Supplemental Consolidating Financial Information Supplemental Consolidating Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	$ 309,468	$ 297,135
Interest Income	74,974	70,528
Dealer Finance and Other Income	2,800	175
Other Revenue	0	0
Equity in Income of Subsidiaries	0	0
Total Revenue	387,242	367,838
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Used Vehicles Sold	211,638	197,161
Provision for Credit Losses	77,842	60,342
Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	10,186	10,354
Non-Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	1,319	1,043
Senior Secured Debt Interest Expense	6,641	6,606
Selling and Marketing	8,917	9,470
General and Administrative	46,360	44,724
Depreciation Expense	5,408	4,951
Total Costs and Expenses	368,311	334,651
Income Before Income Taxes	18,931	33,187
Income Tax Expense	342	392
Net Income	18,589	32,795
Drive Time Automotive Group, Inc. [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries Combined [Member]
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	309,468	297,135
Interest Income	0	0
Dealer Finance and Other Income	0	0
Other Revenue	12,130	11,413
Equity in Income of Subsidiaries	0	0
Total Revenue	321,598	308,548
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Used Vehicles Sold	211,638	197,161
Provision for Credit Losses	0	0
Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Non-Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	957	813
Senior Secured Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Selling and Marketing	8,982	9,405
General and Administrative	24,837	20,736
Depreciation Expense	4,527	4,210
Total Costs and Expenses	250,941	232,325
Income Before Income Taxes	70,657	76,223
Income Tax Expense	0	0
Net Income	70,657	76,223
Drive Time Automotive Group, Inc. [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	0	0
Interest Income	0	0
Dealer Finance and Other Income	0	0
Other Revenue	0	0
Equity in Income of Subsidiaries	0	0
Total Revenue	0	0
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Used Vehicles Sold	0	0
Provision for Credit Losses	0	0
Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Non-Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	135	0
Senior Secured Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Selling and Marketing	0	0
General and Administrative	(952)	(306)
Depreciation Expense	0	0
Total Costs and Expenses	(817)	(306)
Income Before Income Taxes	817	306
Income Tax Expense	83	56
Net Income	734	250
Drive Time Automotive Group, Inc. [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	0	0
Interest Income	0	0
Dealer Finance and Other Income	0	0
Other Revenue	12,546	6,760
Equity in Income of Subsidiaries	71,391	76,510
Total Revenue	83,937	83,270
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Used Vehicles Sold	0	0
Provision for Credit Losses	0	0
Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Non-Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	13	10
Senior Secured Debt Interest Expense	3,321	3,303
Selling and Marketing	0	0
General and Administrative	2,195	2,113
Depreciation Expense	0	0
Total Costs and Expenses	5,529	5,426
Income Before Income Taxes	78,408	77,844
Income Tax Expense	70	108
Net Income	78,338	77,736
Drive Time Automotive Group, Inc. [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	0	0
Interest Income	0	0
Dealer Finance and Other Income	0	0
Other Revenue	0	0
Equity in Income of Subsidiaries	(71,391)	(76,510)
Total Revenue	(71,391)	(76,510)
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Used Vehicles Sold	0	0
Provision for Credit Losses	0	0
Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Non-Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Senior Secured Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Selling and Marketing	0	0
General and Administrative	0	0
Depreciation Expense	0	0
Total Costs and Expenses	0	0
Income Before Income Taxes	(71,391)	(76,510)
Income Tax Expense	0	0
Net Income	(71,391)	(76,510)
Drive Time Automotive Group, Inc. [Member] | Consolidated [Member]
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	309,468	297,135
Interest Income	0	0
Dealer Finance and Other Income	0	0
Other Revenue	24,676	18,173
Equity in Income of Subsidiaries	0	0
Total Revenue	334,144	315,308
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Used Vehicles Sold	211,638	197,161
Provision for Credit Losses	0	0
Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Non-Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	1,105	823
Senior Secured Debt Interest Expense	3,321	3,303
Selling and Marketing	8,982	9,405
General and Administrative	26,080	22,543
Depreciation Expense	4,527	4,210
Total Costs and Expenses	255,653	237,445
Income Before Income Taxes	78,491	77,863
Income Tax Expense	153	164
Net Income	78,338	77,699
DT Acceptance Corp [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries Combined [Member]
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	0	0
Interest Income	3	0
Dealer Finance and Other Income	2,800	175
Other Revenue	15,980	14,525
Equity in Income of Subsidiaries	0	0
Total Revenue	18,783	14,700
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Used Vehicles Sold	0	0
Provision for Credit Losses	0	0
Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Non-Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	20	24
Senior Secured Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Selling and Marketing	14	65
General and Administrative	16,558	15,207
Depreciation Expense	419	260
Total Costs and Expenses	17,011	15,556
Income Before Income Taxes	1,772	(856)
Income Tax Expense	0	0
Net Income	1,772	(856)
DT Acceptance Corp [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	0	0
Interest Income	73,291	63,490
Dealer Finance and Other Income	0	0
Other Revenue	0	0
Equity in Income of Subsidiaries	0	0
Total Revenue	73,291	63,490
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Used Vehicles Sold	0	0
Provision for Credit Losses	0	0
Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	10,186	10,354
Non-Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	464	494
Senior Secured Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Selling and Marketing	0	0
General and Administrative	14,125	12,413
Depreciation Expense	135	154
Total Costs and Expenses	24,910	23,415
Income Before Income Taxes	48,381	40,075
Income Tax Expense	0	0
Net Income	48,381	40,075
DT Acceptance Corp [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	0	0
Interest Income	75,249	70,831
Dealer Finance and Other Income	0	0
Other Revenue	523	569
Equity in Income of Subsidiaries	50,153	39,219
Total Revenue	125,925	110,619
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Used Vehicles Sold	0	0
Provision for Credit Losses	77,842	60,342
Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Non-Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	86,788	71,894
Senior Secured Debt Interest Expense	3,320	3,303
Selling and Marketing	(79)	0
General and Administrative	17,287	19,429
Depreciation Expense	327	327
Total Costs and Expenses	185,485	155,295
Income Before Income Taxes	(59,560)	(44,676)
Income Tax Expense	189	228
Net Income	(59,749)	(44,904)
DT Acceptance Corp [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	0	0
Interest Income	(73,569)	(63,793)
Dealer Finance and Other Income	0	0
Other Revenue	(15,994)	(14,504)
Equity in Income of Subsidiaries	(50,153)	(39,219)
Total Revenue	(139,716)	(117,516)
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Used Vehicles Sold	0	0
Provision for Credit Losses	0	0
Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Non-Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	(73,569)	(63,793)
Senior Secured Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Selling and Marketing	0	0
General and Administrative	(15,994)	(14,504)
Depreciation Expense	0	0
Total Costs and Expenses	(89,563)	(78,297)
Income Before Income Taxes	(50,153)	(39,219)
Income Tax Expense	0	0
Net Income	(50,153)	(39,219)
DT Acceptance Corp [Member] | Consolidated [Member]
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	0	0
Interest Income	74,974	70,528
Dealer Finance and Other Income	2,800	175
Other Revenue	509	590
Equity in Income of Subsidiaries	0	0
Total Revenue	78,283	71,293
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Used Vehicles Sold	0	0
Provision for Credit Losses	77,842	60,342
Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	10,186	10,354
Non-Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	13,703	8,619
Senior Secured Debt Interest Expense	3,320	3,303
Selling and Marketing	(65)	65
General and Administrative	31,976	32,545
Depreciation Expense	881	741
Total Costs and Expenses	137,843	115,969
Income Before Income Taxes	(59,560)	(44,676)
Income Tax Expense	189	228
Net Income	(59,749)	(44,904)
Eliminations [Member]
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	0	0
Interest Income	0	0
Dealer Finance and Other Income	0	0
Other Revenue	(25,185)	(18,763)
Equity in Income of Subsidiaries	0	0
Total Revenue	(25,185)	(18,763)
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Used Vehicles Sold	0	0
Provision for Credit Losses	0	0
Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Non-Portfolio Debt Interest Expense	(13,489)	(8,399)
Senior Secured Debt Interest Expense	0	0
Selling and Marketing	0	0
General and Administrative	(11,696)	(10,364)
Depreciation Expense	0	0
Total Costs and Expenses	(25,185)	(18,763)
Income Before Income Taxes	0	0
Income Tax Expense	0	0
Net Income	$ 0	$ 0