Supplemental Consolidating Financial Information - Supplemental Consolidating Balance Sheets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$ 27,108		$ 26,480	$ 23,156		$ 25,930
Restricted Cash and Investments Held in Trust	146,840		107,072
Finance Receivables	1,826,899		1,634,622
Allowance for Credit Losses	(284,719)	(269,622)	(252,590)	(244,811)	(237,027)	(221,533)
Finance Receivables, net	1,542,180		1,382,032
Dealer Finance Receivables, net	92,278	74,753	40,956	11,633	5,473	24
Vehicle Inventory	226,505		270,733
Property and Equipment, net	99,176		94,397
Investments in Subsidiaries	0		0
Other Assets	58,608		67,447
Total Assets	2,192,695		1,989,117
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts Payable	20,882		17,346
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities	95,999		81,939
Portfolio Term Financings	1,108,796		1,049,478
Portfolio Warehouse Facilities	78,000		57,200
Senior Notes, Including Related Party Portion	253,766		198,320
Other Secured Notes Payable	136,016		117,281
Total Liabilities	1,693,459		1,521,564
Total Shareholders' Equity	499,236		467,553
Total Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity	2,192,695		1,989,117
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents	0		0	0		0
Restricted Cash and Investments Held in Trust	0		0
Finance Receivables	0		0
Allowance for Credit Losses	0		0
Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Dealer Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Vehicle Inventory	0		0
Property and Equipment, net	0		0
Investments in Subsidiaries	0		0
Other Assets	(2,814,906)		(1,736,027)
Total Assets	(2,814,906)		(1,736,027)
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts Payable	0		0
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities	(2,814,906)		(1,736,027)
Portfolio Term Financings	0		0
Portfolio Warehouse Facilities	0		0
Senior Notes, Including Related Party Portion	0		0
Other Secured Notes Payable	0		0
Total Liabilities	(2,814,906)		(1,736,027)
Total Shareholders' Equity	0		0
Total Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity	(2,814,906)		(1,736,027)
Drive Time Automotive Group, Inc. [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries Combined [Member]
ASSETS [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents	9,313		6,937	4,467		2,869
Restricted Cash and Investments Held in Trust	0		0
Finance Receivables	0		0
Allowance for Credit Losses	0		0
Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Dealer Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Vehicle Inventory	226,505		270,733
Property and Equipment, net	76,028		70,668
Investments in Subsidiaries	0		0
Other Assets	1,654,173		1,226,409
Total Assets	1,966,019		1,574,747
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts Payable	20,876		17,342
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities	1,538,002		1,006,791
Portfolio Term Financings	0		0
Portfolio Warehouse Facilities	0		0
Senior Notes, Including Related Party Portion	0		0
Other Secured Notes Payable	111,321		91,320
Total Liabilities	1,670,199		1,115,453
Total Shareholders' Equity	295,820		459,294
Total Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity	1,966,019		1,574,747
Drive Time Automotive Group, Inc. [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents	2,893		482	169		595
Restricted Cash and Investments Held in Trust	0		0
Finance Receivables	0		0
Allowance for Credit Losses	0		0
Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Dealer Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Vehicle Inventory	0		0
Property and Equipment, net	311		0
Investments in Subsidiaries	0		0
Other Assets	28,775		26,480
Total Assets	31,979		26,962
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts Payable	0		0
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities	349		695
Portfolio Term Financings	0		0
Portfolio Warehouse Facilities	0		0
Senior Notes, Including Related Party Portion	0		0
Other Secured Notes Payable	10,806		11,733
Total Liabilities	11,155		12,428
Total Shareholders' Equity	20,824		14,534
Total Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity	31,979		26,962
Drive Time Automotive Group, Inc. [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents	5		5	5		5
Restricted Cash and Investments Held in Trust	0		0
Finance Receivables	0		0
Allowance for Credit Losses	0		0
Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Dealer Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Vehicle Inventory	0		0
Property and Equipment, net	0		0
Investments in Subsidiaries	314,220		473,828
Other Assets	537,333		383,689
Total Assets	851,558		857,522
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts Payable	0		0
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities	601,132		602,314
Portfolio Term Financings	0		0
Portfolio Warehouse Facilities	0		0
Senior Notes, Including Related Party Portion	126,883		99,160
Other Secured Notes Payable	0		0
Total Liabilities	728,015		701,474
Total Shareholders' Equity	123,543		156,048
Total Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity	851,558		857,522
Drive Time Automotive Group, Inc. [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents	0		0	0		0
Restricted Cash and Investments Held in Trust	0		0
Finance Receivables	0		0
Allowance for Credit Losses	0		0
Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Dealer Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Vehicle Inventory	0		0
Property and Equipment, net	0		0
Investments in Subsidiaries	(314,220)		(473,828)
Other Assets	(722,397)		(711,814)
Total Assets	(1,036,617)		(1,185,642)
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts Payable	0		0
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities	(722,397)		(711,814)
Portfolio Term Financings	0		0
Portfolio Warehouse Facilities	0		0
Senior Notes, Including Related Party Portion	0		0
Other Secured Notes Payable	0		0
Total Liabilities	(722,397)		(711,814)
Total Shareholders' Equity	(314,220)		(473,828)
Total Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity	(1,036,617)		(1,185,642)
Drive Time Automotive Group, Inc. [Member] | Consolidated [Member]
ASSETS [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents	12,211		7,424	4,641		3,469
Restricted Cash and Investments Held in Trust	0		0
Finance Receivables	0		0
Allowance for Credit Losses	0		0
Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Dealer Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Vehicle Inventory	226,505		270,733
Property and Equipment, net	76,339		70,668
Investments in Subsidiaries	0		0
Other Assets	1,497,884		924,764
Total Assets	1,812,939		1,273,589
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts Payable	20,876		17,342
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities	1,417,086		897,986
Portfolio Term Financings	0		0
Portfolio Warehouse Facilities	0		0
Senior Notes, Including Related Party Portion	126,883		99,160
Other Secured Notes Payable	122,127		103,053
Total Liabilities	1,686,972		1,117,541
Total Shareholders' Equity	125,967		156,048
Total Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity	1,812,939		1,273,589
DTAC [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries Combined [Member]
ASSETS [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents	335		9	72		52
Restricted Cash and Investments Held in Trust	23,505		16,163
Finance Receivables	1,035		0
Allowance for Credit Losses	0		0
Finance Receivables, net	1,035		0
Dealer Finance Receivables, net	92,278		40,956
Vehicle Inventory	0		0
Property and Equipment, net	5,450		5,807
Investments in Subsidiaries	0		0
Other Assets	852,694		496,384
Total Assets	975,297		559,319
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts Payable	6		4
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities	1,037,690		521,476
Portfolio Term Financings	0		0
Portfolio Warehouse Facilities	0		0
Senior Notes, Including Related Party Portion	0		0
Other Secured Notes Payable	1,546		1,774
Total Liabilities	1,039,242		523,254
Total Shareholders' Equity	(63,945)		36,065
Total Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity	975,297		559,319
DTAC [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents	329		423	282		396
Restricted Cash and Investments Held in Trust	123,335		90,909
Finance Receivables	0		0
Allowance for Credit Losses	0		0
Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Dealer Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Vehicle Inventory	0		0
Property and Equipment, net	15,077		15,216
Investments in Subsidiaries	0		0
Other Assets	1,482,704		1,352,295
Total Assets	1,621,445		1,458,843
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts Payable	0		0
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities	6,045		6,703
Portfolio Term Financings	1,120,866		1,069,974
Portfolio Warehouse Facilities	78,000		57,200
Senior Notes, Including Related Party Portion	0		0
Other Secured Notes Payable	12,343		12,454
Total Liabilities	1,217,254		1,146,331
Total Shareholders' Equity	404,191		312,512
Total Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity	1,621,445		1,458,843
DTAC [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
ASSETS [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents	14,233		18,624	18,161		22,013
Restricted Cash and Investments Held in Trust	0		0
Finance Receivables	1,825,864		1,634,622
Allowance for Credit Losses	(284,719)		(252,590)
Finance Receivables, net	1,541,145		1,382,032
Dealer Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Vehicle Inventory	0		0
Property and Equipment, net	2,310		2,706
Investments in Subsidiaries	340,246		348,577
Other Assets	1,457,333		887,248
Total Assets	3,355,267		2,639,187
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts Payable	0		0
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities	2,855,115		2,228,522
Portfolio Term Financings	0		0
Portfolio Warehouse Facilities	0		0
Senior Notes, Including Related Party Portion	126,883		99,160
Other Secured Notes Payable	0		0
Total Liabilities	2,981,998		2,327,682
Total Shareholders' Equity	373,269		311,505
Total Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity	3,355,267		2,639,187
DTAC [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents	0		0	0		0
Restricted Cash and Investments Held in Trust	0		0
Finance Receivables	0		0
Allowance for Credit Losses	0		0
Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Dealer Finance Receivables, net	0		0
Vehicle Inventory	0		0
Property and Equipment, net	0		0
Investments in Subsidiaries	(340,246)		(348,577)
Other Assets	(2,417,101)		(1,857,217)
Total Assets	(2,757,347)		(2,205,794)
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts Payable	0		0
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities	(2,405,031)		(1,836,721)
Portfolio Term Financings	(12,070)		(20,496)
Portfolio Warehouse Facilities	0		0
Senior Notes, Including Related Party Portion	0		0
Other Secured Notes Payable	0		0
Total Liabilities	(2,417,101)		(1,857,217)
Total Shareholders' Equity	(340,246)		(348,577)
Total Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity	(2,757,347)		(2,205,794)
DTAC [Member] | Consolidated [Member]
ASSETS [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents	14,897		19,056	18,515		22,461
Restricted Cash and Investments Held in Trust	146,840		107,072
Finance Receivables	1,826,899		1,634,622
Allowance for Credit Losses	(284,719)		(252,590)
Finance Receivables, net	1,542,180		1,382,032
Dealer Finance Receivables, net	92,278		40,956
Vehicle Inventory	0		0
Property and Equipment, net	22,837		23,729
Investments in Subsidiaries	0		0
Other Assets	1,375,630		878,710
Total Assets	3,194,662		2,451,555
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts Payable	6		4
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities	1,493,819		919,980
Portfolio Term Financings	1,108,796		1,049,478
Portfolio Warehouse Facilities	78,000		57,200
Senior Notes, Including Related Party Portion	126,883		99,160
Other Secured Notes Payable	13,889		14,228
Total Liabilities	2,821,393		2,140,050
Total Shareholders' Equity	373,269		311,505
Total Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity	$ 3,194,662		$ 2,451,555