Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 segment		Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of operating segments				2
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	$ 276,826,000		$ 226,866,000	$ 863,686,000		$ 750,125,000
Interest Income	84,319,000		77,334,000	241,652,000		223,492,000
Dealer Finance and Other Income	5,927,000		757,000	13,777,000		1,380,000
Total Revenue	367,072,000		304,957,000	1,119,115,000		974,997,000
Expenses:
Interest Expense	20,211,000		18,808,000	57,860,000		55,073,000
Depreciation Expense	6,429,000		5,091,000	17,734,000		15,061,000
Other Costs and Operating Expenses	336,261,000		276,291,000	999,844,000		837,316,000
Total Costs and Expenses	362,901,000		300,190,000	1,075,438,000		907,450,000
Income Before Income Taxes	4,171,000		4,767,000	43,677,000		67,547,000
Assets:	2,269,186,000			2,269,186,000			1,989,117,000
Liabilities:	1,765,252,000			1,765,252,000			1,521,564,000
Equity:	503,934,000			503,934,000			467,553,000
GO Financial [Member] | DTAC [Member]
Expenses:
Extinguishment of debt, amount				80,000,000
DriveTime [Member]
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	276,826,000		226,866,000	863,686,000		750,125,000
Interest Income	84,277,000		77,334,000	241,591,000		223,492,000
Dealer Finance and Other Income	1,186,000		0	1,333,000		0
Total Revenue	362,289,000		304,200,000	1,106,610,000		973,617,000
Expenses:
Interest Expense	19,074,000		18,808,000	55,139,000		55,073,000
Depreciation Expense	6,272,000		4,974,000	17,301,000		14,767,000
Other Costs and Operating Expenses	331,079,000		275,726,000	989,253,000		834,244,000
Total Costs and Expenses	356,425,000		299,508,000	1,061,693,000		904,084,000
Income Before Income Taxes	5,864,000		4,692,000	44,917,000		69,533,000
Assets:	2,159,408,000			2,159,408,000			1,946,714,000
Liabilities:	1,670,031,000			1,670,031,000			1,520,866,000
Equity:	489,377,000			489,377,000			425,848,000
GO Financial [Member]
Revenue:
Sales of Used Vehicles	0		0	0		0
Interest Income	42,000		0	61,000		0
Dealer Finance and Other Income	4,741,000		757,000	12,444,000		1,380,000
Total Revenue	4,783,000		757,000	12,505,000		1,380,000
Expenses:
Interest Expense	1,137,000		0	2,721,000		0
Depreciation Expense	157,000		117,000	433,000		294,000
Other Costs and Operating Expenses	5,182,000		565,000	10,591,000		3,072,000
Total Costs and Expenses	6,476,000		682,000	13,745,000		3,366,000
Income Before Income Taxes	(1,693,000)		75,000	(1,240,000)		(1,986,000)
Assets:	109,778,000			109,778,000			42,403,000
Liabilities:	95,221,000			95,221,000			698,000
Equity:	$ 14,557,000	[1]		$ 14,557,000	[1]		$ 41,705,000

[1] In 2013, GO's parent, DTAC, recategorized approximately $80.0 million of GO's equity to an intercompany interest bearing note to DTAC.