Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	$ 2,888,420	$ 2,614,602	$ 5,683,907	$ 5,038,789
Cost of sales	2,424,780	2,197,796	4,775,190	4,221,931
Gross profit	463,640	416,806	908,717	816,858
Selling, general and administrative expenses	380,350	339,676	738,462	666,039
Depreciation	12,093	11,516	24,031	23,374
Operating income	71,197	65,614	146,224	127,445
Floor plan interest expense	(7,113)	(7,983)	(14,131)	(16,125)
Other interest expense	(10,575)	(12,542)	(21,976)	(25,262)
Debt discount amortization		(2,428)	(1,718)	(5,343)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	7,882	4,784	7,904	4,355
Gain on debt repurchase		422		1,027
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	61,391	47,867	116,303	86,097
Income taxes	(20,996)	(16,628)	(37,784)	(30,878)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	40,395	31,239	78,519	55,219
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(336)	(1,555)	(4,463)	(5,203)
Net income (loss)	40,059	29,684	74,056	50,016
Less: Income attributable to non-controlling interests	499	243	569	221
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	39,560	29,441	73,487	49,795
Penske Automotive Group [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Selling, general and administrative expenses	4,790	3,497	9,739	8,075
Depreciation	257	300	542	590
Operating income	(5,047)	(3,797)	(10,281)	(8,665)
Floor plan interest expense	(329)		(462)
Other interest expense	(5,818)	(8,343)	(12,234)	(16,390)
Debt discount amortization		(2,428)	(1,718)	(5,343)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	6,121	3,937	7,352	4,283
Gain on debt repurchase		422		1,027
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	65,965	57,833	133,077	110,964
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	60,892	47,624	115,734	85,876
Income taxes	(20,996)	(16,628)	(37,784)	(30,878)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	39,896	30,996	77,950	54,998
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(336)	(1,555)	(4,463)	(5,203)
Net income (loss)	39,560	29,441	73,487	49,795
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	39,560	29,441	73,487	49,795
Eliminations [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(65,965)	(57,833)	(133,077)	(110,964)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(65,965)	(57,833)	(133,077)	(110,964)
Income taxes	22,745	20,192	43,446	39,899
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(43,220)	(37,641)	(89,631)	(71,065)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	336	1,555	4,463	5,203
Net income (loss)	(42,884)	(36,086)	(85,168)	(65,862)
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	(42,884)	(36,086)	(85,168)	(65,862)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	1,659,489	1,529,401	3,227,865	2,856,374
Cost of sales	1,372,419	1,272,432	2,678,525	2,367,531
Gross profit	287,070	256,969	549,340	488,843
Selling, general and administrative expenses	232,097	209,910	446,030	403,466
Depreciation	6,538	6,446	12,893	12,890
Operating income	48,435	40,613	90,417	72,487
Floor plan interest expense	(3,458)	(5,829)	(7,370)	(11,511)
Other interest expense	(638)	(33)	(1,249)	(589)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	44,339	34,751	81,798	60,387
Income taxes	(16,296)	(13,554)	(28,714)	(25,754)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	28,043	21,197	53,084	34,633
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(336)	(1,555)	(4,463)	(5,203)
Net income (loss)	27,707	19,642	48,621	29,430
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	27,707	19,642	48,621	29,430
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	1,228,931	1,085,201	2,456,042	2,182,415
Cost of sales	1,052,361	925,364	2,096,665	1,854,400
Gross profit	176,570	159,837	359,377	328,015
Selling, general and administrative expenses	143,463	126,269	282,693	254,498
Depreciation	5,298	4,770	10,596	9,894
Operating income	27,809	28,798	66,088	63,623
Floor plan interest expense	(3,326)	(2,154)	(6,299)	(4,614)
Other interest expense	(4,119)	(4,166)	(8,493)	(8,283)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	1,761	847	552	72
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	22,125	23,325	51,848	50,798
Income taxes	(6,449)	(6,638)	(14,732)	(14,145)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	15,676	16,687	37,116	36,653
Net income (loss)	15,676	16,687	37,116	36,653
Less: Income attributable to non-controlling interests	499	243	569	221
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	$ 15,177	$ 16,444	$ 36,547	$ 36,432