Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Revenue:
Total revenues	$ 2,951,046	$ 2,669,773	$ 8,623,710	$ 7,697,770
Cost of sales:
Total cost of sales	2,483,939	2,251,604	7,249,638	6,464,394
Gross profit	467,107	418,169	1,374,072	1,233,376
Selling, general and administrative expenses	375,432	339,120	1,111,812	1,003,151
Depreciation	12,590	11,820	36,578	35,123
Operating income	79,085	67,229	225,682	195,102
Floor plan interest expense	(7,020)	(8,805)	(21,131)	(24,907)
Other interest expense	(11,288)	(12,229)	(33,264)	(37,491)
Debt discount amortization		(1,647)	(1,718)	(6,990)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	9,623	7,370	17,527	11,725
Gain on debt repurchase		607		1,634
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	70,400	52,525	187,096	139,073
Income taxes	(13,355)	(17,428)	(51,293)	(48,485)
Income from continuing operations	57,045	35,097	135,803	90,588
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,000)	(4,837)	(5,702)	(10,312)
Net income	56,045	30,260	130,101	80,276
Less: Income attributable to non-controlling interests	338	283	907	504
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	55,707	29,977	129,194	79,772
Basic earnings per share attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ 0.62	$ 0.38	$ 1.46	$ 0.98
Discontinued operations	$ (0.01)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.11)
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	$ 0.61	$ 0.33	$ 1.40	$ 0.87
Shares used in determining basic earnings per share	91,390	92,018	92,106	92,097
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ 0.62	$ 0.38	$ 1.46	$ 0.98
Discontinued operations	$ (0.01)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.11)
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	$ 0.61	$ 0.33	$ 1.40	$ 0.87
Shares used in determining diluted earnings per share	91,431	92,141	92,169	92,171
Amounts attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	57,045	35,097	135,803	90,588
Less: Income attributable to non-controlling interests	338	283	907	504
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	56,707	34,814	134,896	90,084
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,000)	(4,837)	(5,702)	(10,312)
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	55,707	29,977	129,194	79,772
Cash dividends per share	$ 0.08		$ 0.15
New vehicle [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenues	1,471,606	1,373,240	4,288,746	3,882,945
Cost of sales:
Total cost of sales	1,346,995	1,263,386	3,932,360	3,565,684
Used vehicle [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenues	890,251	750,720	2,580,261	2,170,006
Cost of sales:
Total cost of sales	823,562	694,806	2,375,508	1,999,446
Finance and insurance, net [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenues	73,289	65,185	208,765	184,577
Service and parts [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenues	354,616	326,494	1,049,467	974,913
Cost of sales:
Total cost of sales	153,153	139,906	451,600	420,552
Fleet and wholesale vehicle [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenues	161,284	154,134	496,471	485,329
Cost of sales:
Total cost of sales	$ 160,229	$ 153,506	$ 490,170	$ 478,712