREEMENT

            This Agreement is made as of January 17, 2002 (the "Effective
Date"), by and between Dennis Benner (the "Executive") and Autobytel Inc. (the
"Company").

            WHEREAS, the Executive has been employed by the Company or its
predecessor companies or its or their subsidiaries or affiliates as its
Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, pursuant to an employment
agreement by and between the Company and the Executive, dated as of May 3, 2000
(the "Employment Agreement");

            WHEREAS, the Executive resigned from his position as Executive Vice
President, Corporate Development of the Company, and from all other positions
with the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates effective December 31, 2001
(the "Resignation Date"); and

            WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company desire to set forth the terms
of the Executive's separation from the Company.

            NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do
hereby agree as follows:

<PAGE>

1.    Payments and Benefits to the Executive.

      a)  Cash Payments. Subject to and conditioned upon the performance by the
          Executive of his obligations set forth in this Agreement, the Company
          agrees to pay the Executive an amount equal to $440,529.40 which shall
          be paid to the Executive on the Revocation Date (as defined in Section
          14 hereof). In addition, the Company shall pay the Executive an amount
          equal to $19,470.60 representing accrued and unpaid vacation.

      b)  Stock Options.

          (i)   The 150,000 options granted to the Executive pursuant to the
                Employment Agreement (the "Regular Options") are vested and
                exercisable and shall remain exercisable by the Executive until
                the second anniversary of the Resignation Date, notwithstanding
                anything to the contrary set forth in the agreements pursuant to
                which such options were granted. Except as specifically set
                forth in this Section 1(b)(i), the Regular Options shall
                continue to be governed by and subject to the terms of the
                applicable stock option plans and option agreements pursuant to
                which such options were granted.

                                       2
<PAGE>

          (ii)  The parties acknowledge and agree that the Regular Options
                comprise all of the options to acquire shares of common stock of
                the Company held by the Executive as of the date hereof.

      c)  Health and Welfare Benefits. The Company shall make monthly payments
          to the Executive for health insurance through April 30, 2003, such
          payments totaling in the aggregate $19,317.38.

      d)  Equipment. As soon as practicable following the Revocation Date, the
          Executive shall return to the Company all computer and other
          equipment, if any, belonging to the Company.

      e)  Other. In addition to the foregoing,

          (i)   the Executive acknowledges that he has received all salary
                payments, as well as accrued but unused vacation and all other
                amounts due him, through the Resignation Date and that no
                further salary or other compensation for services rendered is
                due to him; and

          (ii)  the Executive acknowledges that the Company shall deduct all
                applicable withholding taxes from the amounts to be paid to the
                Executive under this Agreement.

                                       3
<PAGE>

2.    Confidential Information. The Executive acknowledges that the Company's
      and its subsidiaries' and affiliates' trade secrets, information
      concerning products and services and their development, technical
      information, marketing and sales activities and procedures, promotion and
      pricing techniques and credit and financial data concerning the Company,
      its subsidiaries and affiliates and their customers (the "Proprietary
      Information") are valuable, special and unique assets of the Company and
      its subsidiaries and affiliates, access to and knowledge of which have
      been gained by virtue of the Executive's position and involvement with the
      Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates. Proprietary Information shall
      not include information which is or becomes generally available to the
      public other than as a result of unauthorized disclosure by the Executive.
      The Executive agrees that he will not disclose any of such Proprietary
      Information to any person or other entity for any reason or purpose
      whatsoever, and that the Executive will not make use of any Proprietary
      Information for the benefit of any person or other entity other than the
      Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, except to the extent
      disclosure is or may be required by a statute, by a court of law, by any
      governmental agency having supervisory authority over the business of the
      Company or by any administrative or legislative body (including a
      committee thereof) with jurisdiction to order him to divulge, disclose or
      make accessible such information, provided, however, that the Executive
      shall give

                                       4
<PAGE>

      the Company notice of any such request or demand for such information upon
      his receipt of same and the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the
      Company in any application the Company may make seeking a protective order
      barring disclosure by the Executive.

3.    Restrictive Covenants. The Company is engaged in the business of
      independent online automotive marketing services and information (the
      "Business") throughout the world. The Executive represents, warrants,
      acknowledges and agrees that (i) the market for the Business is extremely
      competitive and extends throughout the world and the Executive, through
      the Company, is among the limited number of people engaged in the
      Business; (ii) the restrictive covenants and other agreements contained
      herein are an essential part of this Agreement; (iii) the Executive has
      been fully advised by, or has had the opportunity to be advised by, an
      attorney in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and
      delivery of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this
      Agreement; and (iv) no reasonable person would engage in any of the
      transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the benefit of the
      restrictive covenants and the other agreements contained herein by the
      Executive. Accordingly, the Executive agrees to be bound by the
      restrictive covenants and the other agreements contained in this Agreement
      to the maximum extent permitted by law, it being the intent and spirit of
      the parties that the restrictive covenants and the

                                       5
<PAGE>

      other agreements contained herein shall be valid and enforceable in all
      respects, and, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
      mutually dependent upon the obligations of the Company to pay the
      Executive the consideration due the Executive under this Agreement.

      a)  Noncompetition. During the period commencing with the Revocation Date
          (as defined in Section 14 hereof) and extending for one year
          thereafter (the "Restricted Period"), the Executive shall not in any
          city, town, county, parish or other municipality in any state of the
          United States where the Company or any of its subsidiaries, successors
          or assigns engages in the Business, directly or indirectly, (i) engage
          in the Business for the Executive's own account; (ii) enter the employ
          of, or render any services to or for any entity that is engaged in the
          Business; or (iii) become interested in any such entity in any
          capacity, including as an individual, partner, shareholder, officer,
          director, employee, principal, agent, trustee or consultant; provided,
          however, the Executive may own, directly or indirectly, solely as a
          passive investment, securities of any entity traded on any national
          securities exchange or automated quotation system if the Executive,
          individually or in the aggregate, is not a controlling Person of, or a
          member of a group which controls, such entity and does not, directly
          or indirectly, "beneficially own" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of

                                       6
<PAGE>

          the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")),
          without regard to the 60 day period referred to in Rule
          13d-3(d)(1)(i)) 2% or more of any class of securities of such entity.

      b)  Noninterference. During the Restricted Period, the Executive shall
          not, directly or indirectly, (i) hire, solicit, induce, or attempt to
          solicit or induce any person known to the Executive to be an employee
          of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, successors or assigns, that
          is involved in the Business to terminate his or her employment or
          other relationship with the Company, its subsidiaries, successors or
          assigns for the purpose of associating with (A) any entity of which
          the Executive is or becomes an officer, director, partner, executive,
          employee, principal, agent, or consultant or (B) any competitor of the
          Company or its subsidiaries, successors or assigns in the Business, or
          (ii) otherwise encourage any person to terminate his or her employment
          or other relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
          successors or assigns for any other purpose or no purpose.

4.    Standstill Agreement. The Executive, on behalf of himself and his
      affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act),
      agrees that, for a period of 2 years from the Effective Date, he and his
      affiliates shall not, and shall cause any person or entity controlled by
      him or them not to: (i) in

                                       7
<PAGE>

      any manner acquire, agree to acquire or make any proposal to acquire
      ownership directly nor indirectly (including, but not limited to
      beneficial ownership as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of
      any voting securities or other equity interests in, debt securities, trade
      payables, or property of the Company or any rights or options to acquire
      such ownership except for the Regular Options; (ii) solicit proxies or
      consents, directly or indirectly, or become a "participant" in any
      "solicitation" (as such terms are defined in Regulation 14A under the
      Exchange Act) of proxies or consents to vote, or seek to advise or
      influence any person with respect to the voting of, any voting securities
      of the Company; (iii) with respect to any voting securities of the
      Company, (a) form, join or be part of any "group" (within the meaning of
      Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act); (iv) otherwise act, alone or in
      concert with others, to seek to control or influence the management or
      policies of the Company or the Board of Directors of the Company; or (v)
      advise, assist or encourage any other person in connection with any of the
      foregoing.

5.    Rights and Remedies Upon Breach by the Executive. If the Executive
      breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of
      this Agreement, the Company, and its subsidiaries, successors or assigns
      shall have the following rights and remedies, each of which shall be
      independent of the others and severally enforceable, and each of which
      shall be in addition

                                       8
<PAGE>

      to, and not in lieu of, any other rights or remedies available to the
      Company, or its subsidiaries, successors or assigns at law or in equity
      under this Agreement, or otherwise:

      a)  Specific Performance. The right and remedy to have each and every one
          of the covenants in this Agreement specifically enforced and the right
          and remedy to obtain injunctive relief, it being agreed that any
          breach or threatened breach of any of the restrictive covenants in
          this Agreement would cause irreparable injury to the Company and its
          subsidiaries, successors or assigns and that money damages would not
          provide an adequate remedy to the Company and its subsidiaries,
          successors or assigns.

      b)  Accounting. The right to other appropriate equitable or monetary
          relief.

      c)  Severability of Covenants. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that
          the restrictive covenants in this Agreement are reasonable and valid
          in geographic, temporal and subject matter scope and in all other
          respects, and do not impose limitations greater than are necessary to
          protect the goodwill, proprietary information, and other business
          interests of the Company and its subsidiaries, successors or assigns.
          If, however, any court of competent jurisdiction subsequently
          determines that any of the restrictive covenants, or any part thereof,
          is

                                       9
<PAGE>

          invalidor unenforceable, the remainder of the restrictive covenants
          shall not thereby be affected and shall be given full effect without
          regard to the invalid portions.

      d)  Blue-Penciling. If any court of competent jurisdiction determines that
          any of the restrictive covenants, or any part thereof, is
          unenforceable because of the duration or scope of such provision, such
          court shall have the power to reduce the duration or scope of such
          provision, as the case may be, and, in its reduced form, such
          provision shall then be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by
          applicable law.

      e)  Enforceability in All Jurisdictions. The Executive intends to and
          hereby confers jurisdiction to enforce each and every one of the
          covenants in this Agreement upon the courts of any jurisdiction within
          the geographic scope of such restrictive covenants. If the courts of
          any one or more of such jurisdictions hold the restrictive covenants
          unenforceable by reason of the breadth of such scope or otherwise, it
          is the intention of the Executive that such determination shall not
          bar or in any way affect the Company's, or any of its subsidiaries',
          successors' or assigns' right to the relief provided above in the
          courts of any other jurisdiction within the geographic scope of such
          restrictive covenants, as to breaches of such restrictive covenants in
          such other respective jurisdictions, such restrictive covenants as

                                       10
<PAGE>

          they relate to each jurisdiction being, for this purpose, severable
          into diverse and independent covenants.

6.    Cooperation. The Executive agrees to cooperate in the Company's handling
      or resolution of any matter in which the Executive was involved in the
      course of his employment, provided that such requests shall not be unduly
      burdensome. By way of example only, such obligation of cooperation may
      include furnishing information and assisting the Company in legal
      proceedings. Promptly following submission of a written statement by the
      Executive, the Company shall reimburse the Executive his reasonable
      out-of-pocket costs and other reasonable expenses incurred in connection
      with his cooperation pursuant to this Section 6, including but not limited
      to reasonable attorney's fees.

7.    Releases

      a)  Release by the Executive.

                                       11
<PAGE>

          (i)   The Executive on behalf of himself and his agents, assignees,
                attorneys, heirs and executors (the "Executive Releasors")
                agrees to and does hereby forever release the Company, any
                affiliated companies, and their past and present parents,
                subsidiaries, and present and former employees, officers,
                directors, shareholders, agents, successors and assigns of any
                of them (but, as to any such individuals, only in connection
                with or in relationship to their capacity as an employee,
                officer, director, shareholder, agent, successor or assignee of
                the Company, any affiliated companies, and their past and
                present parents and subsidiaries, successors and assignees and
                not in connection with or in relationship to their personal
                capacity unrelated to a referenced corporate entity; such
                individuals as described and such corporate entities
                collectively, the "Company Releasees") from all claims, demands,
                causes of action, controversies, agreements, promises and
                remedies, of any type which the Executive may have as of the
                date hereof, whether known or unknown, in connection with or in
                relationship to the Executive's capacity as an employee, officer
                or director of any of the Company Releasees, and the termination
                of any such capacity, other than

                                       12
<PAGE>

                with respect to the rights expressly preserved herein (such
                released claims are collectively referred to herein as the
                "Released Executive Claims"). Without any limitation on the
                foregoing, the Released Executive Claims shall include any
                claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
                ("ADEA"), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with
                Disabilities Act, the California Fair Employment and Housing
                Act, as amended, the California Labor Code and all other
                federal, state and local laws.

          (ii)  In addition, the Executive, on behalf of himself and the
                Executive Releasors expressly waives all rights afforded by
                Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California
                ("Section 1542") with respect to the Company Releasees. Section
                1542 states as follows:

                      A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE
                CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS FAVOR AT THE
                TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM

                                       13
<PAGE>

                MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.

                Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1542, and for the
                purpose of implementing a full and complete release, the
                Executive understands and agrees that this Release is intended
                to include and does include all claims, if any, which the
                Executive may have and which the Executive does not now know or
                suspect to exist in his favor against the Company Releasees, and
                this Release extinguishes those claims.

          (iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive does not waive, and
                "Released Executive Claims" shall not include, any rights to
                which he may be entitled (A) to seek to enforce this Agreement
                or (B) to obtain contribution as permitted by law in the event
                of the entry of judgment against him as a result of any act or
                failure to act for which both the Executive and the Company are
                held to be jointly liable. The Executive shall have the right to
                indemnification, to the fullest extent permitted under
                applicable law, to the same extent as other senior executive
                officers and directors of the Company or its subsidiaries or
                affiliates are so entitled, in accordance with the

                                       14
<PAGE>

                provisions of the Company's by-laws, certificate of
                incorporation or as otherwise provided under the laws of the
                state of Delaware, whichever provides the Executive with the
                broadest protections, and directors' and officers' liability
                insurance policies to the same extent as other senior executive
                officers and directors of the Company, and in the event such
                indemnification or liability insurance policy rights are
                subsequently enhanced, and relate to the period of time prior to
                the Resignation Date the Executive shall be entitled to the
                protection of such enhanced rights.

          (iv)  The Executive, on behalf of himself and the Executive Releasors,
                promises never to file a lawsuit or arbitration asserting any
                Released Executive Claims against the Company Releasees. If the
                Executive files a lawsuit or arbitration against the Company
                Releasees based on the Released Executive Claims, he agrees to
                pay for all costs incurred by the Company Releasees, including
                reasonable attorney's fees, in defending against such claim.

                                       15
<PAGE>

          b)    Release by the Company.

                (i)   The Company, on behalf of itself and any affiliated
                      companies and their past and present parents and
                      subsidiaries (the "Company Releasors"), agree to forever
                      release the Executive and his family, estate, agents,
                      attorneys, heirs, executors, successors and assigns (the
                      "Executive Releasees") from any and all claims, demands,
                      causes of action, controversies, agreements, promises and
                      remedies, in connection with or in relationship to the
                      Executive's capacity as an employee, officer or director
                      of any of the Company Releasors which they may have as of
                      the date hereof, whether known or unknown, including,
                      without limitation, any rights to pursue such dispute(s)
                      against the Executive Releasees (the "Released Company
                      Claims") except for any claims, demands, causes of action,
                      controversies, agreements, promises and remedies arising
                      out of the Executive's intentional disclosure of, or
                      direction to disclose, material non-public information to
                      any person.

                (ii)  The Company, on behalf of itself and the Company
                      Releasors, promises never to file a lawsuit or arbitration
                      against the Executive Releasees asserting any Released
                      Company Claims.

                                       16
<PAGE>

                      If the Company files a lawsuit or arbitration against the
                      Executive Releasees based on Released Company Claims, it
                      will pay for all costs incurred by the Executive
                      Releasees, including reasonable attorney's fees, in
                      defending against such claims. Notwithstanding the
                      foregoing, the Company does not waive, and "Released
                      Company Claims" shall not include, any rights to which the
                      Company may be entitled to seek to enforce this Agreement.

8.    Miscellaneous.

      a)  Mutual Nondisparagement. The Executive shall not make any public
          statements, encourage others to make statements or release information
          intended to disparage or defame the Company, its subsidiaries or
          affiliates or their products or services or their officers, directors
          or managers. The Company, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries and
          affiliates, shall not make any public statements, encourage others to
          make statements or release information intended to disparage or defame
          the Executive's reputation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in
          this Section 8(a) shall prohibit any person from making truthful
          statements when required by order of a court or other body having
          jurisdiction.

                                       17
<PAGE>

      b)  Resolution of Disputes. Any disputes or claims arising under or in
          connection with this Agreement, including, without limitation, any
          disputes arising under Sections 3 or 4 hereof, shall be resolved by
          binding arbitration, to be held in Orange County, California, in
          accordance with the Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration
          Association before a panel of three (3) arbitrators, one appointed by
          the Executive, one appointed by the Company, and the third appointed
          by mutual agreement of the arbitrators selected by the Executive and
          the Company. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may
          be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Each party shall
          bear its own counsels' fees in arbitration or litigation, and shall
          share equally the costs of arbitration; provided however the Company
          shall pay and be solely responsible for any attorneys' fees and
          expenses and court or arbitration costs incurred by the Executive as a
          result of a claim that the Company has breached or otherwise failed to
          perform this Agreement or any provision thereof to be performed by the
          Company if the Executive prevails in the contest in whole or in
          substantial part. Nothing herein shall prevent the Company from
          seeking equitable relief in court as provided for in Section 5 hereof.

                                       18
<PAGE>

      c)  General. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or
          discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to
          in writing and signed by the Executive and the Company. No waiver by
          either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party
          hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this
          Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver
          of any similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or
          any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral
          or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter
          hereof have been made by either party that are not set forth expressly
          in this Agreement. The validity, interpretation, construction and
          performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
          State of Delaware without regard to its conflicts of law principles.
          Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, including
          without limitation the provisions of Section 2 hereof, and except for
          disclosure by the Company to its legal, accounting and other advisors,
          and/or in due diligence to potential investors, it is the express
          intention of the parties hereto that this Agreement and the provisions
          hereof be treated as confidential and not disclosed in any public
          manner other than disclosure (i) that is or may be required by a
          statute, by a court of law, by any governmental agency having

                                       19
<PAGE>

          supervisory authority over the business of the Company or by any
          administrative or legislative body (including a committee thereof)
          with jurisdiction to order that such information be divulged,
          disclosed or made accessible; provided, however, that the Executive
          shall give the Company notice of any such request or demand for such
          information upon his receipt of same and the Executive shall
          reasonably cooperate with the Company in any application the Company
          may make seeking a protective order barring disclosure by the
          Executive; (ii) that is made to the Executive's legal counsel or
          personal financial advisor and is reasonably necessary in connection
          with the Executive's consideration of the terms of this Agreement or
          the Executive's personal financial dealings, or (iii) that is made to
          a member of the Executive's immediate family; provided, however, that
          with respect to subsections (ii) and (iii) of this Section 8(c), any
          person to whom the Executive discloses such information has agreed in
          advance to maintain the confidentiality of such information consistent
          with the terms of this Agreement.

      d)  Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
          enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal representatives,
          executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees
          and legatees. If the Executive shall die while any amount would still
          be

                                       20
<PAGE>

          payable to the Executive hereunder (other than amounts which, by their
          terms, terminate upon the death of the Executive) if the Executive had
          continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein,
          shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the
          executors, personal representatives or administrators of the
          Executive's estate.

9.    Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
      provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
      enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall
      remain in full force and effect.

10.   Notices. Notices, demands and all other communications provided for in
      this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by messenger,
      overnight courier, certified or registered mail, postage prepaid and
      return receipt requested or by facsimile transmission to the parties at
      their respective addresses and fax numbers set forth below or to such
      other address or fax number as to which notice is given.

                                        If to the Executive:
                                        Dennis Benner
                                        29906 Avenida Magnifica
                                        Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90274

                                        If to the Company:
                                        Autobytel Inc.
                                        18872 MacArthur Boulevard
                                        Irvine, CA 92612

                                       21
<PAGE>

                                        Attention: General Counsel

                                        Fax: (949) 862-1323

            Notices, demands and other communications shall be deemed given on
      delivery thereof or, in the case of facsimile transmission, upon receipt
      of successful transmission from the transmitting facsimile machine.

11.   Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
      each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together
      will constitute one and the same instrument.

12.   Entire Agreement; Effect on Employment Agreement. This Agreement sets
      forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto in respect of the subject
      matter contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements, including,
      without limitation, the Employment Agreement, promises, covenants,
      arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral
      or written, by either party or by any officer, employee or representative
      of either party hereto.

13.   Legal Fees. Each party shall bear its own legal fees and expenses in
      connection with the preparation and negotiation of this Agreement.

14.   Review and Revocation. The Executive acknowledges that the Company has
      advised him to consult with an attorney of his choosing prior to signing
      this Agreement. The Executive understands and agrees that he has the right
      and

                                       22
<PAGE>

      has been given the opportunity to review this Agreement and, specifically,
      the release in Section 7 hereof, with an attorney of his choice. The
      Executive also understands and agrees that he has entered into this
      Agreement freely and voluntarily. The Executive has twenty-one (21) days
      to consider the release of his rights under ADEA, although he may sign
      this Agreement sooner if he so desires. Furthermore, once the Executive
      has signed this Agreement, he has seven (7) additional days from the date
      he signs it to revoke his consent to the release of his rights under ADEA.
      The Executive's release of his rights under ADEA will not become effective
      until seven (7) days after the date he has signed this Agreement (the day
      immediately following the expiration of such 7-day period being referred
      to herein as the "Revocation Date") and the payments and obligations of
      the Company set forth in this Agreement shall not become due unless and
      until the period for such revocation has expired with no such revocation
      by the Executive having occurred.

15.   No Admission of Wrongdoing. The Company's offer to the Executive of this
      Agreement and the payments and benefits set forth herein is not intended
      to, and shall not be construed as, an admission of liability by the
      Company or of any improper conduct on the Company's part, all of which the
      Company specifically denies.

                                       23
<PAGE>

16.   Representations of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the
      Executive that the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
      and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
      duly and validly authorized on behalf of the Company and that all
      corporate action required to be taken by the Company for the execution,
      delivery and performance of this Agreement including, without limitation,
      the performance of Section 1(b) hereof, has been or promptly will be duly
      and effectively taken. The Company acknowledges that the Executive has
      relied upon such representations and warranties in entering into this
      Agreement.

17.   No Mitigation or Offsets. The Executive shall not be required to seek
      other employment or to reduce or otherwise mitigate any severance amount
      or benefit payable to him under this Agreement and no severance amount or
      benefit shall be reduced on account of any compensation received by the
      Executive from other employment. The Company's obligation to pay severance
      amounts and benefits under this Agreement shall not be reduced by any
      amount owed by the Executive to the Company.

                                       24
<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be executed as of the date set forth above.

                                           Autobytel Inc.

/s/ Dennis Benner                By:  /s/ Ariel Amir
---------------------------         ---------------------------
Dennis Benner                       Executive Vice President and General Counsel

                                       25<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.20

                                                                 VOID IF ALTERED

                                 [AUTOWEB LOGO]
                   A wholly owned subsidiary of Autobytel Inc.
            18872 MacArthur Boulevard, Irvine, California 92612-1400
                       Tel. 949-225-4500*Fax 949-862-3042

                            GENERAL DEALER AGREEMENT

        This General Dealer Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into by and
between _______________________________________________________________________,
                            (Legal Name of Dealership)

(DBA)_______________________________________________. ("you" or "Dealer"),

a [ ] Corporation, [ ] LLC, [ ] Partnership, [ ] LLP, [ ] Sole Proprietor,
[ ] Other  ________ under the laws of the state of ______________, located at
__________________________________________________ and Autoweb.com, Inc. a
Delaware corporation ("we" or "Autoweb.com").

                                    Recitals

        Autoweb.com is committed to providing quality lead referral information
to our Member Dealers. Through our Per Lead Fee Agreement, Autoweb.com and the
dealer agree to the following:

What we agree to do:

-  Purchase Requests with verified customer information, accuracy of model,
   equipment and color

-  Dedicated Account Managers regionally assigned to member dealers

What you agree to do:

-  In a professional manner, respond to each customer inquiry within 24 hours

-  Offer up front pricing/information to the consumer during the first contact
   or when appropriate

-  Notify us promptly if there are personal or contact information changes
   within the dealership

                             Per Lead Fee Agreement

        Now therefore, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

FOR NEW VEHICLE INQUIRIES, we will invoice you and you agree to pay ___________
dollars ($________) for each Inquiry.

Inquiries invoiced on a monthly basis will include only those Inquiries from
those zip codes that lie in whole or in part within the Specified Radius
Distance(s) for each Franchise. (Please See Franchise Information sheet) The
dealer will also be charged for additional zip codes the dealer chooses that are
outside the specified radius. Each billing will be for the previous month's
Inquiries delivered to you. You agree to pay the invoice within thirty (30) days
even if all the Inquiries are not Qualified Inquiries. A QUALIFIED INQUIRY IS AN
INQUIRY THAT IS DELIVERED TO YOU AND THAT HAS A NAME AND A VALID TELEPHONE
NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS. If you believe that an Inquiry charged to you is not a
Qualified Inquiry and you inform us in writing, on a form we will provide to
you, within thirty (30) days of the invoice date, we will issue you a credit
toward your account for an Inquiry that is not a Qualified Inquiry. We will also
credit you for duplicate Inquiries ("Duplicate Inquiry") in the same manner. A
Duplicate Inquiry is a second Inquiry generated from the Autoweb.com Site and
received from the same person within seventy-two (72) hours. You understand and
agree that an Inquiry is an expression of interest on the part of a consumer and
that it does not necessarily lead to a sale of a vehicle. You also agree to pay
Autoweb a $__________ start-up fee upon your execution of this Agreement.

                                       1

DG# ______________________                Region name: _________________________
AL-Aweb agree Flex

Rev 1/24/02                                                      VOID IF ALTERED

<PAGE>
                                                                 VOID IF ALTERED

Acceptance. This Agreement becomes valid and binding upon acceptance by Autoweb
(the "Effective Date"). Upon acceptance, Autoweb shall mail a copy of the fully
executed Agreement to you. Until accepted, meaning executed and activated by
Autoweb, this Agreement shall not be binding on Autoweb and shall have no force
or effect.

Term and Termination
After the Dealer has been on the program for (the "Initial Term") 3 MONTHS _____
6 MONTHS ____ 12 MONTHS_____, the contract will automatically renew on each
consecutive "Initial Term" anniversaries until or unless the contract is
cancelled. Either party may terminate this Agreement for any reason, after (90)
days from the "Effective Date" upon thirty (30) days' written notice and upon
payment to Autoweb.com of any unpaid invoices or accrued charges throughout the
last day of the month within which the thirty (30) day termination notice
expires.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this General Dealer Agreement as
of the date signed below.

DEALER:                                      AUTOWEB.COM, INC.
       -----------------------------
        (Legal name of dealership)

By:                                          By:
   ---------------------------------            --------------------------------
       (Signature)                                 (Signature)

Name:                                        Name:
     -------------------------------              ------------------------------

       (Printed)

Title:                                       Title:
      ------------------------------               -----------------------------
       (Printed)
Date:                                        Date:
     -------------------------------              -----------------------------

                                       2

DG# ______________________                Region name: _________________________
AL-Aweb agree Flex

Rev 1/24/02                                                      VOID IF ALTERED

<PAGE>

                                                                 VOID IF ALTERED

                            GENERAL DEALER AGREEMENT

                                 BILLING REQUEST

Autoweb.com will remit ____ (___) monthly bill(s) with supporting documentation
for all franchises to the following address:

                 [ ] Individual Store Billing
                 [ ] One Central Billing Location listed below:

                        $ Amount contracted for per lead

                             -----------------------
                    Total number of rooftops contracted for:

                             -----------------------
                   Total number of franchises contracted for:

                             -----------------------
                              Existing Dealer ID #:

                                     -------

                     Current A/R Amount:       Start Date:

                     ------------------        ----------

ROOFTOP 1 INFORMATION
Dealership:
           ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Address:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
City:                           ST:                             Zip:
     ---------------------------   ----------------------------     ------------
Dealership web address:
                       ---------------------------------------------------------
Management Contact Information:
Name:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Job title:
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone:                                          Fax:
      ----------------------------------------      ----------------------------
Franchises managed at this location:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                        Date:
                  -------------------        -----------------------------------

                          BILLING LOCATION INFORMATION

Dealership:
           ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Address:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
City:                           ST:                             Zip:
     ---------------------------   ----------------------------     ------------

                          BILLING CONTACT INFORMATION:

Name:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Job title:
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone:                                          Fax:
      ----------------------------------------      ----------------------------
Email address:
              ------------------------------------------------------------------

FRANCHISE 1 INFORMATION
Dealership:
           ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Franchise:
           ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Center Zip:                                     Radius:
           ------------------------------------       --------------------------
Number of estimated leads @ set-up:
                                   ---------------------------------------------
Lead Contact Information:
Name:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Job title:
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone:                                            Fax:
      --------------------------------------------    --------------------------
Email Adress
             -------------------------------------------------------------------
Lead delivery information (email address, fax #, XML):

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dealership authorized agent signature:
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                        3

DG# ______________________                Region name: _________________________
AL-Aweb agree Flex

Rev 1/24/02                                                      VOID IF ALTERED

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00035-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00035-of-00352.parquet"}]]