Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 7,735	$ 17,808	$ 8,053	$ 14,489
Accounts receivable, net	385,137	383,379
Inventories	1,481,629	1,449,157
Other current assets	88,676	68,355
Assets held for sale	54,168	117,018
Total current assets	2,017,345	2,035,717
Property and equipment, net	821,421	719,762
Intangible assets	1,148,247	1,011,275
Equity method investments	293,819	288,406
Other long-term assets	14,637	14,672
Total assets	4,295,469	4,069,832
Floor plan notes payable	902,163	918,628
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	597,982	491,889
Accounts payable	226,709	253,277
Accrued expenses	247,185	202,480
Current portion of long-term debt	9,642	10,593
Liabilities held for sale	34,464	84,139
Total current liabilities	2,018,145	1,961,006
Long-term debt	841,927	769,285
Deferred tax liabilities	183,708	178,406
Other long-term liabilities	139,271	115,282
Total liabilities	3,183,051	3,023,979
Total equity	1,112,418	1,045,853
Total liabilities and equity	4,295,469	4,069,832
Penske Automotive Group [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	297,782	269,021
Inventories	0	0
Other current assets	2,141	1,127
Assets held for sale	0	0
Total current assets	299,923	270,148
Property and equipment, net	5,134	4,957
Intangible assets	0	0
Equity method investments	241,598	234,214
Other long-term assets	1,349,226	1,222,168
Total assets	1,895,881	1,731,487
Floor plan notes payable	0	0
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	89,008	25,000
Accounts payable	1,761	2,186
Accrued expenses	370	564
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Liabilities held for sale	0	0
Total current liabilities	91,139	27,750
Long-term debt	692,324	657,884
Deferred tax liabilities	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	783,463	685,634
Total equity	1,112,418	1,045,853
Total liabilities and equity	1,895,881	1,731,487
Eliminations [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(297,782)	(269,021)
Inventories	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Assets held for sale	0	0
Total current assets	(297,782)	(269,021)
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Intangible assets	0	0
Equity method investments	0	0
Other long-term assets	(1,341,834)	(1,212,538)
Total assets	(1,639,616)	(1,481,559)
Floor plan notes payable	0	0
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	0	0
Accounts payable	0	0
Accrued expenses	(297,782)	(269,021)
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Liabilities held for sale	0	0
Total current liabilities	(297,782)	(269,021)
Long-term debt	(37,810)	(77,593)
Deferred tax liabilities	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(335,592)	(346,614)
Total equity	(1,304,024)	(1,134,945)
Total liabilities and equity	(1,639,616)	(1,481,559)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents	6,156	15,437	7,055	12,834
Accounts receivable, net	186,608	227,978
Inventories	805,587	874,182
Other current assets	39,914	32,269
Assets held for sale	54,168	117,018
Total current assets	1,092,433	1,266,884
Property and equipment, net	518,945	447,044
Intangible assets	707,451	488,687
Equity method investments	0	0
Other long-term assets	5,719	3,088
Total assets	2,324,548	2,205,703
Floor plan notes payable	446,364	566,615
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	261,497	287,568
Accounts payable	85,387	85,779
Accrued expenses	152,696	95,806
Current portion of long-term debt	5,161	1,264
Liabilities held for sale	34,464	84,139
Total current liabilities	985,569	1,121,171
Long-term debt	77,571	49,689
Deferred tax liabilities	163,025	165,666
Other long-term liabilities	92,207	99,238
Total liabilities	1,318,372	1,435,764
Total equity	1,006,176	769,939
Total liabilities and equity	2,324,548	2,205,703
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents	1,579	2,371	998	1,655
Accounts receivable, net	198,529	155,401
Inventories	676,042	574,975
Other current assets	46,621	34,959
Assets held for sale	0	0
Total current assets	922,771	767,706
Property and equipment, net	297,342	267,761
Intangible assets	440,796	522,588
Equity method investments	52,221	54,192
Other long-term assets	1,526	1,954
Total assets	1,714,656	1,614,201
Floor plan notes payable	455,799	352,013
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	247,477	179,321
Accounts payable	139,561	165,312
Accrued expenses	391,901	375,131
Current portion of long-term debt	4,481	9,329
Liabilities held for sale	0	0
Total current liabilities	1,239,219	1,081,106
Long-term debt	109,842	139,305
Deferred tax liabilities	20,683	12,740
Other long-term liabilities	47,064	16,044
Total liabilities	1,416,808	1,249,195
Total equity	297,848	365,006
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,714,656	$ 1,614,201