Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Aug. 01, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	NICHOLAS FINANCIAL INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001000045
Trading Symbol	nick
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--03-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		12,061,426
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1