UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) June 20, 2002

                          HOMETOWN AUTO RETAILERS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

    Delaware                         000-24669                     06-1501703
(State or other                    (Commission                  (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                    File Number)              Identification No.)
 incorporation)

                              774 Straits Turnpike
                               Watertown, CT 06795
               (Address Of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (860) 945-6900

                                       N/A
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

<PAGE>

Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.

      On June 20, 2002, the Company dismissed Arthur Andersen LLP ("Andersen")
as the Company's independent public accountants. This dismissal was made upon
the recommendation of the audit committee of the Company's board of directors
and with the approval of the Company's board of directors. The decision was
based on the continuing uncertainty regarding Andersen's future. Hometown is in
the process of interviewing new independent public accountants for the fiscal
year 2002.

      Andersen's reports on the Company's consolidated financial statements for
the years ended December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000 (Restated) did not
contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or
modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

      During the years ended December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000 (Restated)
and through the date of this Form 8-K, there were no disagreements with Andersen
on any matter of accounting principle or practice, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to Andersen's
satisfaction, would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter in
connection with their report on the Company's consolidated financial statements
for such years; and there were no reportable events as defined in Item
304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

      The Company provided Andersen with a copy of the foregoing disclosures.

      On June 25, 2002, Hometown Auto Retailers, Inc. issued a press release
announcing the dismissal of Andersen. The press release is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

Item 7: Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

      (c) Exhibit
         Number                   Description
         ------                   -----------

          99.1                    Press Release, dated June 25, 2002.

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

                                        Hometown Auto Retailers, Inc.


                                        By: /s/ Charles F. Schwartz
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name: Charles F. Schwartz
                                        Title: Chief Financial Officer

Dated: June 25, 2002
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HOMETOWN AUTO RETAILERS INC", "cik": "0001061117", "assigned-sic": "5500", "irs-number": "061501703", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-24669", "film-number": "02686680"}, "business-address": {"street1": "774 STRAITS TURNPIKE", "city": "WATERTOWN", "state": "CT", "zip": "06795", "phone": "8609454900"}}
UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) June 20, 2002

                          HOMETOWN AUTO RETAILERS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

    Delaware                         000-24669                     06-1501703
(State or other                    (Commission                  (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                    File Number)              Identification No.)
 incorporation)

                              774 Straits Turnpike
                               Watertown, CT 06795
               (Address Of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (860) 945-6900

                                       N/A
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.

      On June 20, 2002, the Company dismissed Arthur Andersen LLP ("Andersen")
as the Company's independent public accountants. This dismissal was made upon
the recommendation of the audit committee of the Company's board of directors
and with the approval of the Company's board of directors. The decision was
based on the continuing uncertainty regarding Andersen's future. Hometown is in
the process of interviewing new independent public accountants for the fiscal
year 2002.

      Andersen's reports on the Company's consolidated financial statements for
the years ended December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000 (Restated) did not
contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or
modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

      During the years ended December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000 (Restated)
and through the date of this Form 8-K, there were no disagreements with Andersen
on any matter of accounting principle or practice, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to Andersen's
satisfaction, would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter in
connection with their report on the Company's consolidated financial statements
for such years; and there were no reportable events as defined in Item
304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

      The Company provided Andersen with a copy of the foregoing disclosures.

      On June 25, 2002, Hometown Auto Retailers, Inc. issued a press release
announcing the dismissal of Andersen. The press release is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

Item 7: Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

      (c) Exhibit
         Number                   Description
         ------                   -----------

          99.1                    Press Release, dated June 25, 2002.
SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

                                        Hometown Auto Retailers, Inc.

                                        By: /s/ Charles F. Schwartz
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name: Charles F. Schwartz
                                        Title: Chief Financial Officer

Dated: June 25, 2002