Carfax Renews Partnership with Sonic Automotive

FAIRFAX, Va.--Carfax and Sonic Automotive, Inc. today announced Carfax will remain the sole approved provider of vehicle history information for all Sonic Automotive Group dealerships. For the third straight year, Carfax Vehicle History Reports will play a key role in trade evaluations and building consumer confidence with Sonic customers.

“Sonic Automotive prides itself on providing our customers products and services of exceptional quality and value,” explained Jeff Rachor, President of Sonic Automotive, Inc. “Carfax Vehicle History Reports exemplify these beliefs and provide peace of mind to our sales associates and our customers.”

Sonic Automotive, Inc., headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, operates 173 dealership franchises in 15 states. Every Sonic location has access to Carfax Vehicle History Reports, which provide valuable information – including number of owners – to the dealer and prospective buyers. Carfax Vehicle History Reports are available free to used car shoppers at Sonic dealerships and online.

“We’re proud to be the provider of choice for the third-largest auto group in the country,” said Bill Eager, vice president of the dealer business unit at Carfax. “Our continued partnership speaks volumes about the trust and value Carfax Vehicle History Reports bring to Sonic Automotive, its customers and, as a publicly-traded company, its shareholders as well.”

Carfax works with more than 29,000 dealerships and businesses nationwide. In addition, Carfax Vehicle History Reports are a key component in the certification process for twenty-three manufacturer Certified Pre-Owned programs.

About Carfax

Millions of consumers rely on the most trusted provider of vehicle history information, Carfax, each year. Using the unique 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) found on vehicle dashboards and title documents, Carfax instantly generates a detailed Vehicle History Report on any used car or light truck. Carfax Vehicle History Reports™ provide information that can impact a consumer's decision about a used car or truck. Carfax is a wholly-owned subsidiary of R.L. Polk & Co. For more information, visit www.carfax.com.

About Sonic Automotive, Inc.

Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 300 Company, is one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States operating 173 franchises and 40 collision repair centers. Sonic can be reached on the Web at www.sonicautomotive.com.

Included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to anticipated acquisition activity, disposition activity, earnings per share and expense levels and debt-to-capital levels of Sonic Automotive, Inc. There are many factors that affect management’s views about future events and trends of the Company’s business. These factors involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results or trends to differ materially from management’s view, including without limitation, economic conditions, risks associated with acquisitions and the risk factors described in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information.