Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
DriveTime Sales of Used Vehicles																	$ 920,507	$ 838,242	$ 760,767
DriveTime Interest Income																	299,382	283,065	264,974
GO Financial Dealer Finance and Other Income																	2,977	0	0
Total Revenue	247,869	304,957	302,202	367,838	227,034	286,012	275,405	332,856	219,633		263,323		245,747		297,038		1,222,866	1,121,307	1,025,741
Depreciation & Amortization																	20,150	16,075	13,751
Interest Expense																	73,092
Total Other Costs and Operating Expenses																	1,069,077
Total Costs and Expenses	254,869	300,190	272,609	334,651	223,557	273,575	242,975	291,841	220,437	[1]	244,838	[1]	225,975	[1]	263,405	[1]	1,162,319	1,031,948	954,655	[1]
Income Before Income Taxes	(7,000)	4,767	29,593	33,187	3,477	12,437	32,430	41,015	(804)		18,485		19,772		33,633		60,547	89,359	71,086
Assets	1,989,117				1,766,829												1,989,117	1,766,829
Liabilities	1,521,564				1,308,980												1,521,564	1,308,980
Total Shareholders' Equity	467,553				457,849				418,767								467,553	457,849	418,767		293,145
DriveTime [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
DriveTime Sales of Used Vehicles																	920,507
DriveTime Interest Income																	299,382
Depreciation & Amortization																	19,740
Interest Expense																	73,092
Total Other Costs and Operating Expenses																	1,064,641
Total Costs and Expenses																	1,157,473
Income Before Income Taxes																	62,416
Assets	1,946,714																1,946,714
Liabilities	1,520,866																1,520,866
Total Shareholders' Equity	425,849																425,849
GO Financial [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
GO Financial Dealer Finance and Other Income																	2,977
Depreciation & Amortization																	410
Interest Expense																	0
Total Other Costs and Operating Expenses																	4,436
Total Costs and Expenses																	4,846
Income Before Income Taxes																	(1,869)
Assets	42,403																42,403
Liabilities	698																698
Total Shareholders' Equity	$ 41,704																$ 41,704

[1] Includes net loss on extinguishment of debt.