EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.79

E MPLOYMENT A GREEMENT

This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into, at Irvine, California, as of February 8, 2002, by and between Autobytel Inc. , a corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its principal offices at 18872 MacArthur Blvd., Second Floor, Irvine, California, 92612-1400, a Delaware corporation, (hereinafter, collectively referred to as the “Company”), and Mark Garms, domiciled at 1002 Glen Way, Atlanta GA 30319.

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and with reference to the above recitals, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT

Section 1.1 The Company hereby employs Mark Garms as Director, Customer Experience, of the Company, on an “at-will” basis and Employee hereby accepts such employment by the Company, on such basis, commencing on March 4, 2002.

ARTICLE 2. DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYEE

Section 2.1 Employee shall be employed as a full time employee of the Company. In such capacity, Employee shall do and perform all services, acts, or things necessary or advisable as Director, Customer Experience of the Company, subject at all times to all present and future policies and requirements of the Company in connection with Company’s business. Employee shall perform all services required hereunder to the best of his/her ability.

ARTICLE 3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY

Section 3.1 The Company shall provide Employee with the compensation, incentives, benefits, and business expense reimbursement specified elsewhere in this Agreement. Employee and the Company acknowledge that such compensation, incentives, benefits, and business expense reimbursement are commensurate with the duties and obligations required of Employee hereunder.

ARTICLE 4. COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEE

Section 4.1 As compensation for services to be rendered by Employee pursuant to this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to pay Employee a semi-monthly (twenty-four (24) pay periods per year) salary of $5,208.33 ($125,000.00 annually) payable at such times or on such dates that employees of the Company are regularly and customarily paid during a subsequent 12 month period.

Section 4.2 Additionally, Employee will be granted stock options under one of the Company’s Stock Option Plans to purchase 1,500 shares of the Company common stock at an exercise price equal to the closing price on the first trading day of the month following the date of hire or approval date, as determined by the Company. So long as you are employed by the Company or any subsidiary thereof, thirty-three and one third percent (33 1/3%) shall vest and become exercisable twelve (12) calendar months after the applicable vesting commencement date, and one thirty-sixth (1/36) shall vest and become exercisable at the end of each successive calendar month thereafter for the following twenty-four (24) months.

Section 4.3 The Company shall have the right to deduct or withhold from the compensation due to Employee hereunder any and all sums required for federal income and social security taxes and all state or local taxes now applicable or that may be enacted and become applicable during the term of your employment.

ARTICLE 5. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Section 5.1 The Company agrees that Employee shall be eligible to participate in the company’s group benefits package. The Company will pay for all or part of the premium costs based upon plan selection and dependents’ covered. Medical, dental and life insurance benefits are effective on the 1 ^st of the month following 30 days of employment.

Section 5.2 Employee shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s 401(k) retirement savings plan on the first enrollment period following 90 days of employment. Enrollment in the Plan takes place on January 1 ^st , April 1 ^st , July 1 ^st and October 1 ^st of each year.

Section 5.3 Paid vacation is provided to all regular full-time Company personnel. Vacation is accrued monthly at a rate equal to two (2) weeks (80 hours) per year during the first five years of employment. After completing five (5) years of employment, employees will begin to accrue at a rate equal to three (3) weeks (120 hours) per year. Employees begin accruing vacation in the first month in which they have completed 120 hours of service. However, paid vacation may not be taken until an employee has completed six (6) months of service. Vacation taken prior to six (6) months will be

unpaid, and may only be taken with supervisor approval. Only accrued, but unused vacation will be paid out to employees in the event of termination.

Section 5.4 Regular full-time employees are eligible for up to six (6) days of paid sick time off per year. Employees who have been employed since January 1 ^st will be eligible for the full six (6) days of paid sick time off. Employees hired after the first of the year will receive a pro-rated amount of time based upon their date of hire. Because sick time does not accrue, balances are not paid out to an employee in the event of termination.

ARTICLE 6. BUSINESS EXPENSES

Section 6.1 The Company shall pay or reimburse Employee for all reasonable and authorized business expenses incurred by Employee during the term of employment; such payment or reimbursement shall not be unreasonably withheld so long as said business expenses have been incurred for and promote the business of the Company and are normally and customarily incurred by employees in comparable positions at other comparable businesses in the same or similar market. Notwithstanding the above, the Company shall not pay or reimburse Employee for the costs of any membership fees or dues for private clubs, civic organizations, and similar organizations or entities, unless and until such organizations and the fees and costs associated therewith have been approved in writing by the Board of Directors of the Company.

Section 6.2 The Company shall reimburse Employee for business-related mileage at the reimbursement rate approved by the United States Internal Revenue Service, as such rate may change from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not reimburse Employee for mileage traveled to the Company’s office from Employee’s residence, or from the Company’s office to Employee’s residence. Nothing contained in this Section 6.2 shall be construed as requiring the Company to reimburse Employee for the cost of gasoline for his/her motor vehicle.

Section 6.3 As a condition to reimbursement, Employee shall furnish to the Company adequate records and other documentary evidence required by federal and state statutes and regulations for the substantiation of each expenditure as an income tax deduction. Employee acknowledges and agrees that failure to furnish the required documentation may result in the Company denying all or part of the expense for which reimbursement is sought.

ARTICLE 7. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

The Company is an “At-Will” employer. You are free to terminate your employment with the Company at any time, with or without reason, and the Company has the right to terminate your employment at any time with or without reason. Although the Company may choose to terminate employment for cause, cause is not required. The “at-will” nature of employment cannot be changed except by a written agreement signed by the President and CEO of the Company and Employee.

ARTICLE 8. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

Section 8.1 Employee shall devote all or substantially all of his/her entire productive time, ability and attention to the business of the Company during the term of employment. Employee