Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	$ 2,951,046	$ 2,669,773	$ 8,623,710	$ 7,697,770
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 (loss) 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 (loss) from continuing operations	57,045	35,097	135,803	90,588
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,000)	(4,837)	(5,702)	(10,312)
Net income (loss)	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
Penske Automotive Group [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Selling, general and administrative expenses	4,381	4,547	14,120	12,634
Depreciation	471	241	1,013	831
Operating income	(4,852)	(4,788)	(15,133)	(13,465)
Floor plan interest expense	(449)	(380)	(911)	(380)
Other interest expense	(6,347)	(7,471)	(18,581)	(23,861)
Debt discount amortization		(1,647)	(1,718)	(6,990)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	7,359	6,441	14,711	10,724
Gain on debt repurchase		607		1,634
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	74,351	59,480	207,667	170,907
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	70,062	52,242	186,035	138,569
Income taxes	(13,355)	(17,428)	(51,139)	(48,485)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	56,707	34,814	134,896	90,084
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,000)	(4,837)	(5,702)	(10,312)
Net income (loss)	55,707	29,977	129,194	79,772
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	55,707	29,977	129,194	79,772
Eliminations [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(74,351)	(59,480)	(207,667)	(170,907)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(74,351)	(59,480)	(207,667)	(170,907)
Income taxes	14,173	19,843	57,085	59,800
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(60,178)	(39,637)	(150,582)	(111,107)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,000	4,837	5,702	10,312
Net income (loss)	(59,178)	(34,800)	(144,880)	(100,795)
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	(59,178)	(34,800)	(144,880)	(100,795)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	1,715,582	1,518,861	4,932,204	4,364,444
Cost of sales	1,427,489	1,266,293	4,096,523	3,624,683
Gross profit	288,093	252,568	835,681	739,761
Selling, general and administrative expenses	226,720	202,676	670,668	604,122
Depreciation	6,687	6,490	19,537	19,309
Operating income	54,686	43,402	145,476	116,330
Floor plan interest expense	(3,258)	(5,975)	(10,608)	(17,463)
Other interest expense	(988)	(558)	(2,237)	(1,147)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	825		825
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	51,265	36,869	133,456	97,720
Income taxes	(7,439)	(13,221)	(35,773)	(39,033)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	43,826	23,648	97,683	58,687
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,000)	(4,837)	(5,702)	(10,312)
Net income (loss)	42,826	18,811	91,981	48,375
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	42,826	18,811	91,981	48,375
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	1,235,464	1,150,912	3,691,506	3,333,326
Cost of sales	1,056,450	985,311	3,153,115	2,839,711
Gross profit	179,014	165,601	538,391	493,615
Selling, general and administrative expenses	144,331	131,897	427,024	386,395
Depreciation	5,432	5,089	16,028	14,983
Operating income	29,251	28,615	95,339	92,237
Floor plan interest expense	(3,313)	(2,450)	(9,612)	(7,064)
Other interest expense	(3,953)	(4,200)	(12,446)	(12,483)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	1,439	929	1,991	1,001
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	23,424	22,894	75,272	73,691
Income taxes	(6,734)	(6,622)	(21,466)	(20,767)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	16,690	16,272	53,806	52,924
Net income (loss)	16,690	16,272	53,806	52,924
Less: Income attributable to non-controlling interests	338	283	907	504
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	$ 16,352	$ 15,989	$ 52,899	$ 52,420