Accounts receivable, (net of allowances for bad debts and customer credits of $540 and $621 at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively) Additional paid-in capital Cost of revenues, depreciation Advertising Accounts receivable, allowances for bad debts and customer credits CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS [Abstract] CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Prepaid expenses and other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts payable Accrued expenses and other liabilities Severance Costs Compensation Related Costs, General [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Common stock, authorized (in shares) Common stock, issued (in shares) Common stock, outstanding (in shares) Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, $0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized and 46,114,004 and 45,689,062 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Cost of revenues (excludes depreciation of $221 and $243 in 2011 and 2010, respectively) Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Current liabilities: Deferred revenues Deferred Revenue, Current Depreciation and amortization Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share Earnings Per Share, Diluted AVV Divestiture Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure [Text Block] Retirement Savings Plan Postemployment Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Share-based compensation Patent litigation settlement Gain (Loss) Related to Litigation Settlement General and administrative Gross profit Gross Profit CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS [Abstract] CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Parenthetical) [Abstract] Loss from continuing operations Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent Loss from continuing operations (in dollars per share) Discontinued operations, net (in dollars per share) Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Other non-current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Intangible assets, net Goodwill Total liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Long-term strategic investment Long-term Investments Net cash provided by financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash flows from financing activities: Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Cash flows from investing activities: Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Cash flows from operating activities: Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) Net loss Net loss Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Technology support Interest and other income, net Convertible note payable Operating income (loss) Operating Income (Loss) Revenues: Realized gains reclassified to the Statement of Operations Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment on Derivatives Included in Net Income, Net of Tax Preferred stock, authorized (in shares) Preferred stock, outstanding (in shares) Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Proceeds from AVV Divestiture Proceeds from sale of investment Property and equipment, net Provision for bad debts Change in long-term strategic investment Payments to Acquire Investments Purchases of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Purchase of short-term investment Payments to Acquire Short-term Investments Related Party Transactions Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Accumulated deficit Total net revenues Revenue, Net Other revenues Purchase requests SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Text Block] Sales and marketing CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS [Abstract] CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY [Abstract] Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Stockholders' equity: Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid for income taxes Total current assets Assets, Current Current assets: Common Stock [Member] Total assets Assets Other non-current liabilities Gain on AVV divestiture Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal Statement [Table] Assets Assets Assets [Abstract] Statement [Line Items] Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block] Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Issuance of warrants Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Warrant Issued Deferred revenues Operating expenses: Total operating expenses Operating Expenses Basic and diluted loss per common share: Non-current liabilities Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Total stockholders' equity Balance Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Income tax provision Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 11,445,187 shares authorized; none outstanding Premium on convertible note Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Convertible Debt with Conversion Feature Purchase of Autotropolis and Cyber Ventures Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Deficit [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Equity Component [Domain] Shares forfeited pursuant to stock awards Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award, Forfeitures Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Shares forfeited pursuant to stock awards (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Forfeited Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period Discontinued operations, net Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Acquisition of Autotropolis, Inc. and Cyber Ventures, Inc. Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and contingencies (Note 6) Restricted cash Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Organization and Operations of Autobytel Nature of Operations [Text Block] Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Accrued Liabilities, Current Share-based compensation Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Proceeds from exercise of stock options Other assets Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Organization and Operations of Autobytel [Abstract] Acquisition of Autotropolis, Inc. and Cyber Ventures, Inc. [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Patent Litigation Settlement Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block] Income Taxes [Abstract] Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Abstract] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Severance Costs [Abstract] Retirement Savings Plan [Abstract] AVV Divestiture [Abstract] Related Party Transactions [Abstract] SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS [Abstract] Selected Balance Sheet Accounts Supplemental Balance Sheet Disclosures [Text Block] Issuance of convertible note related to Autotropolis/Cyber Ventures acquisition Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities: Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Entity [Text Block] Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets Sum of the amounts paid in advance for capitalized costs that will be expensed with the passage of time or the occurrence of a triggering event, and will be charged against earnings within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. And, aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of current assets not separately presented elsewhere in the balance sheet. Current assets are expected to be realized or consumed within one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Prepaid expenses and other current assets Provision For Customer Credits Amount of the current period expense for credits applied to customer accounts. Provision for customer credits Selected Balance Sheet Accounts [Abstract] Patent Litigation Settlement [Abstract] Write Down Of Property And Equipment This custom extenstion represents write downs of the company's property and equipment. Write-down of property and equipment Payment Of Contingent Fee Arrangement This custom element represents payments made pursuant to a contingent fee arrangement. Payment of contingent fee arrangement Subsequent Events [Text Block] Subsequent Events [Abstract]