AUTO BY TEL CORP, S-1/A, 1997-03-07

AUTO BY TEL CORP
S-1/A, 1997-03-07
MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL

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<PAGE>

AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 7, 1997

REGISTRATION NO. 333-20831
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

DELAWARE 7375 33-0711569
(STATE OR OTHER (PRIMARY STANDARD INDUSTRIAL (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
JURISDICTION OF CLASSIFICATION CODE NUMBER) IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
INCORPORATION OR
ORGANIZATION)

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AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION
18872 MACARTHUR BOULEVARD, SUITE 200
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92612-1400
(714) 225-4500
(ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

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MARK W. LORIMER, ESQ.
VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION
18872 MACARTHUR BOULEVARD, SUITE 200
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92612-1400
(714) 225-4500
(NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS)

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

COPIES TO:

RICHARD J. CHAR, ESQ. ROD A. GUERRA, JR., ESQ.
RICHARD J. HART, ESQ. SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE,
DAVID M. CAMPBELL, ESQ. MEAGHER & FLOM LLP
WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI 300 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE
PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90071
650 PAGE MILL ROAD (213) 687-5000
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304
(415) 493-9300

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APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration
Statement.

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If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box. [_]

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]

If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [_]

THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.

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<PAGE>

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A +
+REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS BEEN +
+FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT +
+BE SOLD NOR MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION +
+STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO +
+SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF +
+THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD +
+BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS +
+OF ANY SUCH STATE. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 7, 1997

4,000,000 SHARES

[LOGO OF AUTO BY TEL]

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION
COMMON STOCK

Of the 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby (the "Offering"),
3,600,000 are being sold by Auto-By-Tel Corporation ("Auto-By-Tel" or the
"Company") and 400,000 are being sold by the Selling Stockholder. The Company
will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the Selling
Stockholder. See "Principal and Selling Stockholders." Prior to the Offering,
there has been no public market for the Common Stock. It is currently estimated
that the initial public offering price will be between $9.50 and $11.00 per
share. See "Underwriting" for a discussion of the factors to be considered in
determining the initial public offering price. The Company's Common Stock has
been approved for listing on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"ABTL."

THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE "RISK
FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE 6 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS THAT SHOULD
BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OFFERED
HEREBY.

-----------

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND +
+ EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE +
+ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION +
+ PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY +
+ REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Price Proceeds Proceeds to
to Underwriting to Selling
Public Discount(1) Company(2) Stockholder
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per Share............................ $ $ $ $
Total(3)............................. $ $ $ $
</TABLE>
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(1) See "Underwriting" for information concerning indemnification of the
Underwriters and other matters.

(2)Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $1,300,000.

(3) The Company has granted to the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up
to 600,000 additional shares of Common Stock solely to cover over-
allotments, if any. If the Underwriters exercise this option in full, the
Price to Public will total $ , the Underwriting Discount will total
$ and the Proceeds to Company will total $ . See
"Underwriting."

The shares of Common Stock are offered by the several Underwriters named
herein, subject to receipt and acceptance by them and subject to their right to
reject any order in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery of the
certificates representing such shares will be made against payment therefor at
the office of Montgomery Securities on or about , 1997.

-----------

MONTGOMERY SECURITIES
COWEN & COMPANY
ROBERTSON, STEPHENS & COMPANY

, 1997
<PAGE>

[THE TOP HALF OF THIS PAGE CONTAINS A PICTURE SHOWING
THE FIRST PAGE OF THE COMPANY'S WEB SITE.]

The Company intends to distribute to its stockholders annual reports
containing financial statements audited by its independent accountants and
copies of quarterly earnings reports for the first three quarters of each
fiscal year containing unaudited financial information.

Auto-By-Tel is a registered service mark of the Company. Auto-By-Tel, ABT
Mobilist and the Company's logo are trademarks of the Company. This Prospectus
also includes trademarks and tradenames of companies other than the Company.

CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK.
SPECIFICALLY, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVERALLOT IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING,
AND MAY BID FOR, AND PURCHASE, SHARES OF THE COMMON STOCK IN THE OPEN MARKET.
FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING."
<PAGE>

INSIDE FRONT COVER FOLD OUT

This page contains a series of six pictures depicting the steps to buying a
vehicle using the Auto-By-Tel program. The page is entitled "How Auto-By-Tel
Works." In the center of the six pictures is the caption: "The easiest, most
hassle-free way ever invented to buy a car."

Picture #1 depicts a consumer sitting at a terminal. The caption beneath
picture #1 reads: "At any time of day or night, Internet users can start their
vehicle purchasing process on the AUTO-BY-TEL World Wide Web site. No
salespeople, no crowds, no hassles."

Picture #2 depicts the Company's Web site. The caption beneath picture #2
reads: "The AUTO-BY-TEL home page is an easy interface for everyone to use."

Picture #3 depicts another page from the Company's Web site featuring
automobile information providers. The caption beneath picture #3 reads: "AUTO-
BY-TEL has arrangements with popular automotive information providers on the
World Wide Web. To date, hundreds of thousands of vehicle buyers have taken
AUTO-BY-TEL for a test drive." Above picture #3 are the logos of three of the
Company's automotive information providers.

Picture #4 depicts the form of purchase request from the Company's Web site.
The caption beneath picture #4 reads: "An AUTO-BY-TEL participating dealership
calls the customer usually within 48 hours of a purchase request with a low,
no haggle price. All paperwork is prepared before a customer arrives at the
participating dealership to pick up the vehicle."

Picture #5 depicts a map of the United States with Auto-By-Tel dealer
locations represented. The caption beneath picture #5 reads: "AUTO-BY-TEL has
hundreds of participating dealerships, including members of some of the
largest auto dealer groups in the U.S., waiting to serve our customers."

Picture #6 depicts a consumer taking delivery of a vehicle. The caption
beneath picture #6 reads: "Prospective vehicle buyers indicate their desired
vehicle and options by completing an online purchase request. This is
delivered electronically to the AUTO-BY-TEL participating dealership closest
to the buyer."
<PAGE>

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

The following summary should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in
its entirety by, the more detailed information, including "Risk Factors" and
the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in
this Prospectus. Except as otherwise noted or the context otherwise requires,
all information in this Prospectus (i) gives effect to a five-for-three split
of the Company's Common Stock approved by the Board of Directors on November
24, 1996, (ii) gives effect to the conversion of all outstanding shares of
Preferred Stock into 3,467,915 shares of Common Stock which will occur
automatically immediately prior to the closing of this Offering, (iii) assumes
no exercise of outstanding options to purchase 2,405,565 shares of the
Company's Common Stock under the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan and 1996
Stock Incentive Plan, and (iv) assumes no exercise of the Underwriters' over-
allotment option. See "Management--Stock Plans," "Description of Capital Stock"
and "Underwriting."

THE COMPANY

Consumers wishing to purchase new vehicles through the Company's service
complete a purchase request available on the Company's and its partners' Web
sites which specifies the type of vehicle and accessories desired along with
the consumer's phone number, e-mail address and zip code. The purchase request
is then forwarded to the Auto-By-Tel participating dealership located in the
consumer's geographic area. Typically, consumers are contacted by Auto-By-Tel
dealers within 48 hours with a firm, competitive quote for the vehicle,
eliminating the unwelcome and time consuming task of negotiating with the
dealer and thus facilitating completion of the sale. As of December 31, 1996
the Company's dealership base consisted of (i) 1,206 paying franchises of
dealerships, (ii) 509 non-paying franchises affiliated with paying dealerships
(collectively, "subscribing dealerships") and (iii) approximately 230 "trial
dealers." From the commencement of operations in March 1995 to December 31,
1996, the Company received more than 385,000 new vehicle purchase requests.

The emergence of the Internet as a significant communications medium is
driving the development and adoption of Web content and commerce applications
that offer convenience and value to consumers, as well as unique marketing
opportunities and reduced operating costs to businesses. A growing number of
consumers have begun to transact business electronically, including paying
bills, booking airline tickets, trading securities and purchasing consumer
goods, such as personal computers, consumer electronics, compact disks, books
and vehicles. Moreover, online transactions can be faster, less expensive and
more convenient than transactions conducted through a human intermediary. In
addition, Web commerce applications enable businesses to rapidly target and
economically manage a broad customer base and establish and maintain ongoing
direct customer relationships. International Data Corporation ("IDC") estimates
that the dollar value of goods and services purchased over the Web will
increase from approximately $318 million in 1995 to $95 billion in the year
2000. The Auto-By-Tel vehicle marketing service seeks to utilize the unique
marketing capabilities of the Web to address the $660 billion annual U.S. new
and used vehicle market.

3
<PAGE>

To create higher levels of consumer satisfaction, the Company focuses on
improving the manner in which dealers interact with consumers. Auto-By-Tel
seeks to establish business relationships with dealerships which share the
Company's commitment to improving customer service in the vehicle retailing
industry. To meet this goal, the Company requests that participating
dealerships have their representatives trained in the Auto-By-Tel marketing
program, dedicate electronic and human resources to the Auto-By-Tel system and
comply with the Auto-By-Tel guidelines of rapid consumer response, full
disclosure, and competitive and up-front pricing communicated over telephone.

An important aspect of the Company's strategy is to strengthen the Auto-By-
Tel brand name, as a means of driving consumer traffic to the Company's Web
site and thereby increasing the volume of vehicle purchase requests. In
addition to marketing its services through relationships with Internet content
providers and advertising on Internet search engines and other online services,
the Company is expanding its marketing efforts through traditional print media
and on network television. The Company intends to capitalize on the increasing
visibility of the Auto-By-Tel brand name as a nationally recognized Internet-
based marketing service for new vehicles by offering additional services such
as online used vehicle purchasing, and vehicle financing, leasing and insurance
services. Auto-By-Tel is currently developing a used vehicle purchasing program
for its network of new vehicle dealerships. The Company has an agreement with
American International Group ("AIG") one of the largest international insurance
providers, to offer vehicle insurance through the Company's Web site. The
Company also has an agreement with Chase Manhattan Automotive Finance
Corporation ("Chase Manhattan") under which Chase Manhattan, together with its
affiliates, will receive credit applications for new vehicle financing online
via the Company's Web site from Auto-By-Tel's consumers. This arrangement with
Chase Manhattan is intended for prime credit consumers and the Company is
currently negotiating similar relationships with several leading financial
institutions to offer new and used vehicle leasing services and new and used
vehicle financing to sub-prime credit consumers.

Auto-By-Tel LLC was formed in January 1995 and began operations in March
1995. In July 1995, it introduced its Web site. Effective as of May 31, 1996,
the interests of the members of Auto-By-Tel LLC and ABT Acceptance Company LLC,
an affiliate, were transferred to the Company in a tax free transaction. The
address of the Company's principal executive offices is 18872 MacArthur
Boulevard, Suite 200, Irvine, California 92612-1400, and the Company's
telephone and fax numbers are (714) 225-4500 and (714) 225-4562, respectively.
The Company's home page is located on the World Wide Web at
http://www.autobytel.com. Information contained on the Company's Web site or
online services does not constitute part of this Prospectus.

THE OFFERING

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Common Stock offered by the Company.. 3,600,000 shares
Common Stock offered by the Selling
Stockholder......................... 400,000 shares
Common Stock to be outstanding after
the Offering........................ 19,495,136 shares(1)
Use of proceeds...................... For working capital and general corporate
purposes
Proposed Nasdaq National Market
symbol.............................. ABTL
</TABLE>

4
<PAGE>

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATING DATA
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE, PER SHARE AND SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATING DATA)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JANUARY 31, 1995 THREE MONTHS ENDED
(DATE OF INCEPTION) -------------------------------------------------- YEAR ENDED
TO DECEMBER 31, MARCH 31, JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
1995 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996
------------------- ---------- ---------- ------------- ------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
DATA:
Revenues................ $ 274 $ 436 $ 952 $ 1,434 $ 2,203 $ 5,025
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Operating expenses:
Marketing and
advertising........... 476 475 678 1,247 2,039 4,439
Selling, training and
support............... 454 362 563 851 1,417 3,193
Technology development. 99 67 78 294 954 1,393
General and
administrative........ 275 134 258 740 1,027 2,159
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total operating
expenses........... 1,304 1,038 1,577 3,132 5,437 11,184
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Loss from operations.... (1,030) (602) (625) (1,698) (3,234) (6,159)
Other income (expense),
net.................... -- -- (6) 22 108 124
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net loss................ (1,030) (602) (631) (1,676) (3,126) (6,035)
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Net loss per common and
common equivalent
share(2)............... $ (.07) $ (.04) $ (.04) $ (.11) $ (.19) $ (.38)
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Weighted average common
and common equivalent
shares outstanding(2).. 15,262,262 15,262,262 15,262,262 15,892,576 16,761,962 15,792,293
SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATING
DATA:
Purchase requests
received............... 42,600 44,900 73,700 102,700 123,700 345,000
Paying franchises of
subscribing
dealerships............ 253 546 728 978 1,206 1,206
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31, 1996
------------------------
PRO FORMA
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED (3)
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<S> <C> <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents.............................. $ 9,062 $51,129
Working capital........................................ 5,960 48,027
Total assets........................................... 12,298 54,365
Total liabilities...................................... 4,302 4,302
Accumulated deficit.................................... (7,065) (7,065)
Stockholders' equity................................... 7,996 50,063
</TABLE>
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(1) Based on 15,895,136 shares of Common Stock outstanding on a pro forma basis
as of January 31, 1997. Excludes 2,405,565 shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of outstanding options as of January 31, 1997, at a weighted
average exercise price of $2.55 per share. Assumes no exercise of the
Underwriters' over-allotment option.

(2) See Note 1.o of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for an
explanation of the determination of shares used in computing net loss per
share.

(3) Adjusted to reflect (i) the sale of 967,915 shares of Series B Preferred
Stock on January 30, 1997 at a price of $9.35 per share and (ii) the
conversion of all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock immediately prior
to the closing of the Offering and (iii) the receipt by the Company of the
estimated net proceeds of $33.0 million from the sale of 3,600,000 shares
of Common Stock offered hereby at an assumed initial public offering price
of $10.25 per share. See "Use of Proceeds."

5
<PAGE>

RISK FACTORS

An investment in the Common Stock offered hereby involves a high degree of
risk. In addition to the other information in this Prospectus, the following
risk factors should be carefully considered in evaluating the Company and its
business before purchasing the shares of Common Stock offered hereby. This
Prospectus contains certain forward-looking statements based on current
expectations which involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the
timing of certain events may differ materially from those projected in such
forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those set
forth below.

LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY; ACCUMULATED DEFICIT

The Company was formed in January 1995 and introduced its vehicle marketing
program for new vehicle dealerships over Prodigy in March 1995 and over the
Internet in July 1995. The Company first recognized revenues from operations
in March 1995. Accordingly, the Company has only a limited operating history
upon which an evaluation of the Company and its prospects can be based, and
this limited operating history makes the prediction of future operating
results difficult or impossible. In addition, the Company believes that, in
order to achieve its objectives, it will need to significantly increase
revenues from existing services and generate revenues from new services, such
as its used vehicle buying service and its vehicle financing and insurance
policy referral services. There can be no assurance that the Company will
successfully introduce or generate sufficient revenues from such services. The
Company had an accumulated deficit as of December 31, 1996 of $7.1 million. In
addition, the Company expects to incur operating losses in future periods. The
Company's prospects must be considered in light of the risks, uncertainties,
expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in the early
stages of development, particularly companies in new and rapidly evolving
markets, such as the market for Internet commerce. To address these risks, the
Company must, among other things, continue to send vehicle purchase requests
to dealers that result in sales in sufficient numbers to support the marketing
fees charged by the Company to its subscribing dealerships, respond to
competitive developments, increase its brand name visibility, successfully
introduce new services, continue to attract, retain and motivate qualified
personnel, and continue to upgrade and enhance its technologies to accommodate
expanded service offerings and increased consumer traffic. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be successful in addressing such risks. In
addition, although the Company has experienced revenue growth in recent
periods, historical growth rates are not sustainable and are not indicative of
future operating results, and there can be no assurance that the Company will
achieve or maintain profitability. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

POTENTIAL FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY RESULTS

As a result of the Company's limited operating history, the Company lacks
sufficient historical financial and operating data on which to adequately base
future operating results. The Company's costs are based, in part, on fees paid
to companies that maintain Web sites which allow consumers to submit purchase
requests. Agreements with such companies generally have fixed terms ranging
from one to five years, although certain of these agreements are terminable on
short notice. Under such agreements, fees may be fixed or may vary depending
on the number of purchase requests submitted through other companies' Web
sites, or may be a combination thereof. Accordingly, increases in the number
of purchase requests received will increase the Company's operating costs,
which may not result in increased revenues to the Company. In addition, the
Company incurs significant expenses to market its services on other Web sites
and online services. Such expenses are generally fixed and are paid pursuant
to marketing agreements which have terms of up to one year. The Company's
expense levels are based in part on its expectations as to future revenues,
which may vary in relation to increases or decreases in the number of
dealerships that subscribe to the Company's marketing programs. Currently,
less than half of subscribing dealerships are subject to written marketing
agreements and these subscribing dealerships may cancel their agreements with
30 days' prior notice. As a result, quarterly revenues and operating results
may vary significantly in response to any significant change in the number of
subscribing dealerships. The Company's inability to adjust spending in a
timely manner to compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfall would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and

6
<PAGE>

financial condition. In addition, the Company anticipates significant
increases in expenses as a result of planned increases in its marketing and
advertising programs, development of affiliate programs relating to vehicle
insurance and financing, and the introduction of a used vehicle marketing
service. To the extent that such expenses exceed, precede or are not
subsequently followed by increased revenues, the Company's business, results
of operations and financial condition will be materially adversely affected.

Significant fluctuations in future quarterly operating results may also be
caused by general economic conditions or traditional seasonality in the
automotive and light duty truck markets, which may result in fluctuations in
the level of purchase requests completed by consumers or adversely affect
demand for the Company's existing and planned services. The introduction of
new services by the Company's competitors, market acceptance of Internet-
related services in general and the introduction by the Company of new
services and market acceptance of such services may also result in significant
fluctuations in quarterly operating results. In addition, as a strategic
response to changes in the competitive environment, the Company may from time
to time make certain pricing or marketing decisions or establish strategic
relationships that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, results of operations or financial condition. In particular, the
Company may need to revise the marketing fees it charges to subscribing
dealerships. There can be no assurance that subscribing dealerships will
continue to participate in the Company's marketing programs or agree to future
fee increases. In addition, there can be no assurance that marketing fees
derived from subscribing dealerships will be sufficient to cover the Company's
expenses. The foregoing factors make it likely that in some future quarters
the Company's operating results will be below the expectations of the Company,
securities analysts or investors. In such event, the trading price of the
Common Stock would likely be materially and adversely affected. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations."

REGULATORY UNCERTAINTIES AND GOVERNMENT REGULATION

The Company believes that its dealer marketing service does not qualify as a
brokerage activity and, therefore, that the Company does not need to comply
with state broker licensing requirements. In Texas, however, the Company was
required to modify its marketing program to include a pricing model under
which subscribing dealerships are charged uniform fees based on the population
density of their particular geographic area and to make its program open to
all dealerships who wish to apply. In the event that individual state
regulatory requirements change or additional requirements are imposed on the
Company, the Company may be required to modify its marketing programs in such
states in a manner which may undermine the program's attractiveness to
consumers or dealers. In addition, in the event that a state deems that the
Company is acting as a broker, the Company may be required to comply with
burdensome licensing requirements of such state or terminate operations in
such state. In each case, the Company's business, results of operations or
financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

The Company's marketing service may result in changes in the way new and
used vehicles are sold which may be deemed to be threatening by new and used
vehicle dealerships which do not subscribe to the Auto-By-Tel program. Such
businesses are often represented by influential lobbying organizations, and
such organizations may seek to introduce legislation which may impact the
evolving marketing and distribution model which the Company's service
promotes. Should legislative or legal challenges be brought successfully by
such organizations, the Company's business, results of operations or financial
condition could be materially and adversely affected.

As the Company introduces new services, the Company may need to comply with
additional licensing regulations and regulatory requirements. For example, the
Company recently obtained an insurance brokerage license in California and has
begun procuring insurance brokerage licenses in other states to ensure
compliance with applicable insurance regulations, if any, of such states. In
addition, the Company is currently in the process of applying for financial
brokers' licenses in those states in which the Company believes such licenses
are required. Becoming licensed may be an expensive and time-consuming process
which could divert the efforts of management. In the event that the Company
does not successfully become licensed under applicable state

7
<PAGE>

insurance or lending rules or otherwise comply with regulations necessitated
by changes in current regulations or the introduction of new services, the
Company's business, results of operations or financial condition could be
materially and adversely affected.

Additionally, there are currently few laws or regulations directly
applicable to access to or commerce on the Internet. However, due to the
increasing popularity and use of the Internet, it is likely that a number of
laws and regulations may be adopted at the local, state, national or
international levels with respect to commerce over the Internet, potentially
covering issues such as pricing of services and products, advertising, user
privacy and expression, intellectual property, information security, anti-
competitive practices or the convergence of traditional distribution channels
with Internet commerce. In addition, tax authorities in a number of states are
currently reviewing the appropriate tax treatment of companies engaged in
Internet commerce. New state tax regulations may subject the Company to
additional state sales and income taxes. The adoption of any such laws or
regulations may decrease the growth of Internet usage or the acceptance of
Internet commerce which could, in turn, decrease the demand for the Company's
services and increase the Company's costs or otherwise have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial
condition. See "Business--Government Regulation."

STRENGTHENING THE AUTO-BY-TEL BRAND NAME; HIGH COST OF ADVERTISING AND
MARKETING

The Company believes that enhancing its national brand name recognition is
critical to its efforts to maintain and increase the number of purchase
requests and subscribing dealerships. The growing number of Web sites which
offer competing services and the relatively low barriers to entry in providing
Internet services increase the importance of establishing and maintaining
brand name recognition. In order to achieve this objective, the Company will
need to continue to maintain high quality services and incur considerable
costs to enhance and expand brand name recognition and improve its competitive
position. Much of the Company's advertising is placed on Web sites maintained
by online service providers and online search engine companies. Advertising
agreements with these online service providers and search engine companies are
generally short-term contracts or are otherwise cancelable on short notice.
There can be no assurance that such online advertisers will not cancel such
contracts, or that competitors will not be able to displace Auto-By-Tel from
its preferred advertising arrangements with such companies.

In addition, the intense competition in the sale of Internet advertising,
including competition from other vehicle marketing services, has resulted in a
wide range of rates quoted by different vendors for a variety of advertising
services. This makes it very difficult to project future levels of Internet
advertising costs and availability of prime advertising space. The Company has
also entered into agreements with automotive information services, such as
Edmund's and Microsoft CarPoint, to display the Company's services on their
Web sites. These agreements require the Company to pay such entities a fee for
each user who completes a purchase request on their sites. Accordingly, any
increase in the volume of purchase requests received from these sites will
result in increased advertising costs with no assurance of a corresponding
increase in revenues to the Company. The Company is also incurring significant
expenses to increase awareness of its nationally branded Internet-based
marketing services in print and television media. The Company expects these
expenses to increase significantly, particularly in the first half of 1997.
There can be no assurance that the Company's efforts to brand the Auto-By-Tel
name will be successful or that advertising on the Internet, on television or
in other media will attract consumers to the Company's Web site, or that
existing marketing or advertising sources will continue to be available on
commercially reasonable terms, or at all. See "Business--Strategy" and "--
Sales and Marketing."

COMPETITION

The Company's vehicle buying services compete against a variety of Internet
and traditional vehicle buying services and automobile brokers. In the
Internet-based market, the Company competes for attention with other entities
which maintain similar commercial Web sites. The Company also competes
indirectly against automobile brokerage firms and affinity programs offered by
several companies, including Price Costco and Wal-Mart. Like

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the Company's services, the services offered by competing Web sites, vehicle
brokerage firms and affinity programs seek to increase consumer satisfaction
and reduce vehicle purchasing costs.

Although the Company does not currently compete directly with vehicle
dealers and manufacturers, such competition would arise in the future if
dealers and manufacturers introduced competing Web sites or developed
cooperative relationships among themselves or with online vehicle information
providers. Moreover, the Company's ability to achieve its objectives would be
adversely affected if dealers and manufacturers adopted a low cost, firm price
sales model similar to that facilitated by the Auto-By-Tel program.

The market for Internet-based commercial services is new and competition
among commercial Web sites is expected to increase significantly in the
future. The Internet is characterized by minimal barriers to entry, and
current and new competitors can launch new Web sites at relatively low cost.
Potential competitors could include, but are not limited to, automotive
information service providers, manufacturers and new and used vehicle dealers.
In order to compete successfully as an Internet commercial entity, the Company
must significantly increase awareness of the Company and its brand name,
effectively market its services and successfully differentiate its Web site.
Many of the Company's current and potential competitors have longer operating
histories, greater name recognition and significantly greater financial and
marketing resources than the Company. Such competitors could undertake more
aggressive and costly marketing campaigns than the Company which may adversely
affect the Company's marketing strategies which could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial
condition.

In addition, as the Company introduces new services, it will compete
directly with a greater number of companies, including vehicle insurers and
lenders as well as used vehicle superstores, such as CarMax and Auto Nation.
Such companies may already maintain or may introduce Web sites which compete
with that of the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company can
continue to compete successfully against current or future competitors nor can
there be any assurance that competitive pressures faced by the Company will
not result in increased marketing costs, decreased Internet traffic or loss of
market share or otherwise will not materially adversely affect its business,
results of operations and financial condition. See "Business--Strategy" and
"--Competition."

DEPENDENCE ON DEALERSHIP NETWORK

To date, substantially all of the Company's revenues have been derived from
fees paid by subscribing dealerships. Currently, less than half of subscribing
dealerships have entered into written marketing agreements with the Company,
and such agreements are cancelable at the option of either party with 30 days'
notice. Accordingly, subscribing dealers may terminate their affiliation with
the Company for any reason, including an unwillingness to accept the Company's
subscription terms or to join other marketing programs. In December 1996, the
Company commenced an effort to have all subscribing dealerships execute
written marketing agreements with the Company which have been revised to
provide, among other things, that such dealerships will not participate in any
other Internet-based or online program with attributes similar to those of the
Auto-By-Tel program. At the same time, the Company has begun a program to have
all subscribing dealerships enter into written agreements relating to the
Auto-By-Tel financing program. As of February 28, 1997, approximately 43% and
24% of all subscribing dealerships had signed the revised marketing agreement
and the financing agreement, respectively. The Company believes that some of
its dealers may resist signing written agreements and there can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to convince subscribing dealerships to
enter into written agreements with the Company or revise existing agreements
or that the Company's efforts to cause subscribing dealerships to revise their
agreements will not result in subscribing dealerships terminating their
relationship with Auto-By-Tel. In addition, should the volume of purchase
requests increase, the Company anticipates that it will need to reduce the
size of the exclusive territories currently allocated to dealerships in order
to serve consumers more effectively. Dealerships may be unwilling to accept
reductions in the size of their territories and may, therefore, terminate
their Auto-By-Tel relationship, refuse to execute formal agreements with the
Company or decide not to join the Company's marketing programs. A material
decrease in the number of subscribing dealerships, or slower than expected
growth in the number of subscribing dealerships, could have a material

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<PAGE>

adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial
condition. The Company may also become unable to refer an adequate number of
consumers to participating dealerships. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to continue to attract additional dealerships and retain
existing dealerships.

Moreover, the success of the Company's business strategy depends on its
participating dealerships' adherence to the Company's consumer oriented sales
practices. The Company devotes significant efforts to train participating
dealerships in such practices which are intended to increase consumer
satisfaction. The Company's inability to train dealerships effectively, or the
failure by participating dealerships to adopt such practices, respond rapidly
and professionally to vehicle purchase requests, or sell vehicles in accordance
with the Company's marketing strategies, could result in low consumer
satisfaction, damage the Company's brand name and materially adversely affect
the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operation" and "Business--Strategy" and "--Dealership Network and Training."

RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE; SECURITY RISKS AND SYSTEM DISRUPTIONS

The Internet is characterized by rapidly changing technology. The Company
believes that its future success is significantly dependent on its ability to
continuously improve the speed and reliability of its Web site, enhance
communications functionality with its consumers and dealers and maintain the
highest-level of information privacy and ensure transactional security. The
Company recently migrated its Web site platform to a more robust enterprise
network, internalized all Web server hosting functions and, to accelerate
connectivity, has installed two 1.54 Mbps T-1 lines for outbound traffic and a
6Mbps fractional DS/3 line for inbound traffic. The Company has also recently
upgraded its routers and has installed firewall technology to protect its
private network. System enhancements entail the implementation of sophisticated
new technology and system processes and there can be no assurance that such
continuous enhancements may not result in unanticipated system disruptions. In
addition, since launching its first Web site in July 1995, the Company has
experienced system downtime for limited periods of up to a few hours due to
power loss and telecommunications failures, and there can be no assurance that
future interruptions will not recur. Although the Company maintains redundant
local offsite backup servers, all of the Company's primary servers are located
at its corporate headquarters and are vulnerable to interruption by damage from
fire, earthquake, power loss, telecommunications failure and other events
beyond the Company's control. The Company is in the process of developing
comprehensive out-of-state disaster recovery plans to safeguard dealer and
consumer information. The Company's business interruption insurance may not be
sufficient to compensate the Company for all losses that may occur. In the
event that the Company experiences significant system disruptions, the
Company's business, results of operations or financial condition could be
materially and adversely affected.

In addition, the Company is currently in the process of completing a
conversion to a redundant client/server SQL database platform which involves
the integration of several different internal databases used to handle the
Company's consumer and dealer information and transmission requirements, as
well as the Company's financial, accounting and record-keeping requirements. No
assurance can be given that the implementation of this new platform will not
result in disruptions to the Company's business, such as the loss of data,
errors in purchase request transmissions, delays in the Company's ability to
effect periodic closings of its accounting records and other similar problems.
Any such disruptions or any failure to successfully implement this new
information system in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.

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<PAGE>

require the Company to expend significant financial and human resources to
protect against future breaches, if any, and alleviate or mitigate problems
caused by such security breaches. Concerns over the security of Internet
transactions and the privacy of users may also inhibit the growth of the
Internet generally, particularly as a means of conducting commercial
transactions. To the extent that activities of the Company, or third party
contractors, involve the storage and transmission of proprietary information
(such as personal financial information or credit card numbers), security
breaches could expose the Company to a risk of financial loss, litigation and
other liabilities. The Company does not currently maintain insurance to
protect against such losses. Any such occurrence could reduce consumer
satisfaction in the Company's services and could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial
condition. See "Business--Operations and Technology; Facilities."

NEW SERVICE OFFERINGS

In order to generate additional revenues, to attract more consumers to its
Web site and dealerships to its programs and remain competitive, the Company
must successfully develop, market and introduce new services. The Company
believes that to achieve its objectives it will need to generate a substantial
portion of its future revenues from new services. The Company recently
introduced an Internet-based insurance service with American International
Group ("AIG"), one of the largest international insurance companies. Consumers
can currently link to AIG's Web site to submit insurance applications and,
when the service is fully implemented, will be able to receive real-time,
online quotes. The Company also recently entered into an agreement with Chase
Manhattan Automotive Finance Corporation ("Chase Manhattan") under which Chase
Manhattan, together with its affiliates, will receive credit applications for
new vehicle financing who access Auto-By-Tel's Web Site. The agreement with
Chase Manhattan has a term of three years but may be terminated sooner by
Chase Manhattan with six months' notice or in the event that certain ongoing
conditions are not satisfied. In addition, the Company is developing
client/server database applications and user interfaces which will enable the
Company to provide consumers access to vehicles currently listed by
dealerships who participate in the Company's used vehicle program. None of
these new services has been fully developed and, in some cases, their
introduction has recently been delayed due to difficulties encountered by the
Company's partners in developing their software systems. There can be no
assurance that the Company will successfully develop or introduce these new
services, that such services will achieve market acceptance or that
subscribing dealerships will not view such new services as competitive to
services already offered by such dealerships. For example, consumers may be
reticent to purchase vehicle insurance or procure vehicle financing online.
Also, it may be more difficult to educate consumers as to the value of
locating used vehicles for purchase through the Internet since used vehicle
purchases are generally thought to require a greater level of hands-on
involvement. The Company expects to incur additional expenses to develop and
successfully market such services. To the extent that revenues generated by
such additional services are insufficient to cover increased expenses, the
Company's operating results would be adversely affected. Should the Company
fail to develop and successfully market these services, or should competitors
successfully introduce competing services, the Company's business, results of
operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operation" and "Business--Products and Services."

DEPENDENCE ON STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS

The Company is dependent to a large extent on a number of third party
relationships to create traffic on its Web site. These relationships include
positioning the Company's advertisements or services on sites maintained by
(i) automotive information providers, such as AutoSite, Edmund's and Microsoft
CarPoint, (ii) Internet search engine companies, such as Excite, Magellan and
WebCrawler and (iii) online services, including America Online's Digital
Cities, CompuServe and Prodigy. The Company receives a significant number of
purchase requests from a limited number of such Web sites, including Edmund's
and Microsoft CarPoint. The termination of any of these relationships, or any
significant reduction in traffic to the Web sites on which the Company's
services are advertised or offered, could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, results of

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<PAGE>

operations or financial condition. A number of the Company's agreements with
such online service providers may be cancelled on short notice and there can
be no assurance that online service providers will not terminate such
agreements. In addition, the Company continuously negotiates revisions to
existing agreements and these revisions could increase the Company's costs in
future periods.

The Company believes that its comprehensive utilization of these Internet
referral sources is and will remain critical in strengthening its national
brand name and maintaining and increasing usage of its Internet-based
services. In the event that the Company fails to maintain these strategic
relationships or develop relationships with additional online services, the
volume of traffic to the Company's Web site may be reduced and the Company's
business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially and
adversely affected.

As a part of its overall strategy, the Company plans to develop new services
by entering into alliances with other companies engaged in complementary
businesses, such as vehicle financing and leasing, and insurance providers.
For example, the Company recently entered into agreements with Chase Manhattan
to provide vehicle financing and AIG to provide vehicle insurance services to
its consumers. Strategic relationships involve numerous risks, including
difficulties in the introduction and marketing of new services, diversion of
management's attention from other business requirements, and the risks of
entering markets in which the Company has no or limited direct prior
experience and where competitors in such markets have stronger market
positions. There can be no assurance that the Company would be successful in
overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with
such strategic alliances or that such transactions will not adversely affect
the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operation" and "Business--Strategy" and "--Products and Services."

DEVELOPING MARKET; UNCERTAIN ACCEPTANCE OF THE INTERNET FOR ONLINE COMMERCE

The market for the Company's Internet-based marketing service has only
recently begun to develop and is rapidly evolving. As is typical for a new and
rapidly evolving industry, demand and market acceptance for recently
introduced services and products over the Internet are subject to a high level
of uncertainty and there exist few proven services and products. Moreover,
since the market for the Company's services is new and evolving, it is
difficult to predict the future growth rate, if any, and size of this market.

The success of the Company's service will depend upon the adoption of the
Internet by consumers and dealers as a mainstream medium for commerce. While
the Company believes that its services offer significant advantages to
consumers and dealers, there can be no assurance that widespread acceptance of
Internet commerce in general, or of the Company's services in particular, will
occur. Consumers and dealers who have historically relied upon traditional
means of commerce to purchase vehicles and vehicle insurance, or to procure
vehicle financing, must accept novel ways of conducting business and
exchanging information. In addition, dealers must be persuaded to adopt new
selling models and be trained to use and invest in developing systems and
technologies. Moreover, critical issues concerning the commercial use of the
Internet (including ease of access, security, reliability, cost, and quality
of service) remain unresolved and may impact the growth of Internet use or the
attractiveness of conducting commerce online. There can be no assurance that
consumers will use the Internet for commerce or that the market for the
Company's services will develop successfully or achieve widespread market
acceptance. If the market for Internet-based vehicle marketing services fails
to develop, develops more slowly than expected or becomes saturated with
competitors, or if the Company's services do not achieve market acceptance,
the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition will be
materially and adversely affected. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" and "Business--Strategy."

MANAGEMENT OF GROWTH

The rapid execution necessary for the Company to establish itself as a
leader in the evolving market for Internet-based vehicle marketing services
requires an effective planning and management process. The Company's rapid
growth has placed, and is expected to continue to place, a significant strain
on the Company's

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<PAGE>

managerial, technical, sales and marketing and administrative personnel and
financial resources. As of December 31, 1996, the Company had 73 employees
(including two employees located in Canada), compared to 17 employees as of
December 31, 1995. The Company is also in the process of testing, introducing
or developing new services. The Company anticipates that to effectively
develop, introduce and maintain such new services, it will need to hire a
significant number of qualified managerial, technical and sales and marketing
personnel in the future. Competition for such qualified individuals is intense
and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to recruit and
retain such employees.

To manage its growth, the Company must continue to implement and improve its
operational and financial systems, and expand, train and manage its employee
base and subscribing dealerships. There can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to successfully implement these changes on a timely basis.
Further, the Company is required and will continue to be required to manage
multiple relationships with consumers, dealers, strategic partners and other
third parties. There can be no assurance that the Company's systems,
procedures or controls will be adequate to support the Company's current or
future operations or that Company management will be able to achieve the rapid
execution necessary to establish itself as a leader in the evolving market for
Internet-based vehicle marketing services. For example, to date the Company
has been able to enter into written marketing agreements with less than half
of its subscribing dealership base. The Company's future operating results
will also depend on its ability to expand its sales and marketing
organizations, implement and manage new services to penetrate broader markets
and further develop and expand its organization and technology infrastructure,
to support an increased number of services. If the Company is unable to manage
growth effectively, the Company's business, results of operations and
financial condition will be materially adversely affected. See "Business--
Employees."

The Company's growth strategy is predicated in part on its ability to
successfully identify, acquire and integrate companies that complement or
expand the Company's service offerings. While the Company is not currently
negotiating any acquisitions and does not have any commitments or agreements
with respect to any acquisitions, the Company anticipates that potential
acquisition opportunities may arise. The Company intends to actively pursue
any attractive acquisition opportunities. In the event that the Company were
to issue Common Stock to consummate such potential acquisitions, such
additional issuance could dilute the holdings of investors purchasing the
Common Stock offered hereby. Additionally, the Company may utilize cash to
consummate such acquisitions. There can be no assurance that the Company will
have adequate resources to consummate any acquisition, that any acquisition
will or will not occur, that any target company can be successfully integrated
into the Company, and that, if any acquisition does occur, it will not be
dilutive to the Company's earnings per share or otherwise have a material
adverse affect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial
condition.

DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL

The Company's performance is substantially dependent on the performance of
its executive officers and key employees, all of whom are employed on an at-
will basis and many of whom have worked together for only a short period of
time. Given the Company's early stage of development, the Company is dependent
on its ability to retain and motivate highly qualified personnel, especially
its management, technical and business development teams. The Company
maintains "key person" life insurance in the amount of $7.5 million on the
life of Peter R. Ellis, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer.
However, the loss of the services of Mr. Ellis, or one or more of the
Company's other executive officers or key employees would likely have a
material adverse effect on the business, results of operations or financial
condition of the Company. Certain Company officers have been involved in legal
matters prior to the formation of Auto-By-Tel. While management believes that
these matters have been resolved, future proceedings, if any, could interfere
to some extent with the officers' services for the Company. See "Management."

The Company's future success also depends on its ability to identify, hire,
train and retain other highly qualified sales and marketing, managerial and
technical personnel. In addition, the Company anticipates the need to hire a
significant number of personnel as it introduces new services. Competition for
such personnel is intense,

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<PAGE>

and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to attract,
assimilate or retain such personnel in the future. The inability to attract
and retain the necessary managerial, technical and sales and marketing
personnel could have a material adverse effect upon the Company's business,
results of operations or financial condition. See "Business--Employees."

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION

The Company intends to expand its new vehicle marketing service to foreign
jurisdictions by establishing relationships with vehicle dealers and strategic
partners located in foreign jurisdictions in which similar challenges and
inefficiencies in the market for new vehicles exist. In April 1996, the
Company introduced its new vehicle marketing service in Canada and, as of
December 31, 1996, the Company had 72 paying franchises of subscribing
dealerships located in Canada. To date, the Company has had limited experience
in providing its Internet-based marketing service abroad and there can be no
assurance that the Company will be successful in introducing or marketing its
service abroad or will not encounter foreign regulation of its operations. In
addition, there are certain risks inherent in doing business in international
markets, such as changes in regulatory requirements, tariffs and other trade
barriers, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, potentially adverse tax
consequences, difficulties in managing or overseeing foreign operations, and
educating consumers and dealers who may be unfamiliar with the benefits of
online marketing and commerce. There can be no assurance that one or more of
such factors will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's current
or future international operations and, consequently, on the Company's
business, results of operations and financial condition.

DEPENDENCE ON THE INTERNET; CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS

The Company's ability to efficiently process purchase requests for vehicles
received through the Company's Internet-based marketing service will depend,
in large part, upon a robust communications industry and infrastructure for
providing Internet access and carrying Internet traffic. The Internet may not
prove to be a viable commercial marketplace because of inadequate development
of the necessary infrastructure (e.g., reliable network backbone), timely
development of complementary products (e.g., high speed modems), delays in the
development or adoption of new standards and protocols required to handle
increased levels of Internet activity or increased government regulation. In
addition, to the extent that the Internet continues to experience significant
growth in the number of users and the level of use, there can be no assurance
that the Internet infrastructure will continue to be able to support the
demands placed on it by such potential growth. Because global commerce and
exchange of information on the Internet is new and evolving, it is difficult
to predict with any assurance whether the Internet will prove to be a viable
commercial marketplace. If the necessary infrastructure or complementary
products are not developed, or if the Internet does not become a viable
commercial marketplace, the Company's business, results of operations and
financial condition will be materially adversely affected. See "Business--
Operations and Technology; Facilities."

DEPENDENCE ON PROPRIETARY SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY

The Company's success and ability to compete is dependent in part upon its
proprietary systems and technology. While the Company relies on trademark,
trade secret and copyright law to protect its proprietary rights, the Company
believes that the technical and creative skills of its personnel, continued
development of its proprietary systems and technology, brand name recognition
and reliable Web site maintenance are more essential in establishing and
maintaining a leadership position and strengthening its brand. Despite the
Company's efforts to protect its proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may
attempt to copy aspects of the Company's services or to obtain and use
information that the Company regards as proprietary. Policing unauthorized use
of the Company's proprietary rights is difficult. In addition, litigation may
be necessary in the future to enforce or protect the Company's intellectual
property rights or to defend against claims of infringement or invalidity.
Misappropriation of the Company's intellectual property or potential
litigation could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
results of operations or financial condition. See "Business--Operations and
Technology; Facilities."

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<PAGE>

SUBSTANTIAL CONTROL BY OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS AND THEIR AFFILIATES

Following the Offering, the Company's officers and directors and their
affiliates will beneficially own or control approximately 72.5% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (after giving effect to the conversion of
all outstanding Preferred Stock and the exercise of all outstanding options
and assuming no exercise of the Underwriter's over-allotment option). The
Company's officers, directors and their affiliates will have the ability to
control the election of the Company's Board of Directors and the outcome of
corporate actions requiring stockholder approval. See "Principal and Selling
Stockholders."

ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS

Certain provisions of the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws could make it difficult for a third party to acquire,
and could discourage a third party from attempting to acquire, control of the
Company. Certain of these provisions allow the Company to issue Preferred
Stock with rights senior to those of the Common Stock without any further vote
or action by the stockholders and impose various procedural and other
requirements which could make it more difficult for stockholders to effect
certain corporate actions. Such charter provisions could limit the price that
certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of the
Company's Common Stock or Preferred Stock and may have the effect of delaying
or preventing a change in control of the Company. The issuance of Preferred
Stock also could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for
distribution to the holders of Common Stock or could adversely affect the
rights and powers, including voting rights, of the holders of the Common
Stock. See "Description of Capital Stock--Common Stock" and "--Preferred
Stock."

NO PRIOR PUBLIC MARKET; POSSIBLE VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE

There has been no public market for the Company's Common Stock prior to this
offering. Although application will be made to the Nasdaq National Market for
listing of the Common Stock, there can be no assurance that an active trading
market will develop or be sustained or that the market price of the Common
Stock will not decline below the initial public offering price. The initial
public offering price will be determined through negotiations between the
Company and the Underwriters and may not be indicative of the market price for
the Common Stock following the Offering. See "Underwriting" for a discussion
of the factors to be considered in determining the initial public offering
price. Even if an active trading market does develop, the market price of the
Common Stock following this offering may be highly volatile. Factors such as
variations in the Company's revenue, earnings and cash flow, announcements of
new service offerings, technological innovations or price reductions by the
Company, its competitors or providers of alternative services, changes in
financial estimates by securities analysts or other events or factors could
cause the market price of the Common Stock to fluctuate substantially. In
addition, the stock markets recently have experienced significant price and
volume fluctuations that have particularly affected companies in the
technology sector and that have been unrelated to the operating performance of
those companies. Such broad market fluctuations or any failure of the
Company's operating results in a particular quarter to meet market
expectations may adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock
following this offering.

DILUTION

Investors participating in the Offering will incur immediate, substantial
dilution. To the extent that outstanding options to purchase the Company's
Common Stock are exercised, there will be further dilution. See "Dilution."

ABSENCE OF DIVIDENDS

The Company intends to retain all future earnings for use in the development
of its business and does not currently anticipate paying any cash dividends in
the foreseeable future. See "Dividend Policy."

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<PAGE>

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE; REGISTRATION RIGHTS

Sale of substantial numbers of shares of Common Stock in the public market
could adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock and make it more
difficult for the Company to raise funds through equity offerings in the
future. A substantial number of outstanding shares of Common Stock and other
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options
will become available for resale in the public market at prescribed times. Of
the 19,495,136 shares to be outstanding after the Offering, the 4,000,000
shares offered hereby will be eligible for immediate sale in the public market
without restriction. All other outstanding shares of Common Stock are subject
to 180-day lock-up agreements with the Underwriters. Upon the expiration of
the 180-day lock-up agreements, such shares of Common Stock will become
eligible for sale in the public market, subject to the provisions of Rules
144(k), 144 and 701 under the Act and any contractual restrictions on their
transfer. Montgomery Securities may, in its sole discretion and at any time
without notice, release all or any portion of the securities subject to lock-
up agreements. Upon completion of the Offering, the holders of approximately
15,322,248 shares of Common Stock will be entitled to certain registration
rights with respect to such shares. In addition, the Company intends to
register the shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company's
1996 Stock Option Plan, 1996 Stock Incentive Plan and 1996 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan following the date of this Prospectus. See "Shares Eligible for
Future Sale" and "Description of Capital Stock--Registration Rights."

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USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the shares of Common Stock
offered hereby at an assumed initial public offering price of $10.25 per
share, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and estimated offering
expenses, are estimated to be approximately $33.0 million (approximately $38.7
million if the Underwriters' over-allotment is exercised in full). The Company
will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock by the
Selling Stockholder. See "Principal and Selling Stockholders."

The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the Offering for working
capital purposes, including online and traditional advertising programs
designed to strengthen the Auto-By-Tel brand name, and general corporate
purposes, including the funding of information technology investments required
to support the transition to a real-time online communications platform and to
develop new products and services. A portion of the proceeds from the Offering
also may be used for possible acquisitions of or investments in businesses,
products or technologies that expand, complement or are otherwise related to
the Company's current or planned services, although no specific acquisitions
are currently in negotiation. Pending such uses, the proceeds will be invested
in short-term, investment grade, interest-bearing securities. The Company may
require additional financing in the future to finance continuing growth. No
assurance can be given that such financing will be available on favorable
terms or at all.

DIVIDEND POLICY

The Company has never declared or paid cash dividends on its capital stock.
The Company currently intends to retain all of its future earnings, if any,
for use in its business and does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in
the foreseeable future.

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth (i) the actual capitalization of the Company
derived from its financial statements as of December 31, 1996, (ii) pro forma
capitalization of the Company, giving effect to (a) the authorization of
967,915 shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the sale and issuance on
January 30, 1997 of 967,915 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at a price of
$9.35 per share and (b) the restatement of the Company's Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to provide for authorized capital stock of
50,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of undesignated
Preferred Stock, and (c) the conversion of all outstanding shares of Preferred
Stock into 3,467,915 shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the closing
of the Offering, and (iii) the pro forma as adjusted capitalization of the
Company to reflect the sale by the Company of 3,600,000 shares of Common Stock
pursuant to the Offering at an assumed public offering price of $10.25 and the
receipt by the Company of the estimated net proceeds therefrom, after
deducting estimated underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses.
The capitalization information set forth in the table below is qualified by
the more detailed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included
elsewhere in this Prospectus and should be read in conjunction with such
Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31, 1996
-------------------------------
PRO FORMA
ACTUAL PRO FORMA AS ADJUSTED
------- --------- ------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cash and cash equivalents...................... $ 9,062 $18,112 $51,129
======= ======= =======
Stockholders' equity (1):
Convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value;
1,500,000 shares authorized, 1,500,000 shares
issued and outstanding, actual; 5,000,000
shares authorized, no shares issued and
outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as
adjusted..................................... 2 -- --
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 16,666,666
shares authorized, 12,427,221 shares issued
and outstanding, actual; 50,000,000 shares
authorized, 15,895,136 shares outstanding,
pro forma; 50,000,000 shares authorized,
19,495,136 shares issued and outstanding, pro
forma as adjusted............................ 12 16 19
Additional paid-in capital.................... 15,073 24,121 57,135
Deferred compensation......................... (26) (26) (26)
Accumulated deficit........................... (7,065) (7,065) (7,065)
------- ------- -------
Total stockholders' equity................... 7,996 17,046 50,063
------- ------- -------
Total capitalization....................... $ 7,996 $17,046 $50,063
======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
- --------

(1) Gives effect to a five-for-three stock split approved by the Board of
Directors on November 24, 1996 and effected January 30, 1997. Excludes as
of December 31, 1996: (i) 2,280,815 shares of Common Stock reserved for
issuance pursuant to options outstanding under the Company's 1996 Stock
Option Plan and 1996 Stock Incentive Plan at a weighted exercise price of
$2.21 per share. On October 23, 1996, the Company terminated the 1996
Stock Option Plan and adopted the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan and, on
November 24, 1996, amended the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan and adopted the
1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and reserved 1,250,000 and 666,666
shares of Common Stock, respectively, for issuance thereunder. Subsequent
to December 31, 1996, the Board of Directors granted options to purchase
an additional 124,750 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of
$8.80 per share under the Company's 1996 Stock Incentive Plan. See
"Capitalization," "Management--Stock Plans" and Notes 1, 7 and 8 of Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.

18
<PAGE>

DILUTION

The pro forma net tangible book value of the Company as of December 31, 1996
was $16.6 million or $1.04 per share of Common Stock. Pro forma net tangible
book value per share is equal to the Company's total tangible assets less its
total liabilities, divided by the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
on a pro forma basis after giving effect to (i) the sale and issuance on
January 30, 1997 of 967,915 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at a price of
$9.35 per share and (ii) the conversion of all outstanding shares of Preferred
Stock into 3,467,915 shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the closing
of the Offering. After giving effect to the sale of 3,600,000 shares of Common
Stock offered hereby at an assumed initial public offering price of $10.25 and
the receipt by the Company of the estimated net proceeds therefrom, after
deducting estimated underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses,
the pro forma net tangible book value of the Company at December 31, 1996
would have been $49.6 million, or $2.54 per share. This represents an
immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $1.50 per share to
existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $7.71 per share to new
investors. The following table illustrates this per share dilution:

<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Assumed initial public offering price per share..................... $10.25
Pro forma net tangible book value per share before the Offering.... $1.04
Increase per share attributable to new investors................... 1.50
-----
Pro forma net tangible book value per share after the Offering...... 2.54
------
Dilution per share to new investors................................. $ 7.71
======
</TABLE>

The following table summarizes, on a pro forma basis as of December 31,
1996, the number of shares of Common Stock purchased from the Company, the
total consideration paid to the Company and the average price per share paid
by existing stockholders and by the investors purchasing shares of Common
Stock in this offering (before deducting estimated underwriting discounts and
estimated offering expenses):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE
SHARES PURCHASED TOTAL CONSIDERATION PRICE
------------------ ------------------- PER
NUMBER PERCENT AMOUNT PERCENT SHARE
---------- ------- ----------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Existing stockholders(1)......... 15,895,136 81.5% $24,137,000 39.5% $ 1.52
New investors(1)................. 3,600,000 18.5% 36,900,000 60.5% 10.25
---------- ----- ----------- -----
Total.......................... 19,495,136 100.0% $61,037,000 100.0%
========== ===== =========== =====
</TABLE>
- --------

(1) The sale of shares by the Selling Stockholder in the Offering will cause
the number of shares held by the existing stockholders to be reduced to
15,495,136, or approximately 79.5% of the total number of shares, and will
increase the number of shares to be purchased by new stockholders to
4,000,000, or 20.5% of the total number of shares. Assuming full exercise
of the Underwriters' over-allotment option, the number of shares held by
new stockholders would be increased to 4,600,000 shares or 22.9% of the
total number of shares outstanding.

The foregoing tables exclude 2,405,565 shares that are issuable upon
exercise of options outstanding as of January 31, 1997 with a weighted average
exercise price of $2.55 per share. See "Management--Stock Plans." To the
extent that outstanding options are exercised in the future, there will be
further dilution to new investors.

19
<PAGE>

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in
conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes
thereto and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. The statement
of operations data for the period from January 31, 1995 (date of inception) to
December 31, 1995, and the year ended December 31, 1996 and the balance sheet
data as of December 31, 1995 and December 31, 1996 are derived from the
Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company which have been audited by
Arthur Andersen LLP, independent auditors, and are included elsewhere in this
Prospectus. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations."

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THREE MONTHS ENDED
JANUARY 31, 1995 -------------------------------------------------- YEAR ENDED
(DATE OF INCEPTION) MARCH 31, JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
TO DECEMBER 31, 1995 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996
-------------------- ---------- ---------- ------------- ------------ ------------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE, PER SHARE AND SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATING DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
DATA:
Revenues................ $ 274 $ 436 $ 952 $ 1,434 $ 2,203 $ 5,025
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Operating expenses:
Marketing and
advertising........... 476 475 678 1,247 2,039 4,439
Selling, training and
support............... 454 362 563 851 1,417 3,193
Technology development. 99 67 78 294 954 1,393
General and
administrative......... 275 134 258 740 1,027 2,159
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total operating
expenses............. 1,304 1,038 1,577 3,132 5,437 11,184
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Loss from operations.... (1,030) (602) (625) (1,698) (3,234) (6,159)
Other income (expense),
net.................... -- -- (6) 22 108 124
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net loss................ $ (1,030) $ (602) $ (631) $ (1,676) $ (3,126) $ (6,035)
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Net loss per common and
common equivalent
shares (1)............. $ (.07) $ (.04) $ (.04) $ (.11) $ (.19) $ (.38)
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Weighted average common
and common equivalent
shares outstanding (1). 15,262,262 15,262,262 15,262,262 15,892,576 16,761,962 15,792,293
SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATING
DATA:
Purchase requests
received............... 42,600 44,900 73,700 102,700 123,700 345,000
Paying franchises of
subscribing
dealerships............ 253 546 728 978 1,206 1,206
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
----------------
1995 1996
------- -------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents..................................... $ 48 $ 9,062
Working capital (deficit)..................................... (1,099) 5,960
Total assets.................................................. 285 12,298
Total liabilities............................................. 1,275 4,302
Accumulated deficit........................................... (1,030) (7,065)
Stockholders' equity (deficit)................................ (990) 7,996
</TABLE>
- -------
(1) See Note 1.o of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for an
explanation of the determination of shares used in computing net loss per
share.

20
<PAGE>

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion of the results of operations and financial
condition of the Company should be read in conjunction with the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included elsewhere in this
Prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based on
current expectations which involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and
the timing of certain events may differ significantly from those projected in
such forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those
set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this
Prospectus.

OVERVIEW

Auto-By-Tel is establishing a nationally branded Internet-based marketing
service for new and used vehicle purchasing and related consumer services. The
Company's Web site (www.autobytel.com) enables consumers to gather valuable
automotive information and shop for vehicles and related consumer services
from the convenience of their home or office. This convenience, coupled with
low, haggle-free pricing and quick and courteous service, improves consumers'
overall buying experiences. The Company's Internet-based alternative to
traditional vehicle retailing dramatically reduces participating dealerships'
selling costs per vehicle and increases sales volumes by channeling a large
number of ready-to-buy, well-informed consumers to Auto-By-Tel participating
dealerships. Monthly vehicle purchase requests increased from 10,700 in
January 1996 to 40,000 in December 1996. During the same period, the number of
paying franchises of subscribing dealerships increased from 253 franchises as
of December 31, 1995 to 1,206 franchises as of December 31, 1996. The Company
believes that the growth rates experienced by the Company since inception are
not indicative of future growth rates and that growth will be slower in the
future. Auto-By-Tel LLC was formed in January 1995 and began operations in
March 1995. In July 1995, it introduced its Web site. Effective as of May 31,
1996, the interests of the members of Auto-By-Tel LLC and ABT Acceptance
Company LLC, an affiliate, were transferred to the Company in a tax-free
transaction.

To date, substantially all of the Company's revenues have been derived from
new vehicle marketing fees paid by franchises of subscribing new vehicle
dealerships. To date, less than half of subscribing dealerships have entered
into written marketing agreements with the Company, and such agreements are
cancelable at the option of either party with 30 days' prior notice.
Accordingly, subscribing dealerships may terminate their affiliation with the
Company for any reason, including an unwillingness to accept the terms of the
Company's revised marketing agreement or to join other marketing programs. New
vehicle marketing revenues derived under subscription agreements are
recognized as follows: initial fees are recognized ratably over the first
twelve months following receipt, annual fees are recognized ratably over the
twelve months commencing when due, and monthly fees are recognized when due.
In certain instances, the Company will waive a newly subscribing dealership's
monthly fees for several months. The Company's new vehicle dealer fees are not
calculated on a per vehicle basis. See Note 1.e of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements.

As of December 31, 1996 the Company's participating dealership base
consisted of (i) 1,206 paying franchises of dealerships, (ii) 509 non-paying
franchises affiliated with paying dealerships (collectively, "subscribing
dealerships") and (iii) approximately 230 "trial dealers." A subscribing
dealership is comprised of one or more franchises with typically high volume
vehicle sales (such as Ford or Toyota). A subscribing dealership may sell
vehicles from multiple manufacturers and therefore have multiple subscribing
dealer franchises. Dealerships pay initial, annual and monthly fees per
franchise to subscribe to the Company's nationally branded Internet-based
marketing program. Non-paying franchises are associated with lower volume
vehicle manufacturers (such as Audi, Saab or Suzuki) and receive purchase
request referrals without paying fees to Auto-By-Tel. The Company enters into
informal arrangements with potential dealership participants on a trial basis
in order to assist the Company and the dealership in evaluating the
effectiveness of the Auto-By-Tel program at such dealerships. The Company
refers consumers to trial dealerships but does not collect fees.

21
<PAGE>

In order to generate additional revenues, attract more consumers to its Web
site and dealerships to its program and remain competitive, the Company must
successfully develop, market and introduce new services. The Company believes
that to achieve its objectives it will need to generate a majority of its
future revenues from new services. These new services will leverage the
Company's existing network of dealerships. The Company's used vehicle
marketing program is expected to commence in the first quarter of 1997. The
Company will charge each new vehicle dealership which participates in the
Company's used vehicle program separate signup and annual fees. In addition,
the Company intends to charge daily listing fees for each used vehicle
marketed through the used vehicle program. In October 1996, the Company
entered into an agreement with Chase Manhattan pursuant to which Chase
Manhattan will offer vehicle loans to consumers referred by the Company and
pay the Company and the related subscribing dealership an origination fee on
each loan. The Company's financing program with Chase Manhattan is expected to
become available to purchasers of new vehicles in the first quarter of 1997
and is intended for consumers with prime (higher quality) credit ratings.
Additionally, the Company expects to begin offering financing to purchasers
with sub-prime (lower quality) credit ratings in the second quarter of 1997.
Finance program revenues will be recognized in the month the loan is
originated. The Company also plans to offer leasing through a major financial
institution in the second quarter of 1997. In August 1996, the Company began
offering vehicle insurance to its consumers through AIG, a major insurance
underwriter, and recently began offering a direct hyperlink to AIG's Web site.
In October 1996, the Company received an insurance brokerage license from the
State of California. Subsequent to receipt of this license, the Company became
eligible to receive referral fees from AIG. Fees due the Company under the
insurance program are calculated as a percentage of the net premiums collected
by AIG and revenues are recognized by the Company as premiums on the
underlying policies are earned by AIG.

The Company first recognized revenues from operations in March 1995.
Accordingly, the Company has only a limited operating history upon which an
evaluation of the Company and its prospects can be based, and this limited
operating history makes the prediction of future operating results difficult
or impossible. In addition, the Company believes that, in order to achieve its
objectives, it will need to significantly increase revenues from existing
services and generate revenues from new services, such as the planned used
vehicle buying service and the planned vehicle financing, leasing and
insurance policy referral services. There can be no assurance that the Company
will successfully introduce or generate sufficient revenues from such
services. The Company had an accumulated deficit as of December 31, 1996 of
$7.1 million. In addition, the Company expects to incur substantial operating
losses in future periods. The Company's future prospects must be considered in
light of the risks, uncertainties, expenses and difficulties frequently
encountered by companies in the early stages of development, particularly
companies in new and rapidly evolving markets, such as the market for Internet
commerce. To address these risks, the Company must, among other things,
continue to send vehicle purchase requests to dealers that result in sales in
sufficient numbers to support the marketing fees charged by the Company,
respond to competitive developments, increase its brand name visibility,
successfully introduce new services, continue to attract, retain and motivate
qualified employees, and continue to upgrade and enhance its information
systems technologies to accommodate expanded service offerings and increased
consumer traffic. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
successful in addressing such risks. In addition, although the Company has
experienced rapid revenue growth in recent periods, historical growth rates
will not be sustainable and are not indicative of future operating results,
and there can be no assurance that the Company will achieve or maintain
profitability.

The introduction of new services by the Company's competitors, market
acceptance of Internet-related services in general and, in particular, demand
for the Company's services, and the introduction by the Company of new
services and market acceptance of such services may also result in significant
fluctuations in quarterly operating results. In addition, as a strategic
response to changes in the competitive environment, the Company may from time
to time make certain pricing or marketing decisions or establish strategic
relationships that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, results of operations or financial condition. In particular, the
Company may need to revise the marketing fees it charges to subscribing
dealers. There can be no assurance that subscribing dealerships will continue
to participate in the Company's marketing program or agree to future fee
increases. Currently, less than half of subscribing dealerships have entered
into written marketing

22
<PAGE>

agreements with the Company and these subscribing dealerships may cancel
subscriptions on 30 days' prior notice. As a result, quarterly sales and
operating results may vary significantly in response to any significant change
in the number of subscribing dealerships. In December 1996, the Company
commenced an effort to have all subscribing dealerships execute revised
marketing agreements with the Company, which have been revised to provide,
among other things, that such dealerships will not participate in any other
Internet-based or online program with attributes similar to those of the Auto-
By-Tel program. At the same time, the Company commenced a program to have all
subscribing dealerships enter into written agreements relating to the Auto-By-
Tel financing program. As of February 28, 1997, approximately 43% and 24% of
all subscribing dealerships had signed the revised marketing agreement and the
financing agreement, respectively. The Company believes that some of its
dealers may resist signing written agreements and there can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to convince its subscribing dealers to enter
into written agreements with the Company or revise existing agreements or that
the Company's efforts to cause subscribing dealers to sign these agreements
will not result in the subscribing dealers terminating their relationship with
Auto-By-Tel.

Much of the Company's advertising is placed on Web sites maintained by
online service providers and online search engine companies. The Company's
advertising agreements with online service providers and search engine
companies are generally short-term contracts or are otherwise cancelable on
short notice. There can be no assurance that these advertisers will not cancel
such contracts, or that competitors will not be able to displace Auto-By-Tel
from its preferred advertising arrangements with such companies. The intense
competition in the sale of Internet advertising, including competition from
other vehicle marketing services, has resulted in a wide range of rates quoted
by different vendors for a variety of advertising services. This makes it very
difficult to project future levels of Internet advertising costs and
availability of prime advertising space. The Company has also entered into
agreements with automotive information services, such as Edmunds and Microsoft
CarPoint, to display the Company's services on their Web sites. These
agreements require the Company to pay such entities a fee for each user who
submits a vehicle purchase request to Auto-By-Tel from their sites.
Accordingly, any increase in the volume of purchase requests will result in
increased advertising costs, but revenue from dealers will not necessarily
increase thereafter. The Company is also incurring significant expenses to
increase awareness of its Internet-based marketing service in print and
television media. The Company expects these expenses to increase
significantly, particularly in the first half of 1997. In the fourth quarter
of 1996, the Company began to advertise on cable television. In the first
quarter of 1997, the Company commenced advertising on network television,
including a 30 second commercial which aired during the Super Bowl.

As a result of the Company's limited operating history, the Company lacks
sufficient historical financial and operating data on which to base operating
results. The Company's expense levels are based in part on its expectations as
to future revenues, which may vary in relation to increases or decreases in
the number of dealerships which subscribe to the Company's marketing program.
The Company's inability to adjust spending in a timely manner to compensate
for any unexpected revenue shortfall would have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition. In
addition, the Company anticipates significant increases in costs and expenses
as a result of planned increases in its marketing and advertising efforts,
dealership training and support, development of affiliate programs relating to
vehicle insurance and financing, and the introduction of a used vehicle buying
program. The Company also anticipates significant additions to its managerial,
technical, sales and marketing, and administrative personnel in order to
support the Company's growth and business objectives. To the extent that such
expenses exceed, precede or are not subsequently followed by increased
revenues, the Company's business, results of operations and financial
condition will be materially adversely affected.

Significant fluctuations in future quarterly operating results may also be
caused by general economic conditions or traditional seasonality in the
automobile and light duty truck markets, which may result in fluctuations in
the level of purchase requests completed by consumers or adversely affect
demand for the Company's existing and planned services. The foregoing factors
make it likely that, in some future quarters, the Company's operating results
will be below the expectations of the Company, securities analysts or
investors. In such event, the trading price of the Common Stock would likely
be materially and adversely affected.

23
<PAGE>

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following tables set forth certain unaudited quarterly financial
information for the eight quarters ended December 31, 1996. In the opinion of
management, this information has been prepared substantially on the same basis
as the financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus, and all
necessary adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments and
certain non-recurring adjustments) have been included in the amounts stated
below to present fairly the unaudited quarterly results when read in
conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company
and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. The
operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the
operating results for any future period.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
QUARTER ENDED
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEPT.
MAR. 31, JUNE 30, SEPT. 30, DEC. 31, MAR. 31, JUNE 30, 30, DEC. 31,
1995(1) 1995 1995 1995 1996 1996 1996 1996
-------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- ------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues................ $ 3 $ 18 $ 77 $ 176 $ 436 $ 952 $ 1,434 $ 2,203
---- ----- ----- ----- ------ ------ ------- -------
Operating expenses:
Marketing and
advertising........... 6 38 130 302 475 678 1,247 2,039
Selling, training and
support............... 13 98 136 207 362 563 851 1,417
Technology development. 6 28 44 21 67 78 294 954
General and
administrative........ 14 73 83 105 134 258 740 1,027
---- ----- ----- ----- ------ ------ ------- -------
Total operating
expenses........... 39 237 393 635 1,038 1,577 3,132 5,437
---- ----- ----- ----- ------ ------ ------- -------
Loss from operations.... (36) (219) (316) (459) (602) (625) (1,698) (3,234)
Other income (expense),
net.................... -- -- -- -- -- (6) 22 108
---- ----- ----- ----- ------ ------ ------- -------
Net loss................ $(36) $(219) $(316) $(459) $ (602) $ (631) $(1,676) $(3,126)
==== ===== ===== ===== ====== ====== ======= =======
</TABLE>
- --------
(1)Period from the Company's inception on January 31, 1995.

REVENUES

Revenues were $274,000 in 1995 and $5.0 million in 1996. Revenues increased
each successive quarter, from $3,000 in the first quarter of 1995 to $176,000
in the fourth quarter of 1995 to $436,000 in the first quarter of 1996 to $2.2
million in the fourth quarter of 1996. The growth in revenues was primarily
due to an increase in the number of paying subscribing dealerships in the
Company's new vehicle marketing programs from 253 as of December 31, 1995 to
1,206 as of December 31, 1996, and, to a lesser extent, increases in average
dealership fees.

Since its inception in January 1995, the Company has derived substantially
all of its revenues from fees paid by its paying subscribing new vehicle
dealerships. Currently, these fees typically consist of (i) initial
subscription fees ranging from $2,500 to $4,500, (ii) annual fees of $2,500
and (iii) monthly fees ranging from $250 to $1,500. Under the Company's
marketing agreements, which less than half of subscribing dealerships have
signed, the Company may typically increase or decrease dealership fees with 30
or 60 days prior notice. The Company intends to continuously review its
pricing structure and adjust dealership fees in a manner commensurate with its
ability to reduce a dealership's selling costs.

MARKETING AND ADVERTISING

Marketing and advertising expenses have historically consisted primarily of
referral fees paid to online automotive information providers, online service
providers and online search engine companies which recommend and refer
consumers to the Auto-By-Tel Web site or allow consumers to complete Auto-By-
Tel

24
<PAGE>

vehicle purchase requests on their Web sites. Other marketing and advertising
expenses include print advertising, public relations expenses, salaries and
associated expenses related to the Company's marketing personnel. Marketing
and advertising expenses were $476,000 in 1995 and $4.4 million in 1996.
Marketing and advertising expenses increased each successive quarter, from
$6,000 in the first quarter of 1995 to $302,000 in the fourth quarter of 1995
to $475,000 in the first quarter of 1996 to $2.0 million in the fourth quarter
of 1996. Marketing and advertising expenses increased due to increased
referral fees paid as a result of increased vehicle purchase requests,
increased print advertising, and the addition of marketing and advertising
employees as well as national print and television branding efforts. The
marketing and advertising staff grew from two employees as of December 31,
1995 to five employees as of December 31, 1996. The Company anticipates that
the overall level of marketing and advertising expenditures will increase
significantly in the future, particularly in the first half of 1997 in
connection with the Company's efforts to further increase awareness of the
Auto-By-Tel brand name. The Company commenced cable television advertising in
the fourth quarter of 1996 and launched network television advertising in the
first quarter of 1997. Due to seasonal variations in the timing of marketing
and advertising expenditures, the Company anticipates that marketing and
advertising expenses will vary significantly from quarter to quarter.

SELLING, TRAINING AND SUPPORT

Selling, training and support expenses consist primarily of dealer training
and support, salaries and related costs for customer service personnel and
travel and entertainment. Selling, training and support expenses were $454,000
in 1995 and $3.2 million in 1996. Selling, training and support expenses
increased each successive quarter, from $13,000 in the first quarter of 1995
to $207,000 in the fourth quarter of 1995 to $362,000 in the first quarter of
1996 to $1.4 million in the fourth quarter of 1996. Selling, training and
support expenses increased primarily as the result of the addition of selling,
training, and support staff and the associated overhead and employment costs.
Selling, training and support staff grew from 11 employees as of December 31,
1995 to 39 employees (including two in Canada) as of December 31, 1996.

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

Technology development expenditures are charged to expense as incurred and
consist primarily of personnel and related compensation costs and contract
labor to support software development and configuration and implementation of
the Company's Internet, telecommunications and support system infrastructure.
Technology development expenses have increased significantly since the
Company's inception, from $6,000 in the first quarter of 1995 to $67,000 in
the first quarter of 1996 to $954,000 in the fourth quarter of 1996.
Technology development expenses increased primarily as a result of increased
third party software development costs and increased costs associated with the
increase in technical headcount from one employee as of April 25, 1996 to 12
employees as of December 31, 1996 and, to a lesser extent, additional indirect
costs associated with the Company's expanded technology development efforts.
These increased expenditures were necessary to support the Company's
development of its Dealer Realtime System, the used vehicle program software
and systems, and the rollout of the financing and lease programs.

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries of
financial and administrative personnel, a portion of salaries of other
managerial personnel and related travel expenses, as well as legal and
accounting expenses. General and administrative expenses increased each
successive quarter, from $14,000 in the first quarter of 1995 to $105,000 in
the fourth quarter of 1995 to $134,000 in the first quarter of 1996 to $1.0
million in the fourth quarter of 1996. General and administrative expenses
increased primarily as a result of increased accounting and legal expenses,
and the addition of administrative and financial staff. The general and
administrative staff grew from three employees as of December 31, 1995 to 17
employees as of December 31, 1996. The Company intends to increase the
absolute dollar level of general and administrative expenses in future
periods. The Company anticipates significant additions to its managerial,
technical, sales and marketing and administrative personnel in order to
support the Company's growth and business objectives. To the extent that such
expenses exceed, precede or are not subsequently followed by increased
revenues, the Company's business, results of operations and financial
condition will be materially adversely affected.

25
<PAGE>

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET

Other expense in the second and third quarters of 1996 consisted of interest
expense on amounts borrowed from the Company's Chairman, John Bedrosian, and
Michael Fuchs, who subsequently became a director of the Company. These
amounts were loaned to the Company to allow the Company to meet its liquidity
requirements. Following the Company's $15.0 million financing in August 1996,
the Company repaid the amounts borrowed from Mr. Bedrosian, together with
$20,000 of accrued interest expense, and converted the amounts borrowed from
Mr. Fuchs, together with accrued interest, into Series A Preferred Stock. The
Company realized $40,000 and $108,000 of interest income in the third and
fourth quarters, respectively, as a result of increased cash balances derived
from the issuance of Series A Preferred Stock. See Notes 3 and 5.a of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.

INCOME TAXES

No provision for federal and state income taxes has been recorded as the
Company incurred operating losses through December 31, 1996. As of December
31, 1996, the Company had approximately $4.7 million of net operating loss
carryforwards which are available to offset future federal and state taxable
income; such carryforwards expire in various years through 2011. Under the Tax
Reform Act of 1986, the amounts of and the benefits from net operating loss
carryforwards may be impaired in certain circumstances. Events which may cause
such limitations in the amount of available net operating losses which the
Company may utilize in any one year include, but are not limited to, a
cumulative ownership change of more than 50% over a three year period. As of
December 31, 1996, the effect of such limitation, if imposed, has not been
determined. The Company has provided a full valuation allowance on the
deferred tax asset because of the uncertainty regarding its realization. See
Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of December 31, 1996, the Company had approximately $9.1 million in cash
and short-term investments. Since its inception, the Company has financed its
operations primarily through loans from John Bedrosian, the Company's Chairman
and co-founder, loans from Mr. Michael Fuchs, who subsequently became a
director of the Company, and the issuance of Preferred Stock in August 1996
and January 1997. For fiscal 1995 and 1996, cash used in operating activities
was primarily attributable to the net losses from operations and increases in
accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets, offset to some extent
by increases in deferred income and other current liabilities. For the year
ended December 31, 1996, cash used in investing activities was attributable to
purchases of property and equipment consisting primarily of computer hardware,
telecommunications equipment, furniture and leasehold improvements.

The Company has no material commitments other than those under the operating
lease for its principal executive offices and certain marketing and
advertising agreements and arrangements. The Company anticipates a substantial
increase in its capital expenditures and operating lease expenses in 1997. The
Company believes that the net proceeds from this offering, along with current
cash and cash equivalents, will be sufficient to fund its working capital and
capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months.
Thereafter, if cash generated from operations is insufficient to satisfy the
Company's liquidity requirements, the Company may seek to issue additional
equity or debt securities or establish a credit facility. The issuance of
additional equity or convertible debt securities could result in additional
dilution to the Company's shareholders. There can be no assurance that
financing will be available to the Company in amounts or on terms acceptable
to the Company. See "Use of Proceeds" and Notes 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.

26
<PAGE>

BUSINESS

OVERVIEW

Consumers wishing to purchase new vehicles through the Company's services
complete a request available on the Company's and its partners' Web sites
which specifies the type of vehicle and accessories desired, along with the
consumer's phone number, e-mail address and zip code. The purchase request is
then forwarded to the Auto-By-Tel participating dealership located in the
consumer's geographic area. Typically, consumers are contacted by dealers
within 48 hours with a firm, competitive quote for the vehicle, eliminating
the unwelcome and time-consuming task of negotiating with the dealer and thus
facilitating completion of the sale. As of December 31, 1996 the Company's
Internet-based dealership base consisted of (i) 1,206 paying franchises of
dealerships, (ii) 509 non-paying franchises affiliated with paying dealerships
(collectively, "subscribing dealerships"), and (iii) approximately 230 "trial
dealers." From the commencement of operations in March 1995 to December 31,
1996, the Company received more than 385,000 new vehicle purchase requests.

INDUSTRY BACKGROUND

Information and Commerce on the Internet

The Internet is a network of computers which enables users to access and
share information and conduct business transactions. Much of the recent growth
in the use of the Internet by businesses and individuals has been driven by
the emergence of the World Wide Web (the "Web") which enables non-technical
users to exploit the resources of the Internet. International Data Corporation
("IDC") estimates that the number of Web users increased from 16.1 million at
the end of 1995 to 34.6 million at the end of 1996 and that this number will
increase to 163 million by the end of the year 2000.

The emergence of the Internet as a significant communications medium is
driving the development and adoption of Web content and commerce applications
that offer convenience and value to consumers, as well as unique marketing
opportunities and reduced operating costs to businesses. By hosting
information about products and services on the Web, a company can enable
potential customers in any geographical area to gather relevant, in-depth
information about products and services at their convenience and according to
their preferences. A growing number of consumers have begun to transact
business electronically, such as paying bills, booking airline tickets,
trading securities and purchasing consumer goods, including personal
computers, consumer electronics, compact disks, books and vehicles. Moreover,
online transactions can be faster, less expensive and more convenient than
transactions conducted through a human intermediary. In addition, Web commerce
applications enable businesses to rapidly target and economically manage a
broad customer base and establish and maintain ongoing direct customer
relationships. IDC estimates that the dollar value of goods and services
purchased over the Web will increase from approximately $318 million in 1995
to $95 billion in the year 2000.

The increasing use of the Internet has encouraged information providers to
post their automotive information on the Internet. For example, Kelley Blue
Book (www.kbb.com), Edmund Publications (www.edmund.com), AutoSite
(www.autosite.com), IntelliChoice (www.intellichoice.com) and Microsoft's
CarPoint (carpoint.msn.com) all maintain Web sites that allow consumers to
conduct comprehensive automotive

27
<PAGE>

research online. The marketing capabilities of the Web, combined with the easy
availability of automotive information, have enabled the establishment of Web-
based vehicle marketing services. Many of these services may be characterized
as either online services sponsored by technology providers with little
understanding of the automobile and light duty truck markets, or Web sites
published by traditional vehicle dealers or manufacturers which do not
effectively utilize the capabilities of the Internet to provide an effective
buying solution.

New Vehicle Retailing

Buying a new vehicle is the second largest purchase an average consumer
makes. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association ("NADA"), the
industry's largest dealer organization, $293 billion was spent by consumers in
the United States in 1995 on new vehicles, representing 14.8 million new
units. Although it attracts significant consumer dollars, the vehicle sales
process has not changed significantly in the last 25 years. In the United
States, new vehicles are sold almost exclusively by approximately 22,000
dealerships franchised by manufacturers.

The excitement of purchasing a new vehicle is often muted by the fear of
being misled, intimidated or pressured into making a purchase decision.
Dealerships typically retain multiple levels of sales personnel trained in
sales, deal closing, finance and insurance. As a result, a consumer is often
faced with the prospect of negotiating with numerous individuals, all of whom
receive compensation based on a percentage of the profits on each sale. This
makes it difficult for a consumer to receive clear information or a fair price
without protracted and unpleasant negotiation. These dynamics often result in
low consumer satisfaction as consumers view sales tactics utilized by some
dealers as self serving, unfair, intimidating or overbearing.

Notwithstanding the magnitude of the new vehicle market, the automotive
dealer infrastructure is under pressure and consolidating. The new vehicle
retailing business is fiercely competitive due to an overabundance of dealers.
A significant number of dealers not only compete against dealers franchised by
other manufacturers, but against dealers located in the same geographical area
who are affiliated with the same manufacturer. In addition, the typical
business model of a new vehicle dealership is capital intensive, requiring
significant investments in inventory, and is characterized by an expensive
sales cost structure and significant pressure to increase per unit gross
profit. These factors have fostered industry consolidation resulting in a 27%
decrease in the number of dealerships in the last 25 years. According to J.D.
Power and Associates, a recognized automobile industry market research firm,
this consolidation trend is likely to continue in the future.

The historic abundance of dealerships and the resulting intense competition
have led to the development of high-pressure sales methods designed not only
to complete the sale of new vehicles, but also to increase per unit gross
profit from additional product sales to the same consumer, such as vehicle
accessories, financing, insurance and extended service contracts. These high-
pressure sales methods have resulted in low consumer satisfaction and low
sales productivity. According to NADA, the productivity of a typical retail
salesperson has essentially remained unchanged over the past 18 years. In
order to overcome this low productivity, a dealership must generate more sales
leads by spending significant amounts to market its franchise, maintain a
large selection of vehicles and improve the physical premises to attract
consumers. These efforts are often accompanied by high priced print and
television advertising. These factors, combined with the high cost of
attracting and retaining the numerous sales personnel required to effect
vehicle sales utilizing current sales methods, have significantly increased
the average cost per new vehicle sold. According to NADA, average labor and
overhead costs incurred per vehicle sold in 1995 totaled approximately $1,120
and average marketing and advertising cost per vehicle sold in 1995 totaled
$399. Increased costs contributed to an average loss to dealers of $22 per new
vehicle sold in 1995.

Low consumer satisfaction and the inefficient nature of traditional vehicle
retailing have left both consumers and retailers seeking an alternative means
of buying and selling automobiles and light duty trucks.

THE AUTO-BY-TEL SOLUTION

Auto-By-Tel is establishing a nationally branded Internet-based marketing
service for new and used vehicle purchasing and related consumer services.
Using the Internet, consumers in the United States and Canada submit

28
<PAGE>

purchase requests on the Company's and its partners' Web site. Each purchase
request is then forwarded to the Auto-By-Tel dealership located in the
consumer's geographic area. The dealership then telephones the consumer with a
firm, competitive price. By providing an Internet-based alternative to
traditional vehicle retailing, Auto-By-Tel provides the following benefits:

Benefits to Consumers. Using Auto-By-Tel's Internet-based marketing program,
consumers benefit from the convenience and privacy of shopping from their home
or office; online access to a wide range of up-to-date information about
vehicle models, options and dealer costs; receipt of a competitive price
without the need to haggle; and quick and courteous delivery of the vehicle.

Benefits to Dealers. One of the goals of the Auto-By-Tel program is to
significantly reduce dealers' labor and marketing costs attributable to a
vehicle sale. The Company provides participating dealers a high-volume of
quality purchase requests at a low cost. These requests are submitted by
consumers who have indicated their level of purchase commitment and who, in
most cases, have already conducted research on their desired vehicle. As a
result, dealers can complete the sales process more quickly and efficiently
under the Auto-By-Tel program than via traditional sales methods, thereby
reducing a dealer's labor costs. In addition, participating dealers can reduce
their average per vehicle marketing costs by gaining access to a large number
of serious purchasers without incurring the expense of incremental
advertising.

STRATEGY

The Company is committed to being the premier nationally branded, Internet-
based marketing service for new and used vehicles and related consumer
services. Key elements of the Company's strategy include:

Enhancing the Strength of Auto-By-Tel Brand Name. The Company believes that
enhancing the strength of the Auto-By-Tel brand name and positioning itself as
the industry standard for Internet-based, consumer friendly, low cost vehicle
purchasing and related consumer services is critical in its efforts to attract
vehicle buyers and to increase the size of its subscribing dealership base.
The Company further believes that the early stage of Internet commerce and the
Company's leadership in the development of the Internet-based vehicle
purchasing market provide it with an opportunity to establish a level of
branding not typically available to newer companies. A key element of the
Company's strategy is to devote significant management and financial resources
to brand name-building activities, including advertising in online and
traditional print and television media, public relations initiatives and
participation in industry conferences and trade shows. The Company
aggressively promotes awareness of its brand name primarily through (i)
strategic marketing relationships with Internet-based automotive information
providers including AutoSite, Edmund's and Microsoft CarPoint, (ii) Internet
advertising (sometimes on an exclusive or preferred basis) on online search
engines, such as Excite, Magellan, and WebCrawler, (iii) online service
providers, such as America Online's Digital Cities, CompuServe and Prodigy and
(iv) in popular automotive and Internet related magazines. Recently, the
Company began to place advertisements in a number of additional leading
magazines and on television in order to reach a wider audience, strengthen the
awareness of the Auto-By-Tel brand name and drive consumer traffic to the
Company's Web site.

Maintaining, Strengthening and Expanding Online and Internet
Relationships. Contractual agreements with online services, Internet search
engine companies, and other service providers which recommend and refer
consumers to the Company or allow consumers to complete purchase requests on
their Web sites are critical to increasing the Company's visibility on the
Internet, enhancing the strength of its brand name and generating a high
volume of purchase requests. For example, the Company has exclusive or
preferred position on Web sites maintained by AutoSite, Edmund's and Microsoft
CarPoint. The Company intends to strengthen its relationships with existing
Internet referral sources and continue to seek exclusive or preferred
arrangement with such sources. In addition, the Company continues to seek
opportunities to promote its services on other Web sites or to enter into
strategic alliances with or acquisitions of complementary service providers.

Continuing to Expand and Upgrade Technology Infrastructure. The Company
believes that its future success is significantly dependent on its ability to
continuously improve the speed and reliability of its Web site, accommodate
increasing traffic and enhance communication functionality with its consumers
and dealers. The

29
<PAGE>

Company has recently added the capability to communicate with dealers online
and upload information, including photographs on a weekly basis about their
used vehicle inventory, to the Company's used vehicle database. The Company
plans to continue to expand its technological infrastructure, enhance the
security and reliability of the Company's Web site and develop additional
sophisticated software applications and user interfaces to accommodate planned
services.

Expanding Dealership Base and Improving Dealer Service. The Company believes
that the size and quality of its participating dealership base is critical to
the success of its business. The Company intends to capitalize on its
marketing and advertising programs to further the expansion of its dealership
base. This expansion would provide the Company with the ability to increase
its geographic penetration and improve its ability to service the purchase
requests of a greater number of consumers. In addition, the Company believes
that increased consumer satisfaction with the vehicle purchasing experience is
essential to the success and differentiation of its services. Accordingly, the
Company maintains an extensive training program for its participating
dealerships which includes the initial and ongoing training of dealership
representatives and emphasizes rapid response times, a firm competitive price
quote and fair and honest treatment of its consumers. The Company regularly
solicits consumer feedback and monitors dealership compliance with the Auto-
By-Tel program.

Leveraging Existing Auto-By-Tel Brand Name and Marketing Model with
Additional Services. The Company continually evaluates opportunities to
leverage the Auto-By-Tel brand name and its Internet-based vehicle purchasing
model by introducing new and complementary services. For example, the Company
has an alliance with AIG to offer the Company's consumers high-quality and
price competitive vehicle insurance and an agreement with Chase Manhattan to
provide competitive new and used vehicle financing to consumers with prime
credit ratings. The Company is negotiating similar relationships with several
leading financial institutions to provide new and used vehicle leasing
services and vehicle loans to sub-prime credit consumers. The Company also
plans to introduce used vehicle marketing services and an affinity program to
further penetrate its potential consumer base. The Company currently expects
these new service offerings to be launched in the first half of 1997.

Pursuing International Growth Opportunities. The Internet and online service
providers enable the Company to market its services internationally. The
Company believes that its vehicle purchasing model can be adapted for use in
countries in which the vehicle retailing industry faces structural
inefficiencies and consumer dissatisfaction similar to that experienced in the
United States. The Company recently introduced its service in Canada and as of
December 31, 1996, had a subscribing dealership base of 72 Canadian franchises
and, in the fourth quarter of 1996, processed over 3,000 purchase requests
from Canadian consumers.

Leveraging Proprietary Consumer Information. The Company's growing database
may, in the future, have the potential to provide dealers and manufacturers
with improved information regarding consumer preferences which they may
utilize to streamline purchasing and production decisions.

30
<PAGE>

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

The Company's existing and currently planned Internet-based services
include:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXISTING
SERVICES LAUNCH DATE DESCRIPTION
-------- ------------ ---------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
New vehicle March 1995 This service offers a cost-effective new vehicle
marketing purchasing method which allows consumers to submit
service purchase requests to local dealers who promptly
contact the consumer with a firm, competitive price
over the telephone.
Insurance August 1996 The Company entered into a marketing agreement with
marketing AIG in August 1996, to provide a vehicle insurance
service service through the Company's Web site. This
service allows users to submit insurance
applications online and rapidly receive automobile
insurance at competitive rates.
<CAPTION>
ANTICIPATED
PLANNED SERVICES LAUNCH DATE DESCRIPTION
---------------- ------------ ---------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Used vehicle Q1-Q2 1997 This service will allow consumers to purchase high-
marketing quality used vehicles available at local area
service dealerships by searching an extensive database of
used vehicles which have been certified to meet
certain Auto-By-Tel standards.
Financing and leasing services In October 1996, the Company entered into an
New vehicles agreement with Chase Manhattan, pursuant to which
. Prime credit Q1 1997 Chase Manhattan will receive online credit
. Sub-prime credit Q2 1997 applications from consumers referred by the
. Leasing Q2 1997 Company. In addition, the Company is negotiating
Used vehicle with several leading financial institutions to
. Prime credit Q2 1997 offer financing to new and used vehicle consumers
. Sub-prime credit Q2 1997 with sub-prime credit ratings, as well as new and
. Leasing Q2 1997 used vehicle leasing services.
Credit union Q2 1997 The Company intends to launch a customized
program marketing service to credit unions to assist their
members in purchasing new and used vehicles through
Auto-By-Tel participating dealerships.
Affinity program Q3 1997 Consumers may join the Company's affinity program,
(ABT Mobilist) which will provide discounted services, including
roadside assistance programs, discounted travel
products and special credit card programs.
</TABLE>

New vehicle marketing service. Consumers who purchase new vehicles through
the Company's Web site complete a purchase request over the Internet which
specifies the type of vehicle and accessories the consumer desires, along with
the consumer's phone number, e-mail address and zip code. The purchase request
is then forwarded to the Auto-By-Tel participating dealership located in the
consumer's geographic area and the Company promptly returns an e-mail message
to the consumer informing the consumer of the dealership's name and phone
number and the name of the Auto-By-Tel manager at the dealership. Typically,
the consumer is contacted by the dealership by telephone within 48 hours with
a firm, competitive quote for the vehicle, eliminating the unwelcome and time
consuming task of negotiating with the dealer and thus facilitating completion
of the sale. Consumers usually complete their purchase and take delivery of
their vehicles at the dealership showroom. Generally, within 10 days of the
submission of the consumer's purchase request, the Company contacts the
consumer by e-mail requesting completion of a quality assurance survey on the
Company's Web site that is used by the Company and its dealers to improve the
quality of dealer service and allows the Company to evaluate the sales process
at participating dealerships.

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<PAGE>

The Auto-By-Tel network of subscribing dealerships has grown from 367
franchises as of December 31, 1995 to 1,715 franchises as of December 31,
1996. 230 dealers were participating in the Auto-By-Tel program on a non-
paying trial basis as of December 31, 1996.

Insurance marketing services. According to Best Executive Data Service, the
United States' market for total written personal auto insurance premiums
totalled $104 billion in 1995. In August 1996, the Company began offering
vehicle insurance to its consumers through an online program with AIG. The
Company's Web site currently offers a direct hyperlink to the AIG Web site
which enables consumers to fill out applications and, when the service is
fully implemented, be approved for insurance online. The Company's agreement
with AIG provides for fees to the Company to be calculated as a percentage of
the net premiums earned and collected by AIG on policies issued to Auto-By-Tel
consumers.

Used vehicle marketing service. The market for used vehicles in the United
States was estimated by NADA to be $370 billion in 1995, of which $182 billion
represented sales of used vehicles by new vehicle franchised dealers. This
market has been growing rapidly, due primarily to increasing prices for new
vehicles and the large supply of high-quality, late model used vehicles
created by the recent trend toward short-term leasing. Used vehicle
departments at many dealers are more profitable than new vehicle departments.

The Company intends to leverage its brand name and new vehicle dealership
network by launching similar marketing services for used vehicles during the
first half of 1997. Unlike existing Internet services which act as unwieldy
electronic classified ads, the Auto-By-Tel used vehicle program will display
to consumers a wide selection of vehicles available in the consumer's specific
locale, tailored to their individualized search parameters. This display will
eventually provide warranty and price information on the used vehicle,
including updated retail and wholesale prices and the Auto-By-Tel dealership
price, and, when available, a digital photograph of the used vehicle.
Consumers could then place a purchase request for the used vehicle and would
be contacted by the dealer to conclude the sale.

To ensure that the used vehicles being sold through the service are of the
highest quality, dealers are required to certify that their used vehicles meet
Auto-By-Tel certification standards and to provide a nationwide, limited 90
day warranty. Consumers also receive a 72-hour, money-back guarantee on their
purchases which any dealership in the Auto-By-Tel used vehicle program will be
required to honor. Only dealers participating in the new vehicle program will
be eligible to participate in the used vehicle program.

The Company will charge each new vehicle subscribing dealership that wishes
to participate in the Company's used vehicle program a separate and additional
signup and annual fee per franchise. The Company anticipates that these fees
would initially be lower than those charged in the new vehicle program. In
addition, the Company intends to charge daily listing fees for each used
vehicle marketed on the service which will be priced according to the number
of used vehicles a dealer lists with the Auto-By-Tel program.

Finance and leasing services. The Company intends to make financing
available to consumers purchasing new and used vehicles through the Auto-By-
Tel programs. The Auto-By-Tel financing program will be economical, convenient
and private. Vehicle buyers will be able to apply for a loan online at the
time they submit their purchase request for either a new or used vehicle. The
Company believes that the loans and leases offered through its service will be
competitive with those currently available through major financial
institutions.

The Auto-By-Tel financing program will benefit lenders, lessors, consumers,
and dealers. Finance companies and dealers will benefit from reduced paperwork
and processing costs. Consumers will be able to arrive at the dealership with
their loan pre-approved, their credit verification documents in hand, and the
loan paperwork waiting for them. This will enable immediate delivery and allow
the dealer to be more rapidly paid by the lender, thereby accelerating the
dealer's cash flow. The Company believes that the convenience of attractive
financing, combined with a firm, competitive price, will increase the closing
rates on sales attributable to Auto-By-Tel purchase request referrals.

32
<PAGE>

In October 1996, the Company entered into an agreement with Chase Manhattan
to receive credit application for new vehicle financing from consumers who
submit purchase requests. This arrangement is intended for consumers with
prime credit ratings. The agreement has a term of three years but may be
terminated sooner by Chase Manhattan with six months' notice or in the event
that certain ongoing conditions are not satisfied. The Company anticipates
that, when the service is implemented, consumers will be able to access Chase
Manhattan's credit applications through the Company's Web site, submit their
loan applications online and, depending on the creditworthiness of the
consumer, have their loan requests approved electronically while they wait.
All responses will be routed simultaneously to the subscribing dealership. The
Auto-By-Tel financing program will enable consumers to receive up front,
competitive loans from the privacy of their home or office, eliminating the
need to negotiate a loan with the traditional car dealership's F&I (finance
and insurance) department or visit their local bank or credit union. Chase
Manhattan will pay the Company an origination fee for most loans and the
dealership will be compensated for each loan made to an Auto-By-Tel consumer.
The Company anticipates that this service will be implemented during the first
half of 1997.

The Company is negotiating with several financial institutions to offer new
and used vehicle leasing programs and financing programs for new and used
vehicle purchasers with sub-prime credit ratings. The Company believes that
origination fees will vary depending on the credit qualifications of
applicants. The Company currently expects to launch a financing program for
consumers with sub-prime credit ratings in the second quarter of 1997. The
Company expects to begin offering leasing for new and used vehicles by the end
of the second quarter of 1997.

Credit Union Program. Auto-By-Tel believes that credit unions, which assist
their members in acquiring and financing new and used vehicles, represent an
attractive market for its marketing services. There are presently about 11,800
credit unions in the U.S. with about 70 million members according to Callahan
and Associates, a recognized authority on the credit union industry. Credit
unions account for $80 billion in vehicle loans outstanding as of June 30,
1996. The Company intends to launch a customized program for credit unions to
assist their members in purchasing new and used vehicles through Auto-By-Tel
participating dealers.

The Company's program is designed to ensure that credit union members
receive the same competitive price and courteous service as the Company's
direct Internet customers, through access to Auto-By-Tel's participating
dealers, while allowing credit unions to provide for the financing needs of
their members. The Company's program will offer several Internet-based
solutions targeted toward credit union members.

Affinity program (ABT Mobilist). In order to offer Auto-By-Tel consumers
additional services and encourage them to regularly revisit the Auto-By-Tel
Web site after purchasing their vehicles, the Company intends to begin
offering an Internet-based affinity program during the third quarter of 1997.
This program, which has been developed in conjunction with an affinity
consulting organization, may include various services, including an affinity
credit card, discount travel products, concierge services, discount cellular
phone service, entertainment services and special promotional offerings on
items such as auto parts. Members will accumulate credits to be applied
towards the purchase of automobiles or trucks through an Auto-By-Tel
subscribing dealer. The Company currently expects that consumers will pay an
annual fee for such programs as well as a small commission each time certain
services are utilized. The Company currently anticipates that the annual fee
to subscribers will range from approximately $39 to $59 depending upon the
level of membership.

33
<PAGE>

the value of locating used vehicles for purchase through the Internet since
used vehicle purchases are generally thought to require a greater level of
hands-on involvement in the inspection and purchase of a used vehicle. The
Company intends to incur additional expenses to develop and successfully market
such services. To the extent that revenues generated by such additional
services are insufficient to cover such expenses, the Company's operating
results would be adversely affected. Should the Company fail to develop and
successfully market these services, or should competitors successfully
introduce competing services, the Company's business, results of operations,
and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.

MARKETING AND SALES

The Company believes that enhancing its national brand name recognition and
position as a leading Internet-based marketing service is critical to its
efforts to increase the number of purchase requests and subscribing
dealerships. The growing number of Web sites which offer competing services and
the relatively low barriers to entry in providing Internet services increase
the importance of establishing and maintaining brand name recognition.

In order to enhance brand name awareness, the Company aggressively markets
its services to vehicle consumers and Internet users by advertising on the
Internet, in print media and on television. The Company has established
marketing programs with many of the leading automotive information providers on
the Internet, including AutoSite, Edmund's and Microsoft CarPoint, and
maintains marketing programs with major online services, such as America
Online's Digital Cities, CompuServe and Prodigy. Auto-By-Tel continues to
position itself as the leading vehicle and related consumer services marketing
program with major Internet search engine companies such as Excite, Magellan,
and Web Crawler. The Company believes that its comprehensive coverage of these
Internet sites helps to increase purchase request volume and will remain a
critical element of the Company's future business.

The Company supplements its coverage of Internet referral sources with
traditional print advertising. The Company has historically focused on computer
user and hobbyist publications and major automotive magazines. The Company
advertises in publications such as Car & Driver, Motor Trend, Road & Track, and
their respective buyers guides, as well as magazines such as Internet World,
OnLine Access and CompuServe to direct traffic to its Web site. The Company has
begun to expand this marketing with a campaign to accelerate awareness of the
Auto-By-Tel brand name and drive traffic to its Web site through television ads
featured on the CNN and MSNBC networks and C/NET television programs. In the
fourth quarter of 1996, the Company commenced advertising on cable television
and, in the first quarter of 1997, launched national network television
advertising (including a 30 second commercial during the broadcast of the Super
Bowl).

The revolutionary nature of the Company's program compared to traditional
vehicle sales methods has also resulted in a significant amount of unpaid media
coverage. To date, the Company has been the subject of over 500 newspaper,
magazine, radio and television stories. Articles about the Company's new
vehicle program have appeared in BusinessWeek, Fortune, Time, and the Wall
Street Journal. Television stories featuring the Company have been aired on the
NBC Nightly News and CNN. The Company believes that the initial media coverage
has been an important element in creating consumer awareness of the Auto-By-Tel
program and contributed to early dealership subscriptions to the program.

In addition to its consumer-oriented marketing activities, which help to
attract participating dealerships, the Company also markets its programs
directly to dealerships by soliciting targeted dealerships, participating in
trade shows, advertising in trade publications, and encouraging subscribing
dealerships to recommend the Auto-By-Tel program to other dealerships.

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<PAGE>

DEALERSHIP NETWORK AND TRAINING

[GRAPH OF DEALERS APPEARS HERE]

Paying Franchises 0 38 111 253 546 728 978 1,206
Non-Paying Franchises 0 15 43 114 308 380 474 509
--- --- --- --- --- ----- ----- -----
*Total Subscribing 0 53 154 367 854 1,108 1,452 1,715
=== === === === === ===== ===== =====
- --------
* Does not include dealers who were participating on a trial basis. As of
December 31, 1996, the Company had approximately 230 non-paying, trial
dealers.

As of December 31, 1996 the Company's participating dealership base
consisted of (i) 1,206 paying franchises of subscribing dealerships, (ii) 509
non-paying franchises affiliated with paying subscribing dealerships and (iii)
approximately 230 "trial dealers." A subscribing dealership is comprised of
one or more franchises with typically high volume vehicle sales (such as Ford
or Toyota). A subscribing dealership may sell vehicles from multiple
manufacturers and therefore have multiple subscribing dealer franchises.
Dealerships pay initial, annual and monthly fees per franchise to subscribe to
the Company's online marketing program. Non-paying franchises are typically
associated with lower-volume vehicle manufacturers (such as Audi, Saab or
Suzuki) and receive purchase request referrals without paying fees to Auto-By-
Tel. The Company enters into informal arrangements with potential dealership
participants on a trial basis in order to assist the Company and the
dealership in evaluating the effectiveness of the Auto-By-Tel program at such
dealerships. The Company refers consumers to trial dealerships but does not
collect fees. As of December 31, 1996, approximately 230 dealerships were
participating on a trial basis. In order to better serve consumers, the
Company intends to significantly increase the number of participating North
American dealership franchises by the end of fiscal 1998, but there can be no
assurance that it will be able to do so.

35
<PAGE>

Although the number of the Company's subscribing dealerships has increased
in every quarter since the Company's inception, the Company periodically
terminates agreements or relationships with subscribing dealerships when the
Company receives repeated complaints from consumers regarding dealer sales
practices that conflict with the Auto-By-Tel marketing program. Currently,
less than half of subscribing dealerships have entered into written agreements
with the Company. Dealership marketing agreements have a five year term but
are cancelable by either party with 30 days notice. In fiscal 1996, the loss
of dealerships due to terminations by the Company and cancellations by
dealerships totaled 104 and 90 franchises, respectively. These losses were
more than offset by new subscribing dealerships during the same period.

In December 1996, the Company commenced an effort to have all subscribing
dealerships execute written marketing agreements with the Company which have
been revised to provide, among other things, that such dealerships will not
participate with any other program with attributes similar to those of the
Auto-By-Tel program. At the same time, the Company has begun a program to have
all subscribing dealerships enter into written marketing agreements relating
to the Auto-By-Tel financing program. As of February 28, 1997, approximately
43% and 24% of all subscribing dealerships had signed the revised marketing
agreement and the financing agreement, respectively. The Company believes that
some of its dealers may resist signing written agreements and there can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to convince subscribing dealerships to
enter into written agreements with the Company or revise their existing
agreements or that the Company's efforts to cause subscribing dealerships to
revise their agreements will not result in subscribing dealerships terminating
their relationship with Auto-By-Tel.

In addition, should the volume of purchase requests increase, the Company
anticipates that it will need to reduce the size of the exclusive territories
currently allocated to dealerships in order to serve consumers more
effectively. Dealers may be unwilling to accept reductions in the size of
their territories and may, therefore, terminate their relationship, refuse to
execute formal agreements with the Company or decide not to join the Company's
marketing program. A material decrease in the number of subscribing
dealerships, or slower than expected growth in the number of subscribing
dealerships, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
results of operations or financial condition. The Company may also become
unable to refer an adequate number of consumers to participating dealerships.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to attract
additional dealerships and retain existing dealerships.

Auto-By-Tel dealerships are located in every major metropolitan area in the
United States and Canada. In December 1996, the Company's computer systems
were able to match and electronically route 92% of total purchase requests to
participating dealerships. The remaining 8% of purchase requests were received
from consumers in unassigned territories and were manually assigned and
subsequently electronically routed to dealers. Auto-By-Tel dealerships are
often leaders in their respective markets. Of the ten largest dealership
holding companies (according to the Automotive News 1996 Data Book), nine
participate in the Company's new vehicle marketing program at some level. Size
is not always a sufficient criterion, however, in the selection of Auto-By-Tel
participating dealers. Auto-By-Tel is only interested in establishing
relationships with dealers which share the Company's commitment to improving
consumer service in the vehicle retailing industry. To meet this goal, the
Company requests that participating dealerships have their representatives
trained in the Auto-By-Tel marketing program, dedicate electronic and human
resources to the Auto-By-Tel system and comply with the Auto-By-Tel guidelines
of rapid consumer response, full disclosure, competitive and up-front pricing
communicated by telephone and the selection of an employee to be the dedicated
Auto-By-Tel manager. To further increase consumer satisfaction and reduce
dealership costs, the Company discourages dealerships from using commissioned
salespersons and the accompanying layers of personnel to interface with Auto-
By-Tel consumers.

The Company trains Auto-By-Tel dealers over the telephone, via satellite
seminars, at the Company's headquarters in Irvine, California, at regional
training centers and at dealerships' premises. The Company's staff strives to
shift dealer salespersons away from traditional vehicle selling techniques and
to the Auto-By-Tel approach. Special emphasis is placed upon telephone skills
and addressing consumer questions and concerns. Generally, within ten days of
the submission of a vehicle purchase request, the Company contacts the
consumer by e-mail requesting completion of a quality assurance survey on the
Company's Web site that is used by the

36
<PAGE>

Company and dealers to improve the quality of dealer service and allows the
Company to evaluate the sales process at participating dealers. Dealerships
that fail to abide by the Auto-By-Tel program or who receive repeated consumer
complaints are terminated from the Auto-By-Tel program.

Auto-By-Tel participating dealerships are assigned exclusive territories
based upon specific zip codes. Auto-By-Tel assigned regions tend to be larger
than the traditional dealership region assigned by automobile manufacturers,
in order to allow the Company to generate sufficiently high volume to the
subscribing dealership to make participation in the Auto-By-Tel program
attractive. Pursuant to an agreement with the Texas Department of
Transportation, Auto-By-Tel cannot effectively guarantee exclusive territories
to dealerships located in Texas, and dealership sign-up and annual fees in
Texas are required to be uniform while monthly fees are based solely on
population density in a given zip code.

COMPETITION

The Company's vehicle purchasing services compete against a variety of
Internet and traditional vehicle buying services and automotive brokers. In
the Internet-based market, the Company competes for attention with other
entities which maintain similar commercial Web sites. The Company also
competes indirectly against vehicle brokerage firms and affinity programs
offered by several companies, including Price Costco and Wal-Mart. Like the
Company's services, the services offered by competing Web sites, automotive
brokerage firms and affinity programs seek to increase consumer satisfaction
and reduce vehicle purchasing costs.

Although the Company does not currently compete directly with vehicle
dealers and manufacturers, such competition would arise in the future if
dealers and manufacturers introduced competing Web sites or developed
cooperative relationships among themselves or with online automotive
information providers. Moreover, the Company's ability to achieve its
objectives would be adversely affected if dealers and manufacturers adopted a
low cost, firm price sales model similar to that facilitated by the Auto-By-
Tel program.

The market for Internet-based commercial services is new and competition
among commercial Web sites is expected to increase significantly in the
future. The Internet is characterized by minimal barriers to entry, and
current and new competitors can launch new Web sites at relatively low cost.
Potential competitors could include, but are not limited to, automotive
information service providers, vehicle manufacturers and new and used vehicle
dealers. In order to compete successfully as an Internet commerce entity, the
Company must significantly increase awareness of the Company and its brand
name, effectively market its services and successfully differentiate its Web
site. Many of the Company's current and potential competitors have longer
operating histories, greater name recognition and significantly greater
financial and marketing resources than the Company. Such competitors could
undertake more aggressive and costly marketing campaigns than the Company
which may adversely affect the Company's marketing strategies which could have
a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or
financial condition.

In addition, as the Company introduces new services, it will compete
directly with a greater number of companies, including vehicle insurers,
lenders and lessors as well as used vehicle superstores, such as CarMax and
Auto Nation. Such companies may already maintain or may introduce Web sites
which compete with that of the Company. There can be no assurance that the
Company can continue to compete successfully against current or future
competitors nor can there be any assurance that competitive pressures faced by
the Company will not result in increased marketing costs, decreased Internet
traffic or loss of market share or otherwise will not materially adversely
affect its business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Company believes that the principal competitive factors affecting the
market for Internet-based vehicle marketing services are the speed and quality
of service execution, the size and effectiveness of the participating
dealership base, competitive dealer pricing, successful marketing and
establishment of national brand name recognition, positioning itself as a
leading Internet-based marketing service, the volume and quality of traffic to
and purchase requests from a Web site and the ability to introduce new
services in a timely and cost-effective manner. Although the Company believes
that it currently competes favorably with respect to such factors, there can
be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully against
current or future competitors with respect to any of these factors.

37
<PAGE>

OPERATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY; FACILITIES

The Company believes that its future success is significantly dependent on
its ability to continuously improve the speed and reliability of its Web site,
enhance communications functionality with its consumers and dealers and
maintain the highest-level of information privacy and transactional security.
The Company maintains all of its own Web server hosting functions and, to
accelerate connectivity, has installed two 1.54 Mbps T-1 lines for outbound
traffic and a 6 Mbps fractional DS/3 line for inbound traffic. The Company has
also recently upgraded its routers and has installed firewall technology to
protect its private network. Continuous system enhancements are primarily
intended to accommodate increased traffic across the Company's Web site,
improve the speed with which purchase requests are processed and heighten Web
site security which will be increasingly important as the Company offers new
services such as vehicle insurance and financing. System enhancements entail
the implementation of sophisticated new technology and system processes and
there can be no assurance that such continuous enhancements may not result in
unanticipated system disruptions. In addition, since launching its first Web
site in July 1995, the Company has experienced system downtime for limited
periods of up to a few hours due to power loss and telecommunications
failures, and there can be no assurance that interruptions will not recur.
Although the Company maintains redundant local offsite backup servers, all of
the Company's primary servers are located at its corporate headquarters and
are vulnerable to interruption by damage from fire, earthquake, power loss,
telecommunications failure and other events beyond the Company's control. The
Company is in the process of developing comprehensive out-of-state disaster
recovery plans to safeguard dealer and consumer information. The Company's
business interruption insurance may not be sufficient to compensate the
Company for all losses that may occur. In the event that the Company
experienced significant system disruptions, the Company's business, results of
operations or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

The Company recently implemented its proprietary Dealer Realtime System, a
personal computer-based network which allows participating dealers to receive
consumer purchase requests online shortly after submission by consumers.
Historically, all purchase requests were transmitted through the Company's fax
server to dealers. By complementing the fax server process, the Dealer
Realtime System, is designed to shorten dealer response time to consumers. The
successful implementation of the Dealer Realtime System requires the active
support of the Company's dealership base. To receive consumer purchase
requests online, dealers must purchase or lease the Dealer Realtime System and
train, under the Company's guidance, their personnel. There can be no
assurance that all or most dealerships will acquire the Dealer Realtime System
or adopt the skills necessary to effectively use this system.

In addition, the Company has developed and intends to further develop its
proprietary client/server database applications which allow consumers to
search and display used vehicle information. Such database applications allow
Auto-By-Tel dealerships to upload their inventory, including digitized
photographs of vehicles, to the Company's used vehicle database. Dealerships
participating in the Company's Dealer Realtime System will already have
acquired the equipment necessary to participate in the used vehicle marketing
program. As of January 30, 1997, 118 subscribing dealerships have acquired the
Dealer Realtime System. There can be no assurance that Auto-By-Tel dealerships
will agree to invest in the Dealer Realtime System, or pay the associated
monthly maintenance charges on a timely basis, or at all.

The Company has developed and intends to further enhance systems which allow
consumers to complete and securely transmit online loan applications which
will be forwarded by the Company to the appropriate lender. The Company
anticipates launching these services during the first quarter of 1997.

In addition, the Company is currently in the process of completing a
conversion to a redundant client/server SQL database platform which involves
the integration of several different internal databases used to handle the
Company's consumer and dealer information and transmission requirements as
well as the Company's financial, accounting and record-keeping requirements.
In addition to increasing the overall efficiency of the Company's operations,
the Company anticipates that these new integrated systems could enable Auto-
By-Tel to develop and market new and strategically targeted database services.
No assurance can be given that the implementation of this new platform will
not result in disruptions to the Company's business, such as the loss of data,
errors in

38
<PAGE>

purchase request transmissions, delays in the Company's ability to effect
periodic closings of its accounting records and other similar problems. Any
such disruptions or any failure to successfully implement this new information
system in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.

The Company's services may be vulnerable to break-ins and similar disruptive
problems caused by Internet users. Further, weaknesses in the Internet may
compromise the security of confidential electronic information exchanged
across the Internet. This includes, but is not limited to, the security of the
physical network and security of the physical machines used for the
information transfer. Any such flaws in the Internet or the end-user
environment, or weaknesses or vulnerabilities in the Company's services or the
licensed technology incorporated in such service, would jeopardize the
confidential nature of information transmitted over the Internet and could
require the Company to expend significant financial and human resources to
protect against future breaches, if any, in order to alleviate or mitigate
problems caused by such security breaches. Concerns over the security of
Internet transactions and the privacy of users may also inhibit the growth of
the Internet generally, particularly as a means of conducting commercial
transactions. To the extent that activities of the Company, or third party
contractors, involve the storage and transmission of proprietary information
(such as personal financial information or credit card numbers), security
breaches could expose the Company to a risk of financial loss or litigation or
other liabilities. Any such occurrence could reduce consumer satisfaction in
the Company's services and could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, results of operations or financial condition.

The Company's success and ability to compete is dependent in part upon its
proprietary systems and technology. While the Company relies on trademark,
trade secret and copyright laws to protect its proprietary rights, the Company
believes that the technical and creative skills of its personnel, continued
development of its proprietary systems and technology, brand name recognition
and reliable Web site maintenance are more essential in establishing and
maintaining a leadership position. Despite the Company's efforts to protect
its proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of
the Company's services or to obtain and use information that the Company
regards as proprietary. Policing unauthorized use of the Company's proprietary
rights is difficult. In addition, litigation may be necessary in the future to
enforce or protect the Company's intellectual property rights or to defend
against claims of infringement or invalidity. Misappropriation of the
Company's intellectual property or potential litigation could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or financial
condition.

All of the Company's operations are centrally located in approximately
13,700 square feet of office space in Irvine, California. Approximately 12,300
square feet is leased through August 1, 2001, and the Company has the option
to renew this lease for an additional five-year period. Approximately 1,400
square feet is separately leased under a sublease through April 30, 1997.

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

The Company's marketing service may result in changes in the way new and
used vehicles are sold which may be deemed to be threatening by new and used
vehicle dealers who do not subscribe to the Auto-By-Tel program. Such
businesses are often represented by influential lobbying organizations, and
such organizations

39
<PAGE>

may seek to introduce legislation which may impact the evolving marketing and
distribution model which the Company's service promotes. Should legislative or
legal challenges be brought successfully by such organizations, the Company's
business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially and
adversely affected.

EMPLOYEES

The Company experienced significant growth in employment during 1996, and as
of December 31, 1996, the Company had a total of 73 employees (including two
in Canada), compared to 17 employees as of December 31, 1995. Employees as of
December 31, 1996 included nine in management, 41 in marketing, selling,
training and support, 11 engaged in technical activities and 12 administrative
employees. The Company also employs independent contractors for software and
hardware development, which totaled 17 people as of December 31, 1996. None of
the Company's employees is represented by a labor union. The Company has not
experienced any work stoppages and considers its relations with its employees
to be good.

The Company's rapid growth has placed, and is expected to continue to place,
a significant strain on the Company's managerial and technical resources. The
Company's future success depends in significant part upon the continued
service of its key technical and senior management personnel and its
continuing ability to attract and retain qualified sales, marketing, technical
and managerial personnel. As the Company introduces new services, it will need
to hire a significant number of additional managerial, sales, marketing and
technical personnel. Competition for qualified personnel is intense and there
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to retain its key employees
or that it will be able to attract and retain additional highly qualified
personnel in the future.

The Company's performance is substantially dependent on the performance of
its executive officers and key employees, all of whom are employed on an at-
will basis and many of whom have worked together for only a short period of
time. The Company maintains "key person" life insurance in the amount of $7.5
million on the life of Peter R. Ellis, the Company's President and Chief
Executive Officer. However, the loss of the services of Mr. Ellis or one or
more of the Company's other executive officers or key employees would likely
have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and
financial condition of the Company. See "Management."

40
<PAGE>

MANAGEMENT

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
executive officers, directors and other key employees of the Company.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND
DIRECTORS AGE POSITION
---------------------- --- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Peter R. Ellis.......... 50 President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
John C. Bedrosian....... 61 Chairman of the Board
W. Randolph Ellspermann. 50 Senior Vice President of the Company and Chief Operating Officer
of Auto-By-Tel Acceptance Corporation
Robert S. Grimes........ 53 Executive Vice President and Director
Mark W. Lorimer......... 37 Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Michael J. Lowell....... 38 Senior Vice President of the Company and Chief Operating Officer
of Auto-By-Tel Marketing Corporation
Brian B. MacDonald...... 39 Vice President Finance and Treasurer
John M. Markovich....... 40 Senior Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Jeffrey H. Coats (1)(2). 39 Director
Michael Fuchs(1)(2)..... 50 Director
<CAPTION>
OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES
-------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Thomas J. Ciresa........ 55 Director of Used Vehicle Development and Canada Operations
Jacqueline A. Dufort.... 34 Chief Technology Officer
John P. Honiotes........ 49 National Sales Director
</TABLE>

- --------
(1) Member of the Audit Committee.
(2) Member of the Compensation Committee.

Peter R. Ellis co-founded the Company and has been President and Chief
Executive Officer since its inception. Mr. Ellis has extensive experience in
the automobile retailing industry. From June 1993 to December 1993, Mr. Ellis
served as Chairman of PEAC Corporation, a retail used vehicle business. From
August 1973 to May 1991, Mr. Ellis was a controlling stockholder and served as
President of P.R. Ellis Corp. (formerly known as CAJ Corporation), a holding
corporation for several companies which owned and operated automobile
dealerships and related businesses in Northern and Southern California and
Arizona. Mr. Ellis' corporations guaranteed in the ordinary course of business
loans made to vehicle purchasers, and, in 1985, the principal amount
outstanding under such guaranteed loans reached an aggregate of approximately
$80 million. As a result of higher than industry standard defaults by vehicle
purchasers in subsequent years, Mr. Ellis' corporations, which then owned
three dealerships, were required to expend significant cash to satisfy these
guarantees. In the early 1990's, vehicle sales decreased significantly as a
result of the then ongoing recession in California. The effects of the
recession, when combined with poor working capital, had a severe impact on Mr.
Ellis' dealership operations. During this period, Mr. Ellis personally
guaranteed additional capital and inventory loans with an aggregate principal
amount in excess of $40 million on behalf of three dealerships. In 1991, Mr.
Ellis closed the three remaining dealerships due to ongoing financial
difficulties. As a result, certain company loans were defaulted. Subsequently,
in response to a creditor's proceedings, Mr. Ellis declared personal
bankruptcy under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in January
1994. All outstanding debts were discharged in August 1994 by order of the
Bankruptcy Court.

John C. Bedrosian co-founded the Company and has been Chairman of the Board
since its inception. Since September 1993, Mr. Bedrosian has been engaged in
personal investing activities. From August 1985 to September 1993, Mr.
Bedrosian was Senior Executive Vice President of National Medical Enterprises
("NME"), a hospital management company. Mr. Bedrosian holds a B.S. from the
University of California, Los Angeles and an LL.B. from the University of
Southern California. Mr. Bedrosian also served on the Board of

41
<PAGE>

NME from 1976 to September 1994. In 1992, the U.S. Attorney's office commenced
an investigation of a subsidiary of NME for alleged Medicare and Medicaid
billing improprieties. In June 1994, NME reached an out of court settlement
with the U.S. Department of Justice paying fines and penalties of $379
million. Mr. Bedrosian was not involved in these proceedings. In addition, in
1995, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") commenced an
examination into potential improper disclosures made by NME in its periodic
reports filed in 1991. Mr. Bedrosian and eight former employees appeared
before the SEC to give testimony relating to the exercise of employee stock
options and disposition of the underlying shares during this period. To date,
the SEC has taken no further action.

W. Randolph Ellspermann joined the Company in July 1996 as Chief Operating
Officer of Auto-By-Tel Acceptance Corporation and, in January 1997, was
appointed a Senior Vice President of the Company. Mr. Ellspermann also serves
as Chief Operating Officer of Auto-By-Tel Insurance Services, Inc. From
November 1993 to June 1996, Mr. Ellspermann was employed by Mark III
Industries, a van conversion company, where he last served as Chief Operating
and Financial Officer. From June 1986 to June 1993, Mr. Ellspermann served at
subsidiaries of Security Pacific Corporation, including five years as Chief
Executive Officer of Security Pacific Information Services and two years as
Chief Financial Officer of Security Pacific Auto Finance. Mr. Ellspermann's
background also includes 13 years with Ford Motor Company and Ford Motor
Credit Company in a variety of finance and management positions.
Mr. Ellspermann holds a B.S. in Industrial Management from Purdue University
and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.

Robert S. Grimes has been a director of the Company since inception and has
served as Executive Vice President since July 1996. Since September 1987, Mr.
Grimes has been President of R.S. Grimes & Co., Inc., an investment company.
From April 1981 to March 1987, Mr. Grimes was a partner with the investment
firm of Cowen & Company. Mr. Grimes holds a B.S. from the Wharton School of
Commerce and Finance at the University of Pennsylvania and an LL.B. from the
University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Mark W. Lorimer joined the Company in December 1996 as Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary. From January 1996 to November 1996, Mr. Lorimer
was a partner and, from March 1989 to January 1996, was an associate with the
law firm of Dewey Ballantine. Mr. Lorimer holds a B.S. in Speech from
Northwestern University and a J.D. from the Fordham University School of Law.

Michael J. Lowell joined the Company in October 1996 as Chief Operating
Officer of Auto-By-Tel Marketing Corporation and, in January 1997, was also
appointed a Senior Vice President of the Company. From March 1995 to November
1996, Mr. Lowell served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alpha
Microsystems, a publicly-held computer hardware and software developer. From
February 1990 to March 1995, Mr. Lowell held various financial and management
positions, most recently as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, with
Wahlco Environmental Systems, Inc. ("Wahlco"), a publicly-held manufacturer of
environment control equipment. From February 1987 to February 1990, Mr. Lowell
served in various management and financial positions, most recently as Vice
President and Treasurer, with Pacific Diversified Capital Company, a
diversified holding company, the investments of which included a controlling
interest in Wahlco. Prior to working with Wahlco, Mr. Lowell held various
positions with Ducommun, Inc., a publicly-held manufacturer and distributor of
electronic components. Mr. Lowell holds a B.S. in Finance from California
State University at Long Beach and a Masters of Business Administration from
the University of San Diego.

Brian B. MacDonald joined the Company in October 1995 as Chief Financial
Officer and Manager, was appointed Vice President in May 1996 and was
appointed Vice President Finance and Treasurer in January 1997. From April
1990 to October 1994, Mr. MacDonald served as Controller for all of the
subsidiaries of Long Beach Bank, F.S.B. and from December 1992 to October 1994
also managed the operations of the bank's insurance subsidiary. From September
1983 to January 1990, Mr. MacDonald worked at Price Waterhouse L.L.P. in a
variety of divisions, including their audit and high-technology divisions. Mr.
MacDonald holds a B.S. in Business from the University of Southern California.

John M. Markovich joined the Company in January 1997 as Senior Vice
President Finance and Chief Financial Officer. From April 1995 to January
1997, Mr. Markovich served as Vice President Finance and Chief Financial
Officer of Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc., a publicly-held manufacturer of
thin film coated optical products. From May 1993 to February 1995, Mr.
Markovich served as Vice President Finance and Chief

42
<PAGE>

Financial Officer of Electrosci, Inc., an early stage environmental technology
company, and from July 1992 to May 1993, he was Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of the Norden Fruit Company. From August 1987 to February
1992, Mr. Markovich served as Vice President and Treasurer of Western Digital
Corporation, a publicly-held multinational electronics manufacturer.
Previously, Mr. Markovich worked for Citibank, N.A. as a corporate banking
officer in the bank's high technology group. Mr. Markovich holds a B.S. in
General Business from Miami University and a Masters of Business
Administration from Michigan State University.

Jeffrey H. Coats was elected a director of the Company on August 27, 1996.
Mr. Coats has served as Managing Director of GE Equity Capital Group, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric Capital Corporation, a significant
shareholder in the Company, since April 1996. He was also a Managing Director
of GE Capital Corporate Finance Group, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
General Electric Capital Corporation, from June 1987 to April 1993. From March
1994 to April 1996, Mr. Coats served as President of Maverick Capital Equity
Partners, LLC, and from April 1993 to January 1994, Mr. Coats was a partner
with Veritas Capital, Inc., both of which are investment firms. Mr. Coats
holds a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Georgia and a Masters in
Industrial Management in Finance from the American Graduate School of
International Management. Mr. Coats is a director and Chairman of the Board of
The Hastings Group, Inc., a privately held clothing retailer, which on October
23, 1995, filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code
and is currently in the process of formulating a plan of reorganization. Mr.
Coats is a member of the board of directors of Krause's Furniture, Inc., a
publicly-held company.

Michael Fuchs was elected as a director of the Company on September 25,
1996. Mr. Fuchs was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Home Box Office
("HBO"), the world's largest pay-television company, from October 1984 until
November 1995, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Warner Music Group
from May 1995 to November 1995. Mr. Fuchs holds a B.A. from Union College and
a J.D. from the New York University School of Law. Mr. Fuchs is a member of
the Board of Directors of Marvel Entertainment Group, an entertainment and
publishing company, and IMAX Corp., an entertainment film and technology
company. On December 27, 1996, Marvel Entertainment Group filed a voluntary
petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and is currently in the
process of formulating its plan of reorganization.

Thomas J. Ciresa joined the Company in May 1995 as a regional director and
subsequently launched the customer service and training departments. Since
March 1996 Mr. Ciresa has served as Director of Used Vehicle Development and
Canada Operations. From March 1993 to June 1994, Mr. Ciresa served as Western
Regional Operations Manager for Kia Motors America. From November 1991 to
March 1993, Mr. Ciresa worked as National Sales Manager of Agency Rent-A-Car
and from September 1988 to November 1991 owned and operated a Toyota
franchised vehicle dealership in Eugene, Oregon. From June 1965 to September
1988, Mr. Ciresa served in senior management positions with a variety of
vehicle manufacturers, including Hyundai Auto Canada, Porsche Cars, N.A. and
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Mr. Ciresa holds a B.E. from the University
of Miami, Florida.

Jaqueline A. Dufort joined the Company in April 1996 as Director of
Information Technology. Since October 1996, Ms. Dufort has served as Chief
Technology Officer of the Company. From September 1990 to April 1996, Ms.
Dufort served as Director of Information Technology Strategic Planning for
Long Beach Mortgage Company, formerly known as Long Beach Bank, F.S.B. From
November 1986 to August 1990, Ms. Dufort served as Senior Project Manager for
Salomon Brothers Inc. Ms. Dufort holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Embry-
Riddle Aeronautical University and a Masters of Business Administration from
New York University.

John P. Honiotes joined the Company in May 1995 as National Sales Director.
From October 1993 to October 1994, Mr. Honiotes served as regional director of
ABAC, a sub-par lender and from October 1994 to April 1995 as an independent
consultant, in each case developing sub-par programs and systems for use by
automobile dealerships to determine more efficiently the eligibility of sub-
prime credit consumers under the rules of a large number of financing
institutions. From June 1991 to October 1993, Mr. Honiotes served as Director
of Sales at Cush Automotive Group, Escondido, California, an automotive
dealership group, and, from June 1990

43
<PAGE>

to June 1991, as Chief Executive Officer and President of Presidential/AMS.
From August 1988 to May 1990, Mr. Honiotes served as President of After-Market
Profit Plus, Inc., prior to which he served as Senior Vice President, National
Sales Director of AutoMax, an automotive affinity card program. Mr. Honiotes
holds a B.S. in Marketing from Northern Illinois University.

The Board of Directors has currently authorized five members. Members of the
Board of Directors are elected each year at the Company's annual meeting of
stockholders, and serve until the following annual meeting of stockholders or
until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. In
connection with the Series A Preferred Stock financing, Mr. Coats was elected
to the Board of Directors pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation. The provision providing for the Series A
Preferred Stock nominee to the Board of Directors will terminate upon the
closing of the Offering.

Director Compensation

The Company's non-employee directors do not currently receive any cash
compensation for service on the Company's Board of Directors or any committee
thereof, but directors may be reimbursed for certain expenses incurred in
connection with attendance at Board and committee meetings. The Company's 1996
Stock Incentive Plan provides for automatic grants of stock options to non-
employee directors commencing upon the closing of this offering. See "Stock
Plans--1996 Stock Incentive Plan."

Officers of the Company are appointed by the Board of Directors and serve at
its discretion. The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with
each member of the Board of Directors and certain of its officers providing
for the indemnification of such person to the fullest extent authorized,
permitted or allowed by law.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation. The following table sets forth in summary form the
compensation paid by the Company during the year ended December 31, 1996 to
the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the four most highly paid executive
officers (the "Named Officers").

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
------------
AWARDS
------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION SECURITIES
NAME AND PRINCIPAL ------------------------ UNDERLYING ALL OTHER
POSITION YEAR SALARY ($) (1) BONUS ($) OPTIONS(#) COMPENSATION ($) (2)
------------------ ---- -------------- --------- ------------ --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Peter R. Ellis.......... 1996 $122,502 $321,167 -- $11,301
W. Randolph Ellspermann. 1996 50,000 -- 125,000 --
Robert S. Grimes........ 1996 90,000 -- 250,000 --
Michael J. Lowell....... 1996 15,000 -- 166,666 --
Brian B. MacDonald...... 1996 85,000 50,000 125,000 1,776
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Salary data reflect amounts paid for the year ended December 31, 1996 for
the Chief Executive Officer and the Named Officers. Mr. Grimes began
receiving cash compensation on August 1, 1996. The current annualized base
salaries of the Chief Executive Officer and the Named Officers are as
follows: Mr. Ellis--$275,000; Mr. Ellspermann--$120,000; Mr. Grimes--
$180,000; Mr. Lowell--$120,000; and Mr. MacDonald--$120,000.

(2) Includes the following amounts: Mr. Ellis--$3,150 in health benefits, $369
in life insurance payments and $7,782 in automobile expenses; and Mr.
MacDonald--$1,776 in health benefits.

44
<PAGE>

OPTION GRANTS DURING FISCAL 1996

The following table sets forth for the Chief Executive Officer and the Named
Officers and certain information concerning stock options granted during
fiscal 1996. The Company did not grant SARs during fiscal 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
---------------------------------------------------- POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
PERCENT OF VALUE AT ASSUMED
NUMBER OF TOTAL ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
SECURITIES OPTIONS PRICE APPRECIATION
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE FOR OPTION TERM(5)
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES IN PRICE EXPIRATION ---------------------
NAME GRANTED(1)(#) FISCAL 1996(2) ($/SHARE)(3) DATE(4) 5%($) 10%($)
---- ------------- -------------- ------------ ---------- ---------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Peter R. Ellis.......... -- -- -- -- -- --
W. Randolph Ellspermann. 125,000 5.3% $ 0.60 7/03/06 47,167 119,531
Robert S. Grimes........ 250,000 10.7 0.60 7/03/06 94,334 239,062
Michael J. Lowell....... 166,666 7.1 3.00 10/23/06 314,446 796,868
Brian B. MacDonald ..... 125,000 5.3 0.60 7/03/06 47,167 119,531
</TABLE>
- -------
(1) Represent options granted under the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan and
the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan. On October 23, 1996, the Board of Directors
terminated the 1996 Stock Option Plan, and no further options may be
granted thereunder.

(2) Based on an aggregate 2,352,066 shares subject to options granted to
employees during fiscal 1996.

(3) Options were granted at an exercise price equal to the estimated fair
market value of the Company's Common Stock at the date of grant. In
determining the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock, the Board
of Directors considered various factors, including the Company's financial
condition and business prospects, its operating results, the absence of a
market for its Common Stock and the risks normally associated with
investments in companies engaged in similar businesses. For accounting
purposes only, the Company recorded deferred compensation expense in
connection with the grant of the options to Mr. Grimes. See Note 7 of
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(4) The term of each option granted under the 1996 Stock Option Plan is
generally ten years from the date of grant. Options may terminate before
their expiration dates, however, if the optionee's status as an employee
or a consultant is terminated or upon the optionee's death or disability.
Options granted under the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan and 1996 Stock
Incentive Plan must generally be exercised within 30 days of the
termination of the optionee's status as an employee or consultant of the
Company, or within twelve months after such optionee's death or
disability.

(5) The 5% and 10% assumed annual rates of compounded stock price appreciation
are mandated by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not
represent the Company's estimate or projection of the Company's future
Common Stock prices.

45
<PAGE>

AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN 1996 AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES

The following table sets forth for each of the Named Officers certain
information concerning options exercised during fiscal 1996 and the number of
shares subject to both exercisable and unexercisable stock options as of
December 31, 1996. Also reported are values for "in-the-money" options that
represent the positive spread between the respective exercise prices of
outstanding options and the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock as
of December 31, 1996. The Company has never issued stock appreciation rights
("SARs").

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
NUMBER OF UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED OPTIONS/ IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS/SARS
SHARES SARS AT DECEMBER 31, 1996(#) AT DECEMBER 31, 1996 ($)(2)
ACQUIRED ON VALUE ------------------------------- ------------------------------
NAME EXERCISE(#) REALIZED($)(1) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
---- ----------- -------------- --------------- ---------------- ------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Peter R. Ellis.......... -- -- -- -- -- --
W. Randolph Ellspermann. 41,666 $308,328 0 83,333 $ 0 $616,656
Robert S. Grimes........ -- -- 125,000 125,000 925,000 925,000
Michael J. Lowell....... -- -- 0 166,666 0 833,330
Brian B. MacDonald ..... -- -- 41,666 83,333 308,328 616,656
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) The amount set forth represents the difference between the fair market
value of the shares at the time of exercise, as determined by the Board of
Directors, and the exercise price of the option, multiplied by the
applicable number of options.

(2) Calculated by determining the difference between the fair market value of
the securities underlying the option as of December 31, 1996 ($8.00 per
share as determined by the Board of Directors) and the exercise price of
the Named Officer's options. In determining the fair market value of the
Company's Common Stock, the Board of Directors considered various factors,
including the Company's financial condition and business prospects, its
operating results, the absence of a market for its Common Stock and the
risks normally associated with technology companies.

STOCK PLANS

1996 Stock Option Plan. The Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Option
Plan") was approved by the Board of Directors and the stockholders on May 18,
1996. The Option Plan provides for the granting to employees of incentive
stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and for the grant to employees, consultants
and directors of nonstatutory stock options. Under the Option Plan, the
exercise price of all incentive stock options granted under the Option Plan
cannot be lower than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of
grant. With respect to any participants who, at the time of grant, own stock
possessing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company, the exercise price of any stock option granted to such person must be
at least 110% of the fair market value on the grant date, and the maximum term
of such option is five years. The term of all other options granted under the
1996 Option Plan may be up to 10 years. The Option Plan may be administered by
the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board (the "Administrator"). Any
options granted under the Option Plan are exercisable at such times as
determined by the Administrator, but in no case at a rate of less than 20% per
year over five years from the grant date. A majority of the outstanding
options vest and become exercisable as to one-third of the grant on October
31, 1996, and as to an additional one third of the grant at each successive
October 31. Options granted under the Option Plan must be exercised within 30
days following termination of the optionee's status as an employee or
consultant of the Company, or within 12 months following such optionee's
termination by death or disability. The Board of Directors may at anytime
amend, suspend or discontinue the Option Plan, but no amendment, suspension or
discontinuation shall be made which would impair the rights of any optionee,
without his or her consent. If so requested by the Company or any
representative of the underwriters, the optionee shall not sell or transfer
any shares of the Company during the 180-day period following the effective
date of the registration statement relating to an initial public offering of
securities filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities
Act"). On October 23, 1996, the Board of Directors terminated the Option Plan
and no further options may be granted thereunder. On October 23, 1996, options
to purchase an aggregate of 1,305,833 shares of Common Stock at an exercise
price of $0.60 per share were outstanding under the Option Plan.

46
<PAGE>

1996 Stock Incentive Plan. The Company's 1996 Stock Incentive Plan (the
"Incentive Plan") provides for the granting to employees of incentive stock
options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, and for the granting to
employees, directors and consultants of nonstatutory stock options and stock
purchase rights ("SPRs"). The Incentive Plan was approved by the Board of
Directors on October 23, 1996, amended by the Board of Directors on November
24, 1996 and approved by the stockholders on January 16, 1997. A total of
2,268,333 shares of Common Stock are currently reserved for issuance under the
Incentive Plan. Shares available for future grant under the Incentive Plan
will be increased as of the first day of each new fiscal year during the term
of the Incentive Plan by the number of shares issuable upon exercise of
options granted thereunder in the previous fiscal year, net of returns. This
increase may not exceed 1,250,000 in any fiscal year. No option holder may be
granted options to purchase more than 500,000 shares in any fiscal year;
provided, however, that an option holder may be granted an additional 500,000
shares in connection with his or her initial service with the Company.

The Incentive Plan may be administered by the Board of Directors or a
committee of the Board (the "Committee"), which Committee will, in the case of
options intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, consist of two or more "outside
directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee has
the power to determine the terms of the options or SPRs granted, including the
exercise price, the number of shares subject to each option or SPR, the
exercisability thereof, and the form of consideration payable upon such
exercise. In addition, the Committee has the authority to amend, suspend or
terminate the Incentive Plan, provided that no such action may affect any
share of Common Stock previously issued and sold or any option previously
granted under the Incentive Plan.

Options and SPRs granted under the Incentive Plan are not generally
transferable by the optionee, and each option and SPR is exercisable during
the lifetime of the optionee only by such optionee. Options granted under the
Incentive Plan must generally be exercised within three months of the end of
optionee's status as an employee or consultant of the Company, or within
twelve months after such optionee's termination by death or disability, but in
no event later than the expiration of the option's ten year term. In the case
of SPRs, unless the Committee determines otherwise, the Restricted Stock
Purchase Agreement will grant the Company a repurchase option exercisable upon
the voluntary or involuntary termination of the purchaser's employment with
the Company for any reason (including death or disability). The purchase price
for Shares repurchased pursuant to the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement
will be the original price paid by the purchaser and may be paid by
cancellation of any indebtedness of the purchaser to the Company. The
repurchase option shall lapse at a rate determined by the Committee. The
exercise price of all incentive stock options granted under the Incentive Plan
must be at least equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the
date of grant. The exercise price of nonstatutory stock options and SPRs
granted under the Incentive Plan is determined by the Committee, but with
respect to nonstatutory stock options intended to qualify as "performance-
based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the
exercise price must at least be equal to the fair market value of the Common
Stock on the date of grant. With respect to any participant who owns stock
possessing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of the Company's
outstanding capital stock, the exercise price of any incentive stock option
granted must equal at least 110% of the fair market value on the grant date
and the term of such incentive stock option must not exceed five years. The
term of all other options granted under the Incentive Plan may not exceed ten
years.

The Incentive Plan provides that in the event of a merger of the Company
with or into another corporation, a sale of substantially all of the Company's
assets or a like transaction involving the Company, each option will be
assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation. If
the outstanding options are not assumed or substituted as described in the
preceding sentence, the Committee shall provide for the Optionee to have the
right to exercise the option or SPR as to all of the optioned stock, including
shares as to which it would not otherwise be exercisable. If the Administrator
makes an option or SPR exercisable in full in the event of a merger or sale of
assets, the Administrator will notify the optionee that the option or SPR will
be fully exercisable for a period of 15 days from the date of such notice, and
the option or SPR will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

47
<PAGE>

Non-employee directors are entitled to participate in the Company's
Incentive Plan. The Incentive Plan provides for an automatic grant of an
option to purchase 16,666 shares of Common Stock (the "First Option") to each
non-employee director on the date on which the Incentive Plan becomes
effective or, if later, on the date on which the person first becomes a non-
employee director. After the First Option is granted to the non-employee
director, he or she will automatically be granted an option to purchase 4,166
shares (a "Subsequent Option") on November 1 of each subsequent year provided
he or she is then a non-employee director and, provided further, that on such
date he or she has served on the Board for at least six months. First Options
and each Subsequent Option will have a term of ten years. Twenty-five percent
of the shares subject to the First Option shall vest on the date twelve months
after the grant date of the option, and 1/48 of the shares subject to the
First Option and each Subsequent Option shall become exercisable each month
thereafter, provided that the optionee continues to serve as a director on
such dates. The exercise price of the First Option and each Subsequent Option
cannot have an exercise price lower be 100% of the fair market value per share
of the Company's Common Stock on the date of the grant of the option.

1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Company's 1996 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan") was adopted by the Board of Directors on
November 18, 1996 and approved by the stockholders on January 16, 1997. The
Company has reserved a total of 666,666 shares of Common Stock for issuance
under the Purchase Plan. Shares available for future issuance under the
Purchase Plan will be increased as of the first day of each new fiscal year
during the term of the Purchase Plan by the number of shares issued thereunder
in the prior fiscal year. The Purchase Plan, which is intended to qualify
under Section 423 of the Code, as amended, permits eligible employees of the
Company to purchase shares of Common Stock through payroll deductions of up to
ten percent of their compensation, up to a maximum of $21,250 for all purchase
periods ending within any calendar year. The Purchase Plan will be implemented
in a series of successive 6-month offering periods. However, the initial
offering period will begin on the effective date of this offering and will end
on the last trading day in the period ending June 1997.

Individuals who are eligible employees on the start day of any offering
period may enter the Purchase Plan on that start date or on any subsequent
quarterly entry date (January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1). Individuals
who become eligible employees after the start date of the offering period may
join the Purchase Plan on any subsequent quarterly entry date within that
period. Employees are eligible to participate if they are customarily employed
by the Company or any designated subsidiary for at least 20 hours per week and
for more than five months in any calendar year.

The price of Common Stock purchased under the Purchase Plan will be 85% of
the lower of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the first or last
day of each six month purchase period. Employees may end their participation
in the Purchase Plan at any time during an offering period, and they will be
paid their payroll deductions to date. Participation ends automatically upon
termination of employment with the Company. Rights granted under the Purchase
Plan are not transferable by a participant other than by will, the laws of
descent and distribution, or as otherwise provided under the plan.

The Purchase Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors or by a
committee appointed by the Board. The Board may amend or modify the Purchase
Plan at any time. The Purchase Plan will terminate on the last business day in
October 2006, unless sooner terminated by the Board.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

No interlocking relationship exists between the Company's Board of Directors
or Compensation Committee and the board of directors or compensation committee
of any other company, nor has any such interlocking relationship existed in
the past. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors currently
consists of Messrs. Coats and Fuchs.

48
<PAGE>

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

The Company does not presently have any employment contracts in effect with
the Chief Executive Officer or any of the Named Officers, except for Mr.
Lowell. Mr. Lowell has an employment offer letter which provides that he is
entitled to continue to receive his salary for a period of six months as
severance if he is terminated without cause within one year from the
commencement of his employment. Mr. Markovich also has an offer letter which
entitles him to receive a severance payment equal to six months' salary if he
is terminated without cause within one year of the commencement of his
employment. In addition, Mr. Lorimer has an offer letter which entitles him to
receive a severance payment equal to one year's salary (payable monthly) and
an acceleration of all outstanding options, if he is terminated without cause,
dies, becomes disabled or there occurs a change in control of the Company.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION MATTERS

The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation limits the
liability of directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law.
Delaware law provides that a corporation's certificate of incorporation may
contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a
director for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as
directors, except for liability (i) for any breach of their duty of loyalty to
the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good
faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law,
(iii) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or
redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit.

The Company's Restated Bylaws provide that the Company shall indemnify its
directors and officers and may indemnify its employees and agents to the
fullest extent permitted by law. The Company believes that indemnification
under its Restated Bylaws covers at least negligence and gross negligence on
the part of indemnified parties.

The Company has entered into agreements to indemnify its directors and
officers, in addition to the indemnification provided for in the Company's
Restated Bylaws. These agreements, among other things, indemnify the Company's
directors and officers for certain expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any such person in any
action or proceeding, including any action by or in the right of the Company,
arising out of such person's services as a director or officer of the Company,
any subsidiary of the Company or any other company or enterprise to which the
person provides services at the request of the Company. The Company believes
that these provisions and agreements are necessary to attract and retain
qualified directors and officers.

49
<PAGE>

CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

Pursuant to a Contribution Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated May
31, 1996 among the Company, Auto-By-Tel, LLC, ABT Acceptance Company, LLC,
Peter R. Ellis, John C. Bedrosian, the John C. Bedrosian and Judith D.
Bedrosian Revocable Trust (the "Trust"), and Robert S. Grimes, the Company
issued to the Trust, Mr. Ellis and Mr. Grimes 5,354,166, 6,187,500 and 833,333
shares of Common Stock of the Company, respectively, in exchange for the
transfer to the Company of their respective membership interests in Auto-By-
Tel, LLC and ABT Acceptance Company, LLC.

On July 31, 1996, the Company issued to Robert S. Grimes, a director,
officer and significant stockholder of the Company, an option to purchase
250,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company at an exercise price of $0.60
per share, which option vests over two years.

From time to time, the Company has advanced funds to Peter R. Ellis, the
Company's President and Chief Executive Officer. At no time did Mr. Ellis'
indebtedness to the Company exceed $30,000. As of January 30, 1997, no
advances to Mr. Ellis were outstanding.

From May 31, 1996 through June 28, 1996, John C. Bedrosian, a director and
significant stockholder of the Company made loans to the Company in the
aggregate principal amount of $1,081,000. These loans were repaid in full on
August 28, 1996 and all promissory notes evidencing such debt were canceled.

In connection with the Company's lease of its principal offices, the Company
was required to establish a $175,000 letter of credit. On June 19, 1996, Mr.
Bedrosian co-signed this letter of credit and pledged a certificate of deposit
as collateral. Mr. Bedrosian has also personally guaranteed the Company's
Merchant Card Agreement, and has provided a personal guarantee to the
financial institution that issued the Company's corporate credit cards,
guaranteeing the payment of all outstanding indebtedness under these credit
facilities.

On August 23, 1996, the Company issued 1,500,000 shares of Series A
Preferred Stock at $10.00 per share in a private placement transaction. The
holders of such Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to certain registration
rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon
conversion thereof. See "Description of Capital Stock--Registration Rights."
Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will convert on a five-for-three basis
into an aggregate of 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock (at a conversion price
of $6.00 per share) on or immediately prior to the closing of this offering.
Investors in this financing consisted of General Electric Capital Corporation
(800,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock), National Union Fire Insurance
Company of Pittsburgh, PA (an affiliate of American International Group
("AIG") (400,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock), ContiTrade Services
L.L.C. (200,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock) and Michael Fuchs (100,000
shares of Series A Preferred Stock).

From July 9, 1996 through August 13, 1996, Michael Fuchs, made loans to the
Company in the aggregate principal amount of $500,000. These loans, along with
accrued interest, converted into Series A Preferred Stock on August 23, 1996
at $10.00 per share. In September 1996, Mr. Fuchs was appointed to the
Company's Board of Directors.

On January 30, 1997, the Company issued 967,915 shares of Series B Preferred
Stock at $9.35 per share in a private placement transaction. The holders of
such Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to certain registration rights with
respect to the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion
thereof. See "Description of Capital Stock--Registration Rights." Each share
of Series B Preferred Stock will convert on a one-for-one basis into an
aggregate of 967,915 shares of Common Stock on or immediately prior to the
closing of the Offering. Investors in this financing consisted of General
Electric Capital Corporation (534,760 shares of Series B Preferred Stock),
National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA (an affiliate of
American International Group ("AIG") (267,380 shares of Series B Preferred
Stock), ContiTrade Services L.L.C. (133,690 shares of Series B Preferred
Stock) and Michael Fuchs (32,085 shares of Series B Preferred Stock).

In 1996, the Company paid approximately $89,000 in legal fees and expenses
to Dewey Ballantine. Mr. Lorimer was a partner at Dewey Ballantine during
fiscal 1996 when he joined Auto-By-Tel as Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary.

50
<PAGE>

PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of January 31, 1997 and
as adjusted to reflect the sale of Common Stock offered hereby for (i) each
person or entity who is known by the Company to beneficially own five percent
or more of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company, (ii) each of the
Company's directors, (iii) each of the Named Officers, and (iv) all directors
and executive officers of the Company as a group:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED SHARES BENEFICIALLY
PRIOR TO OFFERING(1) NUMBER OWNED AFTER OFFERING(1)
------------------------- OF SHARES -----------------------
NAME OR GROUP OF BENEFICIAL OWNERS NUMBER PERCENT OFFERED NUMBER PERCENT
- ---------------------------------- --------------- ------- --------- -------------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Peter R. Ellis(2).................... 6,075,167 38.2% 400,000 5,675,167 29.1%
c/o Auto-By-Tel Corporation
18872 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 200
Irvine, California 92612-1400
John C. Bedrosian(3)................. 5,354,166 33.7 -- 5,354,166 27.5
c/o Auto-By-Tel Corporation
18872 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 200
Irvine, California 92612-1400
Jeffrey H. Coats(4).................. 1,868,093 11.8 -- 1,868,093 9.6
General Electric Capital Corporation
260 Long Ridge Road
Stamford, Connecticut 06927
Robert S. Grimes(5).................. 958,333 6.0 -- 958,333 4.9
152 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
National Union Fire Insurance........ 934,046 5.9 -- 934,046 4.8
Company of Pittsburgh, PA
200 Liberty Street
19th Floor
New York, New York 10281
W. Randolph Ellspermann.............. 41,666 * -- 41,666 *
Mark W. Lorimer(6)................... 0 0 -- 0 0
Michael J. Lowell(6)................. 0 0 -- 0 0
Brian B. MacDonald(6)................ 41,666 * -- 41,666 *
John M. Markovich(6)................. 0 0 -- 0 0
Michael Fuchs(7)..................... 198,751 1.3 -- 198,751 *
All directors and executive officers
as a group (8 persons)(8)........... 14,537,842 91.5 400,000 14,137,842 72.5
</TABLE>
- --------
* Less than 1%
(1) Assumes no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option. Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned
by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of Common
Stock subject to options held by that person that are currently
exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of January 31, 1997 are deemed
outstanding. Such shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the
purposes of computing the percentage ownership of each other person.
Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table and pursuant to
applicable community property laws, each stockholder named in the table
has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares set forth
opposite such stockholder's name.
(2) Includes 33,333 shares held by certain irrevocable trusts established for
family members of Mr. Ellis as to which Mr. Ellis' spouse maintains sole
voting power. Excludes 108,333 shares held by family members of Mr. Ellis
as to which Mr. Ellis disclaims beneficial ownership.
(3) All shares are held in The John C. Bedrosian and Judith D. Bedrosian
Revocable Trust in which Mr. Bedrosian maintains shared voting powers.
(4) Shares held by General Electric Capital Corporation. Mr. Coats is a
managing director of GE Equity Capital Group, Inc., an affiliate thereof,
and is a director of the Company. Excludes 16,666 shares subject to
options granted to Mr. Coats, and subsequently assigned to General
Electric Capital Corporation, none of which are exercisable within 60 days
of January 31, 1997.
(5) Includes 125,000 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of
January 31, 1997. Includes an aggregate of 8,333 shares held in
irrevocable trusts as to which Mr. Grimes' spouse maintains sole voting
power.
(6) Represents shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of January
31, 1997. Excludes 93,333, 500,000, 166,666, 83,333, and 200,000 shares
subject to outstanding options granted to Messrs. Ellspermann, Lorimer,
Lowell, MacDonald and Markovich, respectively, none of which are
exercisable within 60 days of January 31, 1997.
(7) Excludes 16,666 shares subject to options granted to Mr. Fuchs, none of
which are exercisable within 60 days of January 31, 1997.

(8) Includes 166,666 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of
January 31, 1997.

51
<PAGE>

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

Upon the closing of this offering, the outstanding Common Stock of the
Company will consist of 19,495,136 shares, $0.001 par value. As of January 31,
1997, there were 15,895,136 shares of Common Stock outstanding (assuming the
conversion of all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock) held of record by
approximately 26 stockholders.

COMMON STOCK

A total of 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company will be
authorized upon the closing of the Offering. Holders of Common Stock are
entitled to one vote per share in all matters to be voted on by the
stockholders. Subject to the preferences of the Preferred Stock, holders of
Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be
declared from time to time by the Board of Directors out of funds legally
available for payment. See "Dividend Policy." In the event of a liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of Common Stock are
entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of
liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of Preferred Stock then
outstanding, if any. The Common Stock has no preemptive or conversion rights
or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund
provisions applicable to the Common Stock. All outstanding shares of Common
Stock are fully paid and non-assessable, and the shares of Common Stock to be
issued upon completion of the Offering will be fully paid and non-assessable.

PREFERRED STOCK

Pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
the Board of Directors has the authority, without further action by the
stockholders, to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock in one or
more series and to fix the designations, powers, preferences, privileges, and
relative participating, optional or special rights and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion
rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or
all of which may be greater than the rights of the Common Stock. The Board of
Directors, without stockholder approval, can issue Preferred Stock with
voting, conversion or other rights that could adversely affect the voting
power and other rights of the holders of Common Stock. Preferred Stock could
thus be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in
control of the Company or make removal of management more difficult.
Additionally, the issuance of Preferred Stock may have the effect of
decreasing the market price of the Common Stock, and may adversely affect the
voting and other rights of the holders of Common Stock. Upon the closing of
the Offering, no shares of Preferred Stock will be outstanding and the Company
has no plans to issue any of the Preferred Stock.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

Pursuant to an agreement between the Company and the holders (the "Holders")
of approximately 15,322,248 shares of Common Stock and securities convertible
into Common Stock (collectively, and as converted, the "Registrable
Securities"), the Holders are entitled to certain rights with respect to the
registration of such shares under the Act. If the Company proposes to register
any of its securities under the Act, either for its own account or for the
account of other Holders exercising registration rights, the Holders are
entitled to notice of such registration and are entitled to include shares of
Registrable Securities therein. Additionally, the Holders are also entitled to
certain demand registration rights pursuant to which they may require the
Company to file a registration statement under the Act at the Company's
expense with respect to their shares of Registrable Securities, and the
Company is required to use its best efforts to effect such registration. All
of these registration rights are subject to certain conditions and
limitations, among them the right of the underwriters of an offering to limit
the number of shares included in such registration and the right of the
Company not to effect a requested registration within one year of an initial
public offering of the Company's securities, such as the Offering made hereby,
or if such requested registration would have an anticipated aggregate offering
to the public of less than $30,000,000.

52
<PAGE>

DELAWARE ANTI-TAKEOVER LAW AND CERTAIN CHARTER PROVISIONS

Anti-Takeover Law

The Company is subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly-held
Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an
"interested stockholder" for a period of three years after the date of the
transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the
business combination is approved in a prescribed manner or unless the
interested stockholder acquired at least 85% of the corporation's voting stock
(excluding shares held by certain designated stockholders) in the transaction
in which it became an interested stockholder. For purposes of Section 203, a
"business combination" includes a merger, asset sale or other transaction
resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to
certain exceptions, an "interested stockholder" is a person who, together with
affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years did own,
15% or more of the corporation's voting stock.

Limitation of Director and Officer Liability

The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
contain certain provisions relating to the limitation of liability and
indemnification of directors and officers. The Company's Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation provides that directors of the Company may not be
held personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for a breach of
fiduciary duty, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty
of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation
of the law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
relating to prohibited dividends, distributions and repurchases or redemptions
of stock, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derives an
improper benefit. In addition, the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the Company shall indemnify its
directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law.

No Stockholder Action by Written Consent

Prior to the closing of the Offering, the Company's Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation will provide that the stockholders can take
action only at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders.
Accordingly, stockholders of the Company will not be able to take action by
written consent in lieu of a meeting. This provision may have the effect of
deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of
the Company.

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. has been appointed as the transfer
agent and registrar for the Company's Common Stock. Its telephone number for
such purposes is (818) 971-4758.

53
<PAGE>

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Prior to the Offering, there has been no market for the Common Stock of the
Company. Future sales of substantial amounts of Common Stock in the public
market could adversely affect market prices prevailing from time to time. Upon
completion of the Offering, based upon shares outstanding as of January 31,
1997, the Company will have outstanding an aggregate of 19,495,136 shares of
Common Stock, assuming no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option
and no exercise of outstanding options. Of these shares, the 4,000,000 shares
sold in the Offering will be freely tradeable without restriction or further
registration under the Securities Act, except that any shares purchased by
"affiliates" of the Company, as that term is defined in Rule 144 of the
Securities Act ("Affiliates"), may generally only be sold in compliance with
the limitations of Rule 144 described below.

SALES OF RESTRICTED SHARES

The remaining 15,495,136 shares of Common Stock held by existing
stockholders are "restricted securities" under Rule 144 ("Restricted Shares").
The number of shares of Common Stock available for sale in the public market
is limited by restrictions under the Securities Act and lock-up agreements
under which the holders of such shares have agreed not to sell or otherwise
dispose of any of their shares for a period of 180 days after the date of this
Prospectus (the "lock-up period") without the prior written consent of
Montgomery Securities. On the date of this Prospectus, no shares other than
the 4,000,000 offered hereby will be eligible for sale. In addition, following
the expiration of the lock-up period, none of the Restricted Shares will
become available for sale in the public market until the expiration of their
two year holding periods.

In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, beginning 90 days after
the date of this Prospectus, a person (or persons whose shares are aggregated)
who has beneficially owned Restricted Shares for at least two years (including
the holding period of any prior owner, except if the prior owner was an
Affiliate) would be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of
shares that does not exceed the greater of: (i) one percent of the number of
shares of Common Stock then outstanding (which will equal approximately
194,951 shares immediately after the Offering); or (ii) the average weekly
trading volume of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market during the
four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect
to such sale. Sales under Rule 144 are also subject to certain manner of sale
provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public
information about the Company. Under Rule 144(k), a person who is not deemed
to have been an Affiliate of the Company at any time during the 90 days
preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be
sold for at least three years (including the holding period of any prior owner
except an Affiliate), is entitled to sell such shares without complying with
the manner of sale, public information, volume limitation or notice provisions
of Rule 144; therefore, unless otherwise restricted, "144(k) shares" could be
sold immediately upon the completion of the Offering. All of the Restricted
Shares, however, will have been held for less than one year upon completion of
the Offering.

Upon completion of the Offering, the holders of 15,322,248 shares of Common
Stock, or their transferees, will be entitled to certain rights with respect
to the registration of such shares under the Securities Act. See "Description
of Capital Stock--Registration Rights." Registration of such shares under the
Securities Act would result in such shares becoming freely tradeable without
restriction under the Securities Act (except for shares purchased by
Affiliates) immediately upon the effectiveness of such registration.

OPTIONS

The Company intends to file a registration statement under the Securities
Act covering shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance for options
outstanding under the Option Plan and the Incentive Plan and reserved for
issuance under the Purchase Plan. See "Management--Stock Plans." Such
registration statement is expected to be filed and become effective as soon as
practicable after the effective date of this offering. Accordingly, shares
registered under such registration statement will, subject to Rule 144 volume
limitations applicable to Affiliates, be available for sale in the open
market, unless such shares are subject to vesting restrictions with the

54
<PAGE>

Company or the lock-up agreements described above. A total of 4,197,500 shares
have been reserved for issuance under the Option Plan, the Incentive Plan and
the Purchase Plan. As of January 31, 1997, options to purchase 2,405,565
shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding under the Option Plan and
no options had been granted under the Incentive Plan. See "Management--Stock
Plans."

In addition, under Rule 701 of the Securities Act as currently in effect,
any employee, consultant or advisor of the Company who purchased shares from
the Company in connection with a compensatory stock or option plan or other
written agreement is eligible to resell such shares 90 days after the
effective date of this offering in reliance on Rule 144, but without
compliance with certain restrictions, including the holding period, contained
in Rule 144.

LOCK-UP AGREEMENTS

All officers, directors, and other stockholders of the Company have agreed
not to sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell, make any short sale,
pledge, transfer, establish an open "put equivalent position" within the
meaning of the Rule 16a-1(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock for a period
of 180 days after the date of this Prospectus, without the prior written
consent of Montgomery Securities. In addition, under the terms of the Option
Plan and Incentive Plan, holders of options to purchase Common Stock are
obligated not to sell or transfer any shares of the Company during such 180-
day period if so requested by the Company or the underwriters. See
"Underwriting."

55
<PAGE>

UNDERWRITING

The Underwriters named below, represented by Montgomery Securities, Cowen &
Company and Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC (the "Representatives"), have
severally agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the
Underwriting Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of
Common Stock indicated below opposite their respective names at the initial
public offering price less the underwriting discount set forth on the cover
page of this Prospectus. The Underwriting Agreement provides that the
obligations of the Underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent,
and that the Underwriters are committed to purchase all of such shares, if any
are purchased.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
UNDERWRITER NUMBER OF SHARES
----------- ----------------
<S> <C>
Montgomery Securities.......................................
Cowen & Company.............................................
Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC...........................
---------
Total..................................................... 4,000,000
=========
</TABLE>

The Representatives have advised the Company that the Underwriters initially
propose to offer the Common Stock to the public on the terms set forth on the
cover page of this Prospectus. The Underwriters may allow to selected dealers
a concession of not more than $ per share, and the Underwriters may allow,
and such dealers may reallow, a concession of not more than $ per share to
certain other dealers. After the initial public offering, the offering price
and other selling terms may be changed by the Representatives. The shares of
Common Stock are offered subject to receipt and acceptance by the
Underwriters, and to certain other conditions, including the right to reject
orders in whole or in part.

The Company has granted an option to the Underwriters, exercisable during
the 30-day period after the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to a
maximum of 600,000 additional shares of Common Stock to cover over-allotments,
if any, at the same price per share as the initial shares of Common Stock to
be purchased by the Underwriters. To the extent the Underwriters exercise this
option, each of the Underwriters will be committed to purchase such additional
shares in approximately the same proportion as set forth in the above table.
The Underwriters may purchase such shares only to cover over-allotments made
in connection with the offering.

The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Company will indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including civil liabilities under
the Securities Act, or will contribute to payments the Underwriters may be
required to make in respect thereof.

The shares of Common Stock offered hereby have not been and will not be
qualified for distribution under the securities legislation of any of the
provinces of Canada. Accordingly, the shares of Common Stock offered hereby
may not be distributed in Canada, except pursuant to a prospectus exemption
under applicable securities legislation. Each Underwriter has agreed that it
will not distribute any shares of Common Stock in Canada except in accordance
with a prospectus exemption under applicable securities legislation.

All of the Company's officers, directors and stockholders have agreed that
they will not, without the prior written consent of Montgomery Securities
(which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion) and subject to certain
limited exceptions, directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any
option to sell, make any short sale, pledge, transfer, establish an open "put
equivalent position" within the meaning of the Rule 16a-1(h) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise dispose of any
shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire Common Stock, or
securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock
currently owned either of record or beneficially by them for a period
commencing on the date of this Prospectus and continuing to a date 180 days
after the first date any of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby are
released by the Underwriters for sale to the public. Montgomery Securities
may, in its sole discretion and at any time without notice, release all or any
portion of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements. In

56
<PAGE>

addition, the Company has agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the date
of this Prospectus, it will not, without the consent of Montgomery Securities,
issue, offer, sell or grant options to purchase or otherwise dispose of any
equity securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity
securities except for (i) the shares of Common Stock offered hereby, (ii)
shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of outstanding options
and (iii) options to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to the
Incentive Plan and shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of
such options. See "Management--Stock Plans" and "Shares Eligible for Future
Sale."

Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock.
Consequently, the initial public offering price will be determined by
negotiations between the Company and the Representatives. Among the factors to
be considered in such negotiations are the history of, and prospects for, the
Company and the industry in which it competes, an assessment of the Company's
management, its past and present operations and financial performance, the
prospects for future earnings of the Company, the present state of the
Company's development, the general condition of the securities markets at the
time of the Offering, the market prices of and demand for publicly traded
common stocks of companies in recent periods and other factors deemed
relevant.

In order to facilitate the offering of the Common Stock, the Underwriters
may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the
price of the Common Stock. Specifically, the Underwriters may overallot in
connection with the Offering, creating a short position in the Common Stock
for their own account. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize
the price of the Common Stock, the Underwriters may bid for, and purchase,
shares of Common Stock in the open market. Finally, the underwriting syndicate
may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for
distributing the Common Stock in the Offering if the syndicate repurchases
previously distributed Common Stock in transactions to cover syndicate short
positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities
may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Common Stock above
independent market levels. The Underwriters are not required to engage in
these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.

The Representatives have informed the Company that the Underwriters do not
expect to make sales to accounts over which they exercise discretionary
authority in excess of 5% of the number of shares of Common Stock offered
hereby.

The Company and the Selling Stockholder have agreed to indemnify the several
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.

57
<PAGE>

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be passed
upon for the Company by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Palo Alto,
California. Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Stock offered
hereby will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP, Los Angeles, California.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements as of and for the period from
inception (January 31, 1995) to December 31, 1995 and as of and for the year
ended December 31, 1996 appearing in this Prospectus and Registration
Statement have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public
accountants, as set forth in their report with respect thereto and are
included herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in
giving said report.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A Registration Statement on Form S-1, including amendments thereto, relating
to the Common Stock offered hereby has been filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), Washington, D.C. This
Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the
Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto. Statements
contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other
document referred to are not necessarily complete and in each instance
reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in
all respects by such reference. For further information with respect to the
Company and the Common Stock offered hereby, reference is made to such
Registration Statement, exhibits and schedules. A copy of the Registration
Statement may be inspected by anyone without charge at the Commission's
principal office, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, the New York
Regional Office located at 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, NY
10048, and the Chicago Regional Office located at Northwestern Atrium Center,
500 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60661, and copies of all or any part
thereof, including any exhibit thereto, may be obtained from the Commission
upon the payment of certain fees prescribed by the Commission. The Commission
maintains a World Wide Web Site that contains reports, proxy and information
statements and other information regarding registrants that file
electronically with the Commission. The address of the site is
http://www.sec.gov.

58
<PAGE>

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
Report of Independent Public Accountants................................ F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets............................................. F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations................................... F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity......................... F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows................................... F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.............................. F-7
</TABLE>

F-1
<PAGE>

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Auto-By-Tel Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Auto-By-Tel
Corporation (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995
and 1996, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders'
equity and cash flows for the period from inception (January 31, 1995) to
December 31, 1995 and the year ended December 31, 1996. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Auto-By-Tel Corporation
and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995 and 1996, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for the period from inception (January 31,
1995) to December 31, 1995 and the year ended December 31, 1996 in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.

ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Orange County, California
January 22, 1997,
(except Note 8, as to which the date is January 30, 1997)

F-2
<PAGE>

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31, PRO FORMA
------------------------ STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
1995 1996 DECEMBER 31, 1996
----------- ----------- ---------------------
(UNAUDITED)
(NOTE 8.C.)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents,
includes restricted amounts
of $0 and $985,000,
respectively................ $ 48,000 $ 9,062,000
Accounts receivable, net of
allowance for doubtful
accounts of $20,000 and
$162,000, respectively...... 14,000 298,000
Prepaid advertisement........ -- 716,000
Other........................ 114,000 186,000
----------- -----------
Total current assets....... 176,000 10,262,000
Property and equipment, net.... 102,000 1,425,000
Other assets................... 7,000 611,000
----------- -----------
Total assets............... $ 285,000 $12,298,000
=========== ===========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable............. $ 87,000 $ 651,000
Deferred revenue............. 356,000 2,326,000
Customer deposits............ -- 554,000
Other current liabilities.... 16,000 771,000
Due to shareholder........... 816,000 --
----------- -----------
Total current liabilities.. 1,275,000 4,302,000
----------- -----------
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Convertible preferred stock,
Series A, $0.001 par value,
1,500,000 shares authorized;
none issued and outstanding
at December 31, 1995;
1,500,000 shares issued and
outstanding at December 31,
1996, aggregate liquidation
preference of $15,000,000
(5,000,000 shares
authorized, none issued and
outstanding, pro forma)..... -- 2,000 $ --
Common stock, $0.001 par
value; 16,666,666 shares
authorized; none issued and
outstanding at December 31,
1995; 12,427,221 shares
issued and outstanding at
December 31, 1996
(50,000,000 shares
authorized, 15,895,136
shares issued and
outstanding, pro forma)..... -- 12,000 16,000
Members' interests/additional
paid-in capital............. 40,000 15,073,000 24,121,000
Deferred compensation........ -- (26,000) (26,000)
Accumulated deficit.......... (1,030,000) (7,065,000) (7,065,000)
----------- ----------- -----------
Total stockholders' equity
(deficit)................. (990,000) 7,996,000 $17,046,000
----------- ----------- -----------
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity...... $ 285,000 $12,298,000
=========== ===========
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated balance
sheets.

F-3
<PAGE>

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INCEPTION
(JANUARY 31, 1995)
TO YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1995 DECEMBER 31, 1996
------------------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Revenues.................................. $ 274,000 $ 5,025,000
----------- -----------
Operating expenses:
Marketing and advertising............... 476,000 4,439,000
Selling, training and support........... 454,000 3,193,000
Technology development.................. 99,000 1,393,000
General and administrative.............. 275,000 2,159,000
----------- -----------
1,304,000 11,184,000
----------- -----------
Loss from operations.................. (1,030,000) (6,159,000)
----------- -----------
Other income (expense):
Interest income......................... -- 148,000
Interest expense........................ -- (24,000)
----------- -----------
-- 124,000
----------- -----------
Net loss.............................. $(1,030,000) $(6,035,000)
=========== ===========
Net loss per common and common equivalent
share.................................... $ (.07) $ (.38)
=========== ===========
Weighted average common and common
equivalent shares outstanding............ 15,262,262 15,792,293
=========== ===========
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

F-4
<PAGE>

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

SERIES A
CONVERTIBLE MEMBERS'
PREFERRED STOCK COMMON STOCK INTEREST/
---------------- ------------------ ADDITIONAL
NUMBER OF NUMBER OF PAID-IN DEFERRED ACCUMULATED STOCKHOLDERS'
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT CAPITAL COMPENSATION DEFICIT EQUITY (DEFICIT)
--------- ------ ---------- ------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance, Inception
(January 31, 1995)..... -- $ -- -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $ --
Sale of members'
interest in ABT for
cash.................. -- -- -- -- 40,000 -- -- 40,000
Net loss............... -- -- -- -- -- -- (1,030,000) (1,030,000)
--------- ------ ---------- ------- ----------- -------- ----------- ----------
Balance, December 31,
1995................... -- -- -- -- 40,000 -- (1,030,000) (990,000)
--------- ------ ---------- ------- ----------- -------- ----------- ----------
Sale of members'
interest in ABTAC for
cash.................. -- -- -- -- 50,000 -- -- 50,000
Issuance of Common
Stock in exchange for
members' interest..... -- -- 12,374,999 12,000 (12,000) -- -- --
Issuance of Common
Stock options with an
exercise price of
$0.60 per share....... -- -- -- -- 87,000 (87,000) -- --
Issuance of Series A
Preferred Stock at
$10.00 per share for
cash, net of costs of
$135,000.............. 1,450,000 2,000 -- -- 14,363,000 -- -- 14,365,000
Issuance of Series A
Preferred Stock at
$10.00 per share upon
conversion of debt.... 50,000 -- -- -- 500,000 -- -- 500,000
Issuance of Common
Stock for services in
August 1996........... -- -- 10,000 -- 20,000 -- -- 20,000
Issuance of Common
Stock upon exercise of
stock options......... -- -- 42,222 -- 25,000 -- -- 25,000
Amortization of
deferred compensation. -- -- -- -- -- 61,000 -- 61,000
Net loss............... -- -- -- -- -- -- (6,035,000) (6,035,000)
--------- ------ ---------- ------- ----------- -------- ----------- ----------
Balance, December 31,
1996................... 1,500,000 $2,000 12,427,221 $12,000 $15,073,000 $(26,000) $(7,065,000) $7,996,000
========= ====== ========== ======= =========== ======== =========== ==========
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

F-5
<PAGE>

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INCEPTION
(JANUARY 31, 1995) YEAR ENDED
TO DECEMBER 31, 1995 DECEMBER 31, 1996
-------------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss.............................. $(1,030,000) $(6,035,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
net cash used in operating
activities--
Depreciation and amortization....... 25,000 178,000
Provision for bad debt.............. 20,000 145,000
Amortization of deferred
compensation....................... -- 61,000
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Increase in accounts receivable... (34,000) (429,000)
Increase in prepaid advertisement. -- (716,000)
Increase in other current assets.. (114,000) (72,000)
Increase in other assets.......... (7,000) (604,000)
Increase in accounts payable...... 87,000 564,000
Increase in deferred revenue...... 356,000 1,970,000
Increase in customer deposits..... -- 554,000
Increase in other current
liabilities...................... 16,000 775,000
----------- -----------
Net cash used in operating
activities..................... (681,000) (3,609,000)
----------- -----------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment... (127,000) (1,501,000)
----------- -----------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from sale of common stock.... -- 25,000
Proceeds from sale of members'
interest in ABT...................... 40,000 --
Proceeds from sale of members'
interest in ABTAC.................... -- 50,000
Proceeds from issuance of Series A
Preferred Stock, net................. -- 14,365,000
Proceeds from issuance of notes
payable.............................. 816,000 765,000
Repayments of notes payable........... -- (1,081,000)
----------- -----------
Net cash provided by financing
activities..................... 856,000 14,124,000
----------- -----------
Net increase in cash and cash
equivalents............................ 48,000 9,014,000
Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning
of period.............................. -- 48,000
----------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents, at end of
period................................. $ 48,000 $ 9,062,000
=========== ===========
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow
information:
Cash paid during the period for income
taxes................................ $ 2,000 $ 4,000
=========== ===========
Cash paid during the period for
interest............................. $ -- $ 24,000
=========== ===========
Supplemental disclosure of noncash
activities:
During August 1996, 50,000 shares of
Series A Preferred Stock were issued
in exchange for $500,000 previously
advanced to the Company under three
notes payable.
During September 1996, 10,000 shares
of Common Stock with a fair market
value of $20,000 were issued for
consulting services
During May 1996, 12,374,999 shares of
Common Stock were issued to founding
shareholders in exchange for members'
interests
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

F-6
<PAGE>

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1) THE COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

a. The Company

Auto-By-Tel Corporation (the Company) is establishing a nationally branded
Internet-based marketing service for new and used vehicles and related
consumer services. The Company's Web site (www.autobytel.com) enables
consumers to gather information on automobiles and light duty trucks
(vehicles) and shop for vehicles and related consumer services from their home
or office. The Company's services are free to consumers and, to date, the
Company has derived substantially all of its revenues from fees paid by
subscribing dealerships located in the United States and Canada.

The business commenced operations as a limited liability company (See Note
5.b.).

b. Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
the Company, its predecessors (See Note 5.b.) and its wholly-owned
subsidiaries: Auto-By-Tel Marketing Corporation, Auto-By-Tel Acceptance
Corporation, Auto-By-Tel Insurance Services, Inc. and Auto-By-Tel Canada,
Inc.. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

c. Cash and Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when
purchased are considered to be cash equivalents and those with maturities
greater than three months are considered to be short-term investments.

d. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided using
the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective
assets, generally three years. Leasehold improvements are stated at cost.
Amortization is provided using the straight-line method over the lesser of the
lease term or the estimated useful lives of the respective assets.

e. Revenue Recognition

Substantially all revenues to date have consisted of marketing fees paid by
franchises of subscribing dealerships. These marketing fees are comprised of
an initial fee, a monthly fee and an annual fee. The initial fee and annual
fee are recognized ratably over the service period of 12 months. The monthly
fee is recognized in the period the service is provided. Deferred revenue is
comprised of unamortized initial and annual fees.

f. Advertising and Promotion Costs

Advertising and promotion costs consist primarily of fees paid to automotive
information providers, online services providers, online search engines and
print advertising. Advertising and promotion costs are recorded as expense in
the period that the advertisement appears or the service is provided.

g. Technology Development

Technology development expenses consist primarily of personnel and related
compensation costs and contract labor to support software development and
configuration and implementation of the Company's Internet, telecommunications
and support system infrastructure. Technology development expenditures are
charged to expense as incurred.

F-7
<PAGE>

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

h. Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation issued to employees using
the intrinsic value based method as prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" (APB No. 25). Under the intrinsic
value based method, compensation is the excess, if any, of the fair value of
the stock at grant date or other measurement date over the amount an employee
must pay to acquire the stock. Compensation, if any, is recognized over the
applicable service period, which is usually the vesting period.

In October 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation" (SFAS No. 123). This standard, if fully adopted, changes the
methods of accounting for employee stock-based compensation plans to the fair
value based method. For stock options, fair value is determined using an
option-pricing model that takes into account the stock price at the grant
date, the exercise price, the expected life of the option, the volatility of
the underlying stock (not applicable for private entities), expected dividends
and the risk-free interest rate over the expected life of the option.
Compensation expense, if any, is recognized over the applicable service
period, which is usually the vesting period.

The adoption of the accounting methodology of SFAS No. 123 is optional and
the Company has elected to continue accounting for stock-based compensation
issued to employees using APB No. 25; however, pro forma disclosures as if the
Company adopted the cost recognition requirements under SFAS No. 123 are
required to be presented (See Note 7).

i. Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method
as prescribed by SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" (SFAS No. 109).
Under the asset and liability method, deferred income tax assets and
liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial
reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the
currently enacted tax rates and laws.

Prior to May 31, 1996, the business operated as limited liability companies
taxed as partnerships under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 (Internal Revenue Code). Under those provisions, the Company was not
subject to corporate income taxes on its taxable income. Instead, the
Company's taxable income or loss prior to May 31, 1996 is includable in the
individual income tax returns of its members.

Effective May 31, 1996, as a result the reorganization under the terms of a
Contribution Agreement and Plan of Organization, the business was reorganized
as a C Corporation under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (See Note
5.b.). The reorganization required that the Company record the cumulative tax
effect of temporary differences between book income and taxable income as
deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities (net of valuation allowance)
in accordance with SFAS No. 109. At May 31, 1996, the cumulative tax effect of
these temporary differences was immaterial.

j. Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

k. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amount of the Company's financial instruments approximates fair
value.

F-8
<PAGE>

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

l. Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant
concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents,
and accounts receivable. Substantially all of the Company's cash and cash
equivalents are invested in one money market fund with underlying assets
consisting primarily of commercial paper.

To date, accounts receivable have been derived from marketing fees billed to
franchises of subscribing dealerships located in the United States and Canada.
The Company generally requires no collateral. The Company maintains reserves
for potential credit losses; historically, such losses have been minor and
within management's expectations. From inception (January 31, 1995) through
December 31, 1996, no subscribing dealership franchise accounted for greater
than 10% of the accounts receivable or revenue of the Company.

The Company conducts its business within one industry segment within the
United States and Canada. Revenues from customers outside of the United States
were less than 10% of total revenues for all periods presented in the
accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

m. Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities of the Canadian operations are remeasured from
Canadian dollars into U.S. dollars in accordance with Financial Accounting
Standards Board Statement No. 52. Revenues and expenses are translated at
average monthly exchange rates prevailing during the period. Resulting
translation adjustments are immaterial.

n. New Accounting Pronouncements

The Company adopted SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-
Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of" on January 1, 1996.
This standard requires that long-lived assets and certain identifiable
intangibles held and used by an entity be reviewed for impairment whenever
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an
asset may not be recoverable. The adoption of this standard did not have a
material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

o. Net Loss Per Share

Net loss per share is computed based on the weighted average number of
shares of common stock outstanding and common equivalent shares from stock
options (under the treasury stock method, if dilutive). In accordance with
certain SEC Staff Accounting Bulletins, such computations include all common
equivalent shares (using the treasury stock method and the anticipated public
offering price) issued twelve months prior to the filing of the Initial Public
Offering (IPO) as if they were outstanding for all periods presented.
Furthermore, common equivalent shares from convertible preferred stock that
will automatically convert upon the completion of the Company's proposed IPO
are included in the calculation for all periods presented as if converted
using the treasury stock method.

(2) PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment consists of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
--------------------
1995 1996
-------- ----------
<S> <C> <C>
Computer hardware.................................. $ 88,000 $1,125,000
Furniture and equipment............................ 39,000 412,000
Leasehold improvements............................. -- 77,000
-------- ----------
127,000 1,614,000
Less--Accumulated depreciation and amortization.... (25,000) (189,000)
-------- ----------
$102,000 $1,425,000
======== ==========
</TABLE>

F-9
<PAGE>

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(3) DUE TO SHAREHOLDER

During 1995 and 1996, the Company's Chairman and co-founder advanced funds
to the Company totaling $1,081,000. During 1996, these advances were converted
to notes that were payable on demand and bore interest at a rate of 8% per
annum. These notes were paid in full using the proceeds of the Series A
Preferred Stock offering (See Note 5.a).

(4) INCOME TAXES

No provision for federal and state income taxes has been recorded as the
Company incurred net operating losses through December 31, 1996. As of
December 31, 1996, the Company had approximately $4.7 million of federal and
state net operating loss carryforwards available to offset future taxable
income; such carryforwards expire in various years through 2011. Under the Tax
Reform Act of 1986, the amounts of and benefits from net operating losses
carried forward may be impaired or limited in certain circumstances. Events
which may cause limitations in the amount of net operating losses that the
Company may utilize in any one year include, but are not limited to, a
cumulative ownership change of more than 50% over a three year period. As of
December 31, 1996, the effect of such limitation, if imposed, has not been
determined.

Net deferred income tax assets, totaling approximately $2.0 million at
December 31, 1996, consist primarily of the tax effect of net operating loss
carryforwards, reserves and accrued expenses which are not yet deductible for
tax purposes. The Company has provided a full valuation allowance on these
deferred income tax assets because of the uncertainty regarding their
realization.

(5) STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

a. Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

On August 22, 1996, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized
1,500,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (Series A Preferred).
On August 23, 1996, the Company completed the sale of 1,500,000 shares of
Series A Preferred at $10.00 per share through a private placement offering.
Of the total shares sold, 50,000 shares were issued to an individual in
exchange for $500,000 previously advanced to the Company under three notes
payable. In addition, $1,081,000 of the proceeds were used to repay notes due
to the Company's Chairman and co-founder.

Each share of Series A Preferred will be automatically converted into 1.67
shares of common stock upon the earliest of (i) the closing of an underwritten
public offering of the Company's common stock with a minimum per share price
of $9.00 per share, and minimum aggregate proceeds of $30 million; (ii) the
written consent of two-thirds of the holders of Series A Preferred; or (iii)
when fewer than 300,000 shares of Series A Preferred remain outstanding. Each
share of Series A Preferred is also convertible into 1.67 shares of common
stock at the option of the holder. The Company has reserved 2,500,000 shares
of common stock to permit the conversion of the Series A Preferred.

Holders of Series A Preferred are entitled to one vote for each share of
common stock into which such shares of Series A Preferred may be converted
except with respect to election of directors, whereby the holders, voting
separately as a class, shall be entitled to elect one director (to be
increased to two directors if the authorized number of total directors is
increased to greater than five members). Each share of Series A Preferred
entitles the holder to receive noncumulative dividends, if and when declared
by the Board of Directors, prior to any dividend paid on the common stock.
Dividends, if any, on Series A Preferred shall be declared at an annual rate
of $0.80 per share. As of December 31, 1996, no dividends have been declared.

F-10
<PAGE>

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

In the event of liquidation, the Series A Preferred has preference over the
common stock in the amount of $10.00 per share, plus declared but unpaid
dividends.

b. Common Stock

Auto-By-Tel LLC (ABT), a California limited liability company, was organized
in January 1995 and began operations in March 1995. ABT Acceptance Company LLC
(ABTAC), an affiliated Company under common control, was formed in February
1996. ABT and ABTAC (the LLC's) were reorganized as of May 31, 1996 pursuant
to the terms of a Contribution Agreement and Plan of Organization (the
Agreement) entered into by all of the members of the LLC's. Under the terms of
the Agreement, the interests of the members were transferred to Auto-By-Tel
Corporation, a Delaware corporation, in a tax-free transaction. As the LLC's
were under common control, the reorganization was accounted for in a manner
similar to a pooling-of-interests whereby the assets and liabilities of ABT
and ABTAC were transferred to the Company at their historical cost. In
consideration for their respective ownership interests, the members of ABT and
ABTAC received 12,374,999 shares of common stock of the Company.

c. Stock Split and Increase of Authorized Shares

On November 24, 1996, the Board of Directors authorized a 5-for-3 stock
split (the Stock Split) of the Company's Common Stock. All references in the
financial statements to number of shares, per share amounts and market prices
of the Company's common stock have been retroactively restated to reflect the
effect of the Stock Split. The Board of Directors has also approved, effective
upon the completion of the IPO, a recapitalization that would increase the
total of authorized shares of Common Stock to 50,000,000 and an increase in
the total number of authorized shares of preferred stock to 7,467,915.

(6) COMMITMENTS

a. Operating Leases

The Company has an operating lease for its corporate office facilities which
expires in 2001. At December 31 , 1996, future minimum lease payments under
this noncancelable, five year operating lease are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
------------------------
<S> <C>
1997............................................................. $142,000
1998............................................................. 184,000
1999............................................................. 204,000
2000............................................................. 218,000
2001............................................................. 150,000
--------
$898,000
========
</TABLE>

Rent expense was $22,000 and $92,000 for the period from inception (January
31, 1995) to December 31, 1995 and the year ended December 31, 1996,
respectively.

b. Marketing Agreements

The Company has multi-year agreements with automotive information providers
that make available to consumers vehicle research data over the Internet. Such
agreements are generally for a term of three to five years and require that
the Company pay fees to these companies based on the volume of information
received by the Company from these services. The minimum annual commitments
under these agreements aggregate to $120,000.

F-11
<PAGE>

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

c. Letter of Credit

In connection with the Company's lease of its principal offices, the
Company's Chairman co-signed a letter of credit and pledged a personal
certificate of deposit as collateral. The Company's chairman has also
personally guaranteed the Company's Merchant Card Agreement, and has provided
a personal guarantee to the financial institution that issued the Company's
corporate credit cards, guaranteeing the payment of all outstanding
indebtedness under these credit facilities.

As of December 31, 1996, the Company had total outstanding letters of credit
of approximately $1.0 million collateralized by restricted cash balances of
approximately $985,000.

d. Advertisement Purchase Commitment

In November 1996, the Company entered into a commitment to purchase
approximately $1.0 million in a television advertisement to be aired during
the Super Bowl in January 1997. Such costs will be expensed in the first
quarter of 1997, when the advertisement appears.

(7) STOCK PLANS

1996 Stock Option Plan. The Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan (the Option
Plan) was approved by the Board of Directors and the stockholders on May 18,
1996. The Option Plan provides for the granting to employees of incentive
stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and for the grant to employees, consultants
and directors of nonstatutory stock options. Under the Option Plan, the
exercise price of all incentive stock options granted under the Option Plan
cannot be lower than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of
grant. With respect to any participants who, at the time of grant, own stock
possessing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company, the exercise price of any stock option granted to such person must be
at least 110% of the fair market value on the grant date, and the maximum term
of such option is five years. The term of all other options granted under the
1996 Option Plan may be up to 10 years. On October 23, 1996, the Board of
Directors terminated the Option Plan and no further options may be granted
thereunder. Upon termination, options to purchase an aggregate of 1,305,833
shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.60 per share were
outstanding under the Option Plan.

1996 Stock Incentive Plan. The Company's 1996 Stock Incentive Plan (the
Incentive Plan) provides for the granting to employees of incentive stock
options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, and for the granting to
employees, directors and consultants of nonstatutory stock options and stock
purchase rights (SPRs). The Incentive Plan was approved by the Board of
Directors on October 23, 1996, amended by the Board of Directors on November
24, 1996 and approved by the stockholders on January 16, 1997. A total of
2,268,333 shares of Common Stock are currently reserved for issuance under the
Incentive Plan. Shares available for future grant under the Incentive Plan
will be increased as of the first day of each new fiscal year during the term
of the Incentive Plan by the number of shares issuable upon exercise of
options granted thereunder in the previous fiscal year, net of returns.

F-12
<PAGE>

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Company's 1996 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the Purchase Plan) was adopted by the Board of Directors on
November 18, 1996 and approved by the stockholders on January 16, 1997. The
Company has reserved a total of 666,666 shares of Common Stock for issuance
under the Purchase Plan. Shares available for future issuance under the
Purchase Plan will be increased as of the first day of each new fiscal year
during the term of the Purchase Plan by the number of shares issued thereunder
in the prior fiscal year. The Purchase Plan, which is intended to qualify
under Section 423 of the Code, as amended, permits eligible employees of the
Company to purchase shares of Common Stock through payroll deductions of up to
ten percent of their compensation, up to a certain maximum amount for all
purchase periods ending within any calendar year.

During the year ended December 31, 1996, the Company granted options under
the aforementioned plans to purchase an aggregate of 2,352,066 shares of
Common Stock at various exercise prices ranging from $0.60 to $7.50 per share.
During the year ended December 31, 1996, the Company has recorded, based upon
an independent appraisal obtained by the Company's Board of Directors, $87,000
of deferred compensation expense relating to certain options. This amount will
be amortized over the vesting periods of the options, which is generally one
to three years. Amortization of deferred compensation for the year ended
December 31, 1996 was $61,000.

F-13
<PAGE>

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

A summary of the status of the Company's stock options as of December 31,
1996 and changes during the period is presented below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WEIGHTED-
AVERAGE
EXERCISE
OPTIONS PRICE
--------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
Outstanding at December 31, 1995...................... -- --
Granted............................................... 2,352,066 $ 2.16
Exercised............................................. (42,222) 0.60
Canceled.............................................. (29,029) 0.60
--------- ------
Outstanding at December 31, 1996...................... 2,280,815 $ 2.21
========= ======
Options exercisable at December 31, 1996.............. 586,111 $ 0.60
========= ======
Options available for future grant.................... 1,250,000
=========
Weighted-average fair value of options granted during
the year whose exercise price is less than the market
price of the stock on the grant date (254,167
options)............................................. $ 1.63 $ 0.60
========= ======
Weighted-average fair value of options granted during
the year whose exercise price exceeds the market
price of the stock on the grant date (2,097,899
options)............................................. $ 0.77 $ 2.35
========= ======
</TABLE>

The fair value of each option granted during 1996 is estimated using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model on the date of grant using the following
assumptions: (i) no dividend yield, (ii) volatility of effectively zero
(required for public companies only), (iii) weighted-average risk-free
interest rate of approximately 6.70%, and (iv) expected life of 6 years.

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding
at December 31, 1996:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTIONS OUTSTANDING OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
---------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
WEIGHTED-AVERAGE NUMBER
EXERCISE PRICE NUMBER OUTSTANDING CONTRACTUAL LIFE EXERCISABLE EXERCISE PRICE
-------------- ------------------ ---------------- ----------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$0.60 1,262,482 9.5 years 586,111 $0.60
$3.00 741,667 9.8 years -- --
$6.00 12,500 9.9 years -- --
$7.50 264,166 9.9 years -- --
</TABLE>

Had compensation cost for the Company's 1996 grants for its stock-based
compensation plan been determined consistent with SFAS No. 123, the Company's
net loss, and net loss per common share for the year ended December 31, 1996
would approximate the pro forma amounts below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AS REPORTED PRO FORMA
----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Net loss.......................................... $(6,035,000) $(6,270,000)
=========== ===========
Net loss per common share......................... $ (.38) $ (0.40)
=========== ===========
</TABLE>

The effects of applying SFAS 123 in this pro forma disclosure are not
indicative of future amounts.

F-14
<PAGE>

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(8) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS AND PRO FORMA PRESENTATION

a. Series B Convertible Preferred Stock Sale

On January 24, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized
967,915 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (Series B Preferred).
On January 30, 1997, the Company completed the sale of 967,915 shares of
Series B Preferred at $9.35 per share through a private placement offering.

Each share of Series B Preferred will be automatically converted into one
share of common stock upon the earliest of (i) the closing of an underwritten
public offering of the Company's common stock with a minimum per share price
of $9.00 per share, and minimum aggregate proceeds of $30 million; (ii) the
written consent of two-thirds of the holders of Series B Preferred; or (iii)
when fewer than 300,000 shares of Series B Preferred remain outstanding. Each
share of Series B Preferred is also convertible into one share of common stock
at the option of the holder. The Company has reserved 1,309,686 shares of
common stock to permit the conversion of the Series B Preferred.

Holders of Series B Preferred are entitled to one vote for each share of
common stock into which such shares of Series B Preferred may be converted
except with respect to election of directors, whereby the holders, voting
separately as a class, shall be entitled to elect one director (to be
increased to two directors if the authorized number of total directors is
increased to greater than five members). Each share of Series B Preferred
entitles the holder to receive noncumulative dividends, if and when declared
by the Board of Directors, prior to any dividend paid on the common stock.
Dividends, if any, on Series B Preferred shall be declared at an annual rate
of $0.75 per share. No dividends have been declared.

In the event of liquidation, the Series B Preferred has preference over the
common stock in the amount of $9.35 per share, plus declared but unpaid
dividends.

b. Stock Option Grants

On January 24, 1997 the Company granted options to various employees to
purchase 124,750 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $8.80 per
share, the estimated fair market value as determined by the Board of
Directors.

c. Unaudited Pro Forma Presentation

On January 24, 1997, the Board of Directors authorized the filing of a
registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission permitting
the Company to sell shares of its common stock in connection with an IPO. If
the offering is consummated under the terms presently anticipated, each share
of Series A and Series B Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding at January
30, 1997 will automatically convert to 1.67 and 1.0 shares, respectively, of
common stock upon closing of the IPO. The effect of the sale of the Series B
Preferred discussed above and the conversion of Series A Preferred outstanding
at December 31, 1996 (See Note 5.a) has been reflected in the accompanying
unaudited pro forma balance sheet as of December 31, 1996.

F-15
<PAGE>

===============================================================================

No dealer, salesperson or other person has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representations in connection with this offering
other than those contained in this Prospectus, and if given or made, such
information or representations must not be relied upon as having been
authorized by the Company or any of the Underwriters. This Prospectus does not
constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities
other than the shares of Common Stock to which it relates or an offer to, or a
solicitation of, any person in any jurisdiction where such an offer or
solicitation would be unlawful. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any
sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that
there has been no change in the affairs of the Company or that the information
contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof.

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C>
Prospectus Summary......................................................... 3
Risk Factors............................................................... 6
Use of Proceeds............................................................ 17
Dividend Policy............................................................ 17
Capitalization............................................................. 18
Dilution................................................................... 19
Selected Consolidated Financial Data....................................... 20
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations....................................... 21
Business................................................................... 27
Management................................................................. 41
Certain Transactions....................................................... 50
Principal and Selling Stockholders......................................... 51
Description of Capital Stock............................................... 52
Shares Eligible for Future Sale............................................ 54
Underwriting............................................................... 56
Legal Matters.............................................................. 58
Experts.................................................................... 58
Additional Information..................................................... 58
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements................................. F-1
</TABLE>

Until , 1997 (25 days after the date of this Prospectus) all dealers
effecting transactions in the registration securities, whether or not
participating in this distribution, may be required to deliver a Prospectus.
This is in addition to the obligation of dealers to deliver a Prospectus when
acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or
subscriptions.

================================================================================

4,000,000 SHARES

[LOGO OF AUTO BY TEL APPEARS HERES]

COMMON STOCK

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

PROSPECTUS

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

MONTGOMERY SECURITIES

COWEN & COMPANY

ROBERTSON, STEPHENS & COMPANY

, 1997

===============================================================================

<PAGE>

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

The following table sets forth all expenses, other than underwriting
discounts and commissions, payable by the Company in connection with the sale
of the Common Shares being registered. All of the amounts shown are estimates
except for the SEC registration fee and the NASD filing fee.

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
SEC Registration Fee........................................... $ 19,068
NASD Filing Fee................................................ 6,710
Nasdaq National Market Listing Fee............................. 49,000
Blue Sky Qualification Fees and Expenses....................... 5,000
Printing and Engraving Expenses................................ 150,000
Legal Fees and Expenses........................................ 400,000
Accounting Fees and Expenses................................... 350,000
Transfer Agent and Registrar Fees.............................. 7,500
Directors' and Officers' Insurance............................. 250,000
Miscellaneous.................................................. 62,722
----------
Total........................................................ $1,300,000
==========
</TABLE>

ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

The Underwriters have agreed to indemnify the Company, its directors and
each person who controls it within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
Act with respect to any statement in or omission from the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto if such
statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in
writing to the Company by the Underwriters specifically for or in connection
with the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any
such amendment or supplement thereto.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law empowers a corporation
to indemnify its directors and officers and to purchase insurance with respect
to liability arising out of their capacity or status as directors and officers
provided that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a
director: (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the
corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith
or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii)
arising under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or (iv) for
any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

The Delaware General Corporation Law provides further that the
indemnification permitted thereunder shall not be deemed exclusive of any
other rights to which the directors and officers may be entitled under the
corporation's bylaws, any agreement, vote of stockholders or otherwise.
Article IX of the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
eliminates the personal liability of directors and officers to the fullest
extent permitted by the laws of the state of Delaware.

The effect of the foregoing is to require the Company to indemnify the
officers and directors of the Company for any claim arising against any such
person in their official capacities if such person acted in good faith and in
a manner that he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

II-1
<PAGE>

ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES

Since the Company's inception, the Company has made the following sales of
securities that were not registered under the Securities Act:

1. On May 31, 1996, the Company issued and sold 12,374,999 shares of Common
Stock in exchange for membership interests in Auto-By-Tel LLC and Auto-By-
Tel Acceptance Corporation LLC, in reliance on the exemption from
registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.

2. During the period from July 3, 1996 through January 30, 1997, the Company
issued options to purchase an aggregate of 2,476,816 shares of Common Stock
pursuant to the Option Plan in reliance on Rule 701 promulgated under the
Securities Act.

3. On August 23, 1996, the Company issued and sold 1,500,000 shares of Series
A Preferred Stock in a private placement for an aggregate consideration of
$15,000,000 million in cash and cancellation of indebtedness. In connection
with such financing, the Company issued (i) 200,000 shares to ContiTrade
Services L.L.C. in exchange for $2,000,000 in cash, (ii) 400,000 shares to
National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA in exchange for
$4,000,000 in cash, (iii) 800,000 shares to General Electric Capital
Corporation in exchange for $8,000,000 in cash, and (iv) 100,000 Michael
Fuchs in exchange for $1,000,000 in cash and cancellation of indebtedness.
Sales of Series A Preferred Stock were made in reliance on the exemption
from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.

4. On August 27, 1996, the Company issued and sold 6,000 shares to a
consultant of the Company in reliance on Rule 701 promulgated under the
Securities Act.

5. On January 30, 1997, the Company issued and sold 967,915 shares of Series B
Preferred Stock in a private placement for an aggregate consideration of
$9.05 million in cash. In connection with such financing, the Company
issued (i) 133,690 shares to ContiTrade Services L.L.C. in exchange for
$1.25 million in cash, (ii) 267,380 shares to National Union Fire Insurance
Company of Pittsburgh, PA in exchange for $2.5 million in cash, (iii)
534,760 shares to General Electric Capital Corporation in exchange for
$5.0 million in cash, and (iv) 32,085 shares to Michael Fuchs in exchange
for $300,000 in cash. Sales of Series B Preferred Stock were made in
reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act.

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a) EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<C> <S>
1.1+ Form of Underwriting Agreement (draft of January 24, 1997)
3.1+ Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company certified by
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
3.2+ Restated Bylaws of Auto-By-Tel Corporation adopted October 23, 1996
4.1++ Form of Stock Certificate
4.2+ Amended and Restated Investors' Rights Agreement dated January 30,
1997 among Registrant and the Investors named in Exhibit A thereto
5.1++ Opinion and Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Company and its
10.1+ directors and officers
10.2+ Employment Offer Letter dated October 24, 1996 from Registrant to
Mark W. Lorimer
10.3+ Employment Offer Letter dated December 16, 1996 from Registrant to
John M. Markovich
</TABLE>

II-2
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<C> <S>
10.4+ Employment Offer Letter dated October 20, 1996 from Registrant
to Michael Lowell
10.5+ 1996 Stock Option Plan and related agreements
10.6+ 1996 Stock Incentive Plan and related agreements
10.7+ 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
10.8*+ Marketing Agreement dated July 22, 1996 among Auto-By-Tel
Acceptance Corporation, a subsidiary of the Registrant
("ABTAC"), the Registrant, as guarantor of the obligations of
ABTAC, and AIU Insurance Company, American International South
Insurance Company, American Home Assurance Company, American
International Insurance Company, American International
Insurance Company of California, Inc., Illinois National
Insurance Company, Minnesota Insurance Company, National Union
Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA and the Insurance
Company of the State of Pennsylvania
10.9*+ Marketing Agreement dated March 27, 1996 between Registrant and
Microsoft Corporation
10.10*+ Advertising Agreement dated October 15, 1996 between Registrant
and Digital City Inc.
10.11*+ Marketing Agreement dated February 8, 1996 between Registrant
and Edmund Publications Corporation
10.12*+ Referral Agreement dated September 6, 1996 between Registrant
and Automotive Information Center
10.13(a)-(h)+ Forms of Dealership Subscription Agreements
10.14+ Lease Agreement dated June 1996 between Registrant and McDonnell
Douglas Realty Company
10.15+ Sublease Agreement dated October 31, 1996 between Registrant and
Silicon Valley Bank
10.16*+ Financing Inquiry Referral Agreement dated October 25, 1996
among Registrant, as obligor, Auto-By-Tel Acceptance
Corporation and Chase Manhattan Automotive Financial
Corporation
10.17* Service Agreement dated as of February 1, 1997 between
Registrant and Integrated Warranty Services, Inc.
11.1 Statement Regarding Computation of Per Share Earnings
21.1+ Subsidiaries of the Company
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants
(see Page II-5)
23.2++ Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (included in Exhibit
5.1)
24.1+ Power of Attorney (see Page II-6)
27.1+ Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
- --------

+ Previously filed.

++ To be filed by amendment.
* Confidential treatment has been requested for certain portions which have
been blacked out in the copy of the exhibit filed with the Commission. The
omitted information has been filed separately with the Commission pursuant
to the application for confidential treatment.

(b) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

Schedule II--Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the
underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement
certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required
by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

II-3
<PAGE>

(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.

(i) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the
information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form
of prospectus filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or
497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and

(ii) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at the time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

II-4
<PAGE>

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our
reports (and to all references to our Firm) included in or made a part of this
registration statement.

ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Orange County, California

March 6, 1997

II-5
<PAGE>

SIGNATURES

PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT
HAS DULY CAUSED THIS AMENDMENT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-1 TO BE
SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE
CITY OF IRVINE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ON THE 6TH DAY OF MARCH, 1997.

Auto-by-Tel Corporation

By: /s/ Mark W. Lorimer
------------------------------------------

MARK W. LORIMER

VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND
SECRETARY

PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS AMENDMENT
TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE
CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED.

SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
President Chief
Peter R. Ellis* Executive Officer March 6, 1997
_________________________________ (Principal Executive
PETER R. ELLIS Officer) and Director

John C. Bedrosian* Chairman of the Board March 6, 1997
_________________________________
JOHN C. BEDROSIAN

John M. Markovich* Chief Financial Officer March 6, 1997
_________________________________ (Principal Financial
JOHN M. MARKOVICH and Accounting Officer)

Robert S. Grimes* Executive Vice President March 6, 1997
_________________________________ and Director
ROBERT S. GRIMES

Jeffrey H. Coats* Director March 6, 1997
_________________________________
JEFFREY H. COATS

Michael Fuchs* Director March 6, 1997
_________________________________
MICHAEL FUCHS

*By: /s/ Mark W. Lorimer
_____________________________
Mark W. Lorimer,
Attorney-in-Fact

</TABLE>
II-6
<PAGE>

EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
------------- -----------
<C> <S>
1.1+ Form of Underwriting Agreement (draft of January 24, 1997)
3.1+ Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company certified
by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
3.2+ Restated Bylaws of Auto-By-Tel Corporation adopted October 23,
1996
4.1++ Form of Stock Certificate
4.2+ Amended and Restated Investors' Rights Agreement dated January
30, 1997 among Registrant and the Investors named in Exhibit A
thereto
5.1++ Opinion and Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
10.1+ Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Company and its
directors and officers
10.2+ Employment Offer Letter dated October 24, 1996 from Registrant
to Mark W. Lorimer
10.3+ Employment Offer Letter dated December 16, 1996 from Registrant
to John M. Markovich
10.4+ Employment Offer Letter dated October 20, 1996 from Registrant
to Michael Lowell
10.5+ 1996 Stock Option Plan and related agreements
10.6+ 1996 Stock Incentive Plan and related agreements
10.7+ 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
10.8*+ Marketing Agreement dated July 22, 1996 among Auto-By-Tel
Acceptance Corporation, a subsidiary of the Registrant
("ABTAC"), the Registrant, as guarantor of the obligations of
ABTAC, and AIU Insurance Company, American International South
Insurance Company, American Home Assurance Company, American
International Insurance Company, American International
Insurance Company of California, Inc., Illinois National
Insurance Company, Minnesota Insurance Company, National Union
Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA and the Insurance
Company of the State of Pennsylvania
10.9*+ Marketing Agreement dated March 27, 1996 between Registrant and
Microsoft Corporation
10.10*+ Advertising Agreement dated October 15, 1996 between Registrant
and Digital City Inc.
10.11*+ Marketing Agreement dated February 8, 1996 between Registrant
and Edmund Publications Corporation
10.12*+ Referral Agreement dated September 6, 1996 between Registrant
and Automotive Information Center
10.13(a)-(h)+ Forms of Dealership Subscription Agreements
10.14+ Lease Agreement dated June 1996 between Registrant and McDonnell
Douglas Realty Company
10.15+ Sublease Agreement dated October 31, 1996 between Registrant and
Silicon Valley Bank
10.16*+ Financing Inquiry Referral Agreement dated October 25, 1996
among Registrant, as obligor, Auto-By-Tel Acceptance
Corporation and Chase Manhattan Automotive Financial
Corporation
10.17* Service Agreement dated as of February 1, 1997 between Regis-
trant and Integrated Warranty Services, Inc.
11.1 Statement Regarding Computation of Per Share Earnings
21.1+ Subsidiaries of the Company
23.1 Consents of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants
(see Page II-5)
23.2++ Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (included in Exhibit
5.1)
24.1+ Power of Attorney (see Page II-6)
27.1+ Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
- --------

+ Previously filed.

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 10.17

VEHICLE INSPECTION & DIGITAL IMAGE
----------------------------------

SERVICE AGREEMENT
-----------------

THIS AGREEMENT is entered into by and between Integrated Warranty
Services, Inc. ('Company"), with offices at 19750 S. Vermont Avenue, Suite 225,
Torrance, CA 90502, and Auto-By-Tel Marketing Corporation ("ABT"), with offices
at 18872 MacArthur Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Irvine, CA 92612.

WHEREAS, ABT provides an Internet-based marketing program for the
retail sale of preowned motor vehicles by motor vehicle dealers who are
subscribing customers of ABT (the "Subscribing Dealers"): and

WHEREAS, ABT wishes to engage the services of Company as an
independent contractor to perform inspections and create digital images of motor
vehicles in connection with the ABT Program, defined below;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises made and for
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS
-----------

1.1 ABT PROGRAM: ABT's Internet-based marketing program for the retail
sale of prearranged motor vehicles.

1.2 ABT SOFTWARE: ABT's proprietary software used to electronically
transmit to ABT motor vehicle images and Vehicle Profiles.

1.3 [*] OF ABT: A person (hereinafter, "Provider") engaged in [*]
exclusively for and on behalf of the used car departments of new car franchise
motor vehicle dealers that:

1.3.1 own and maintain such vehicles in their dealer inventory;

1.3.2 enter into a paid subscription for such services with the
Provider;

1.3.3 use computer hardware and proprietary software installed at the
dealer location and purchased or leased through the Provider to periodically
input and upload to the Provider's server digitized images and a description
of such vehicles.

[*] Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to certain portions
of this agreement.
<PAGE>

1.4 COVERED DEALERS: All Subscribing Dealers within the United States
that participate in the ABT Program at any time during the term of this
Agreement

1.5 DEALER CONTACT: The person designated by a Covered Dealer, and
reported to Company by ABT, as the primary point of contact with Company's
designated Field Specialist.

1.6 FIELD SPECIALIST: An employee or independent contractor of
Company who is used by Company to perform inspections and create digital
images of motor vehicles. Each Field Specialist used by Company to perform
inspections and create digital images of motor vehicles hereunder shall have:
(a) a current ASE certification; or (b) at least twenty (20) years of general
mechanical and auto body experience.

1.7 VEHICLE ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS: ABT's minimum standards for a motor
vehicle's eligibility for the ABT Program. These standards are as follows: (a)
the odometer reading [*]; (b) there can be no [*]; and (c) there can be
no [*].

1.8 VEHICLE PROFILE: A description of each of the motor vehicles to
be inspected and digitally photographed by a Field Specialist, including the
motor vehicle's year, make, model, accessories, options, and mileage, all
prepared in accordance with the ABT guidelines then in effect for inclusion in
the ABT Program.

2. RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF COMPANY
----------------------------

2.1 Overview of Services: Company will assign a Field Specialist to
--------------------
each Covered Dealer. For each of his or her assigned Covered Dealers, the
Field Specialist will call the Dealer Contact to establish a mutually
convenient time for an initial appointment for the performance of the
inspection and digital imaging services described in Section 2.2. In
preparation for the appointment, the Field Specialist will instruct the
Covered Dealer to prepare a Vehicle Profile for each of the motor vehicles
that the Covered Dealer wishes to be included in the ABT Program (the "Subject
Vehicle").

2.1.1 Upon arriving at the Covered Dealer, the Field Specialist
will introduce himself or herself to the Dealer Contact, and request the
location of the Subject Vehicles. Based on the number of Subject Vehicles, the
Field Specialist and the Covered Dealer contact will mutually agree upon the
time that they will meet later that day to complete the data entry and
transmission process, described in Section 2.3.

2.1.2 The Field Specialist will establish a schedule with the
Dealer Contact for future appointments. The basis for scheduled appointments
will be the Covered Dealers preowned motor vehicle turnover rate, which will
be periodically monitored by the assigned Field Specialist

-2-

[*] Confidential Treatment Requested
<PAGE>

2.2 Inspection & Digital Image Services. During each scheduled
-----------------------------------
appointment with a Covered Dealer, the Field Specialist will perform a brief
inspection of each Subject Vehicle to help monitor compliance with the Vehicle
Eligibility Standards. During the inspection, the Field Specialist will also
note any obvious inaccuracies in the Vehicle Profile. The parties acknowledge,
however, that the Field Specialist and Company shall not be responsible for the
accuracy of the Vehicle Profiles, it being the sole responsibility of the
Covered Dealer to ensure such accuracy. If a Subject Vehicle appears to meet
the Vehicle Eligibility Standards, the Field Specialist will create [*] digital
image of the Subject Vehicle [*]. If the Field Specialist determines that a
Subject Vehicle does not meet the Vehicle Eligibility Standards, the Field
Specialist will not create the digital Image.

2.3 Data Entry & Transmission Services. After finishing the
----------------------------------
inspection and digital imaging process for all of the Subject Vehicles, the
Field Specialist will identify to the Dealer Contract which Subject Vehicles
failed to meet the Eligibility Standards, and any obvious inaccuracies in the
Vehicle Profiles. The Field Specialist will then download into the ABT
Software the digital images of the Subject Vehicles inspected pursuant to
Section 2.2 that appear to meet the Vehicle Eligibility Standards, and link
each such Subject Vehicle's digital image with the appropriate Vehicle
Profile. The Dealer Contact will be solely responsible for entering into the
ABT Software and correcting, where necessary, the Vehicle Profiles. However,
if requested by the Dealer Contact, the Field Specialist will assist the
Dealer Contact in using the ABT Software on the first two visits to a Covered
Dealer to help ensure compliance with the ABT Program requirements.

2.4 System Set Up. If requested by ABT or any Dealer, the Field
-------------
Specialist will unpackage, connect and initially boot-up the hardware supplied
to the Dealer by ABT pursuant to Section 3.3, in consideration for the
applicable charge set forth in Schedule 1.

2.5 [*].

3. RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF ABT
------------------------

3.1 Required Information. ABT shall provide to Company each Covered
--------------------
Dealer's name, address, telephone number, name of the Dealer Contact, and such
other information regarding each Covered Dealer as Company may require in order
to perform the services described in this Agreement. As Additional Subscribing
Dealers become Covered Dealers, ABT shall promptly send to Company the
information required by this Section.

3.2 Training. [*], ABT will train each Dealer Contact and Field
--------
Specialist in the use of the ABT Software, preparation of Vehicle Profiles, and
desired procedures for entering and transmitting data as described in Section
2.3.

3.3 Hardware & Software. ABT will ensure that each Covered Dealer
-------------------
has the ABT Software, any other required software, and all hardware and
transmission capabilities necessary to perform the data entry and transmission
described in Section 2.3. Except as provided in Section 2.4,

-3-

[*] Confidential Treatment Requested
<PAGE>

prior to each Field Specialist initial appointment with each Covered Dealer, ABT
will ensure that the foregoing components are properly installed, integrated,
and configured, and that the system has been tested and is capable of performing
the data entry and transmission described in Section 2.3. ABT shall be
responsible for the installation of all required software, prior to deliver of
the hardware to a Covered Dealer.

3.4 Payment of Fees. In consideration for the services rendered by
---------------
Company hereunder, ABT shall pay to Company the fees specified in Schedule 1,
when and as required by Section 4.2.

3.5 Exclusive Use of Services. During the term of this Agreement, ABT
-------------------------
shall use Company as ABT exclusive provider of all motor vehicle inspection and
digital imaging services for all Covered Dealers.

4. ACCOUNTING & REPORTING
----------------------

4.1 [*]. Within fifteen (15) days following the end of each of
---
Company's fiscal months during the term of this Agreement, Company shall provide
to ABT a written statement which shall detail the services provided to ABT for
such month, and the associated charges, calculated in accordance with Schedule 1
[*].

4.2 Payment of Fees. The amount set forth in the [*] shall be due and
---------------
payable by ABT within [*] following ABT's receipt of the [*]. On all amounts not
paid to Company by ABT when due, interest shall accrue at the lesser of a rate
of [*], from the date due, until the date paid to Company, provided that ABT has
been given written notice of such overdue amounts and such amounts remain unpaid
for [*] after receipt of such notice.

4.3 Fee Increases. Company may increase its fees stated in Schedule
-------------
1 by no more than [*]. At least [*] prior to any such fee increase, Company
shall provide to ABT a revised Schedule 1, detailing the new fees.

5. CONFIDENTIALITY
---------------

5.1 Definition. "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" shall mean: (a)
----------
information regarding a party's financial condition, information systems,
business operations, plans or strategies, product information, and marketing
and distribution plans, methods, and techniques; (b) information that is
marked "confidential," "proprietary" or in like words, or that is summarized
in writing as confidential prior to or promptly after disclosure to the other
party; (c) any and all related research; (d) any and all designs, ideas,
concepts, and technology embodied therein; and (e) the provisions of this
Agreement. With respect to Company, "Confidential Information" shall include
the fees stated in Schedule 1. With respect to ABT, "Confidential Information"
shall include the digital images of motor vehicles and their related Vehicle
Profiles.

-4-

[*] Confidential Treatment Requested
<PAGE>

5.2 Exceptions. Information is not considered confidential or
----------
proprietary if it: (a) is or becomes generally available to the public other
than as a result of disclosure by the recipient, (b) was available to or
already known by the recipient on a non-confidential basis prior to its
disclosure by the other party; (c) is developed by the recipient independently
of any information acquired from the other party; (d) becomes available to the
recipient on a non-confidential basis from a third party, provided that the
recipient has no reason to know that the third party is or may be bound by a
confidentiality agreement with the disclosing party; or (e) is disclosed
pursuant to a court order or the requirement of any governmental authority.

5.3 Standard of Care. Each party will hold the other party's
----------------
Confidential Information in confidence and will safeguard it in at least the
same manner as a prudent business person would safeguard his or her own
proprietary information and trade secrets. The party receiving Confidential
Information will not, and will not permit any of its officers, directors,
employees, or agents (collectively, "Agents") to, directly or indirectly,
report, publish, distribute, copy, disclose, or otherwise disseminate the
Confidential Information, or any portion thereof, to any third party, and will
not use, or permit any of its Agents to use, the Confidential Information, or
any portion thereof, for the benefit of itself, its Agents, or any third party
or for any purpose, except as expressly authorized in writing by the
disclosing party. Disclosure will be limited to those Agents who must examine
the Confidential Information in order to perform this Agreement.

5.4 Injunctive Relief. If either party or any or its Agents
-----------------
attempts to use or disclose any of the Confidential Information in
contravention of this Agreement, then in addition to other available remedies,
the other party shall have the right to injunctive relief entering any such
attempt, it being acknowledged that legal remedies are inadequate.

6. LIMITATIONS
-----------

6.1 Limit of Liability. Company's annual, aggregate liability to
------------------
ABT for any damages or losses related to this Agreement, from any cause
whatsoever, and regardless of the theory of recovery, including without
limitation, tort claims, and ABT's sole and exclusive remedy, will be limited
to the total amounts actually paid to Company by ABT hereunder during the
[*] period immediately preceding the date that the cause of action arose.

6.2 Disclaimer of Warranties. COMPANY MAKES NO IMPLIED WARRANTIES
------------------------
WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED HEREUNDER, INCLUDING, WITHOUT
LIMITATION, THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE.

7. TERM-TERMINATION
----------------

7.1 Effective Date. This Agreement shall commence on February 1,
--------------
1997, and shall continue in effect until terminated as provided in this
Article.

-5-

[*] Confidential Treatment Requested
<PAGE>

7.2 Termination Without Cause. At any time, this Agreement may be
-------------------------
terminated by either party without cause by giving at least [*] prior written
notice to the other party.

7.3 Termination With Cause. This Agreement may be terminated
----------------------
immediately duties or obligations hereunder if, after receiving written notice
of such failure to discharge duties or obligations, such failure is not cured
to the reasonable satisfaction of the party sending notice within [*] of the
date of receipt of such notice.

7.4 Termination (or Failure to Pay. Company may terminate this
------------------------------
Agreement immediately upon written notice should ABT fail to pay any amount
due and owing Company, when and as required by this Agreement provided that
ABT has been given [*] prior written notice of the amount due and the intent to
terminate under this Section.

7.5 Bankruptcy. Insolvency, etc. Either party may terminate this
----------------------------
Agreement immediately upon receipt of written notice by the other party if: (a)
the other party commences a voluntary case or other proceeding under any
bankruptcy or insolvency law, or seeks the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
liquidator, custodian, or similar official of all or any substantial part of its
property; (b) an involuntary case or other preceding under any bankruptcy or
insolvency law seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator,
custodian, or similar official for all or any substantial part of the other
party's property, is commenced against the other party, and the other party
consents to any relief requested, or such proceeding is not stayed or discharged
within thirty (30) days; or (c) the other party makes a general assignment for
the benefit of creditors or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due.

8. RIGHTS AFTER TERMINATION
------------------------

8.1 Final [*]. A final [*] shall be sent to ABT within [*] after the
---------
end of the last Company fiscal [*] for which services are performed by Company
hereunder. ABT shall pay the amount specified therein when and as required by
Section 4.2.

8.2 Return of Confidential Information. Upon the effective date of
----------------------------------
termination of this Agreement, each party shall cease all use of the other
party's Confidential Information, and shall return to the other party all such
Confidential information in its possession. Within thirty (30) days after
termination of this Agreement for any reason.

9. DISPUTES
--------

9.1 Dispute Resolution Process. If any dispute arises in connection
--------------------------
with this Agreement and is not resolved in the normal course of business, the
parties will resolve the dispute, not by litigation or other judicial means,
but through a Dispute Resolution Process consisting of a progression of the
following: (a) direct negotiations between the project managers or other

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[*] Confidential Treatment Requested
<PAGE>

designated personnel; (b) negotiations at the senior executive level; (c)
mediation; and (d) binding arbitration.

9.2 Initiation of Process. Either party may initiate the Dispute
---------------------
Resolution Process by delivering written notice to the other party. Thereafter,
the parties shall mutually develop and agree upon the specific procedures and
guidelines which shall govern the Dispute Resolution Procedures. Except as
otherwise agreed by the parties, any mediation or arbitration proceedings shall
be conducted in accordance with the applicable rules of the American Arbitration
Association, as then in effect. The arbitrators shall have no authority to
award exemplary or punitive damages.

9.3 Equitable Relief. Nothing herein shall prohibit either party from
----------------
seeking a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction or other equitable
relief from a court of competent jurisdiction if, in its judgement, such action
is necessary to avoid irreparable damage or to preserve the status quo.

10. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
------------------------

10.1 Notices. All notices which are requited to be in writing shall
-------
be effective when received, and shall be delivered personally, by overnight
courier, or by certified U.S. mail, return receipt requested, to the parties
at the addresses listed below. Any notice of change of address will be
effective only upon receipt.

If to Company: President
Integrated Warranty Services, Inc.
19750 S. Vermont Avenue, Suite 225
Torrance, CA 90502

With a copy to: General Counsel, Law Department
Progressive Casualty Insurance Company
6300 Wilson Mills Road
Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143

If to ABT: President
Auto-By-Tel Marketing Corporation
18872 MacArthur Boulevard, 2nd Floor
Irvine, CA 92612

10.12 Waiver. No waiver or modification of this Agreement or of any
------
covenant condition, or limitation herein contained shall be valid unless agreed
to in a writing that expressly refers to this Agreement and is signed by both
parties. No evidence of any waiver or modification shall be offered or received
in evidence in any mediation, arbitration, or litigation proceeding between the
parties arising out of or affecting this Agreement, or the rights or obligations
of any party hereunder, unless such waiver or modification is in writing and
duly executed as aforesaid. The provisions of this Section may not be waived
except as herein set forth. The failure to insist upon strict compliance

-7-
<PAGE>

with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof shall not be deemed a
waiver of such terms, covenants, or conditions. No waiver or relinquishment of
any right or power hereunder, at any one or more times, shall be deemed a waiver
or relinquishment of such right or power at any other time or times.

10.3 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement determined to be
------------
invalid or unenforceable by a court, board, or tribunal of competent
jurisdiction (hereinafter referred to as "Court") shall not affect the other
provisions hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if
such provisions written in a manner acceptable to such Court or, if such
provision is found to be totally unacceptable to such Court in any form, then as
if such invalid provisions were omitted altogether.

10.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire
----------------
understanding between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof. All
prior or contemporaneous correspondence, proposals, offers, conversations, or
memoranda relating to the subject matter hereof, are merged in and replaced by
this Agreement, and are t any force or effect whatsoever. No change,
alteration, or modification hereof may be made except in a writing that
expressly refers to this Agreement and is signed by both parties. This
Agreement supersedes any previous agreements between the parties relating to
the subject matter hereof.

10.5 Independent Contractor. Company's relationship under this
----------------------
Agreement to ABT is, and shall remain at all times, that of independent
contractor. Neither party is responsible for the debts and liabilities of the
other. Nothing shall be deemed to create any form of principal-agent
relationship, partnership, or joint venture between the parties. Neither party
shall have any participation in, by way of management or otherwise, the
operations of the other, other than as provided for in this Agreement, and
nothing shall be deemed to create or recognize any relationship other than
that which is expressly described herein.

10.6 Binding Effect/Assignability. This Agreement shall be binding
----------------------------
upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any rights or
duties hereunder may be assigned or delegated by either party without the
prior consent in writing of the other party. Each party shall provide to the
other party such information relating to any permitted assignments or
delegations hereunder, as reasonably requested by the other party.

10.7 Force Majeure. Neither party shall be deemed to be in default
-------------
of any provision of this Agreement for any failure in performance resulting
from acts or events beyond the reasonable control of such party. For purposes
of this Agreement such acts shall include, without limitation, acts of God,
civil or military authority, civil disturbance, war, strikes, fires, or other
catastrophes, or any other force majeure event beyond the party's reasonable
control.

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

-8-
<PAGE>

10.9 Governing Law. This Agreement is entered into and shall be
-------------
governed by the laws of the State of California.

10.10 Captions. The captions contained in this Agreement are for
--------
purposes of organization only and do not constitute a part of the Agreement.

10.11 Survival. The provisions of Sections 5.0 (Confidentiality), 6.0
--------
(Limitations), 8.0 (Rights After Termination), and 9.0 (Disputes) shall survive
the termination of this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
signed by their duly authorized representatives, effective as of the lst day of
February, 1997.

AUTO-BY-TEL MARKETING INTEGRATED WARRANTY
CORPORATION SERVICES,INC.

By: By:
--------------------------- --------------------------------

Name: Name:
------------------------- ------------------------------
Title: Title:
------------------------ -----------------------------

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<PAGE>

SCHEDULE 1

SERVICE FEES

This Schedule is attached to and forms a part of the Vehicle
Inspection & Digital Image Service Agreement between Integrated Warranty
Services, Inc. ("Company") and Auto-By-Tel Marketing Corporation ("ABT"), dated
February 1, 1997 (the "Agreement"). Words or phrases that are capitalized, but
not defined in this Schedule shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the
Agreement.

1. Fees for the services provided by Company under the Agreement shall be
[*]:

[*]

2. In addition to the foregoing Service Fees, ABT shall pay to Company

[*]

Effective Date of Schedule: February 1, 1997.

Accepted and agreed:

AUTO-BY-TEL MARKETING INTEGRATED WARRANTY
CORPORATION SERVICES,INC.

By: By:
--------------------------- --------------------------------
Name: Name:
------------------------- ------------------------------
Title: Title:
------------------------ -----------------------------

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[*] Confidential Treatment Requested

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 11.1

AUTO-BY-TEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

EXHIBIT 11.1--STATEMENT RE: COMPUTATION OF LOSS PER SHARE
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INCEPTION
(JANUARY 31,
1995) TO YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
1995 1996
------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Net loss............................................. $(1,030,000) $(6,035,000)
=========== ===========
Shares used in computing loss per share:
Weighted average common shares outstanding......... 12,406,816 12,406,816
Net effect of Convertible Preferred Stock--using
the as-converted method........................... 1,063,396 1,593,427
Net effect of stock options issued at less than the
IPO price within twelve months, based on the
treasury stock method............................. 1,792,050 1,792,050
----------- -----------
15,262,262 15,792,293
=========== ===========
Net loss per common and equivalent share............. $ (0.07) $ (0.38)
=========== ===========
</TABLE>