Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	DRIVETIME AUTOMOTIVE GROUP INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001012704
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
DriveTime Automotive Group, Inc [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	101.7696
DT Acceptance Corp [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	101.7696