FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *   BENDER JAMES R 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) 01/07/2019 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol AUTONATION, INC. [AN] (Last) (First) (Middle) 200 SW 1ST AVE, SUITE 1600 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP of Sales 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) (Street) FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33301 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 4) 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4) 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5) Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 3,173 D Â

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.			SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (1)	03/01/2023	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	1,626	$ 43.45	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (1)	03/01/2023	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	1,626	$ 46.22	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (1)	03/01/2023	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	1,626	$ 47.25	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (1)	03/01/2023	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	1,626	$ 48.8	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (2)	03/03/2024	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	2,130	$ 52.65	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (2)	03/03/2024	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	2,130	$ 57.44	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (2)	03/03/2024	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	2,130	$ 54.04	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (2)	03/03/2024	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	2,130	$ 58.29	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (3)	03/02/2025	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	2,130	$ 62.6	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (3)	03/02/2025	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	2,130	$ 62.93	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (3)	03/02/2025	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	2,130	$ 58.08	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (3)	03/02/2025	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	2,130	$ 64.48	D	Â
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	  (4)	03/01/2026	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	8,520	$ 52.53	D	Â
Restricted Stock Units	  (5)	  (5)	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	4,526	$ (6)	D	Â
Restricted Stock Units	  (7)	  (7)	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	4,576	$ (6)	D	Â

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
BENDER JAMES R 200 SW 1ST AVE SUITE 1600 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33301	Â	Â	  EVP of Sales	Â

Signatures

/s/ C. Coleman Edmunds, Attorney-in-Fact		01/17/2019
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	The option became exercisable in 25% annual increments on each of the first four anniversaries of June 1, 2013.
(2)	The option became exercisable in 25% annual increments on each of the first four anniversaries of June 1, 2014.
(3)	The option becomes exercisable in 25% annual increments on each of the first four anniversaries of June 1, 2015, subject to continued employment with AutoNation, Inc. (the "Company") through the applicable vesting date.
(4)	The option becomes exercisable in 25% annual increments on each of the first four anniversaries of March 1, 2016, subject to continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date.
(5)	The restricted stock units vest in 25% annual increments on each of the first four anniversaries of March 1, 2017, subject to continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date.
(6)	Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Company common stock, or at the Company's election, the cash value thereof.
(7)	The restricted stock units vest in 25% annual increments on each of the first four anniversaries of March 1, 2018, subject to continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date.
  Remarks: Exhibit Index Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney

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