Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Net cash from continuing operating activities	$ 175,800	$ 118,723
Investing activities:
Purchase of equipment and improvements	(80,269)	(56,433)
Dealership acquisitions, net, including repayment of sellers' floor plan notes payable of $54,453 and $5,683, respectively	(232,106)	(9,280)
Other	2,865
Net cash used in continuing investing activities	(309,510)	(65,713)
Financing activities:
Repurchase of 3.5% senior subordinated convertible notes	(87,278)	(156,604)
Proceeds From Repayments Of Other Long Term Debt And Long Term Lines Of Credit	152,461	46,395
Net borrowings (repayments) of floor plan notes payable - non-trade	106,092	50,656
Proceeds from exercises of options, including excess tax benefit	3,018	403
Repurchases of common stock	(44,263)	(751)
Dividends	(13,866)
Net cash from (used in) continuing financing activities	116,164	(59,901)
Net cash from discontinued operations	7,473	455
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(10,073)	(6,436)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	17,808	14,489
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	7,735	8,053
Penske Automotive Group [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Net cash from continuing operating activities	(39,647)	109,785
Investing activities:
Purchase of equipment and improvements	(1,972)	367
Net cash used in continuing investing activities	(1,972)	367
Financing activities:
Repurchase of 3.5% senior subordinated convertible notes	(87,278)	(156,604)
Proceeds From Repayments Of Other Long Term Debt And Long Term Lines Of Credit	120,000	26,500
Net borrowings (repayments) of floor plan notes payable - non-trade	64,008	20,300
Proceeds from exercises of options, including excess tax benefit	3,018	403
Repurchases of common stock	(44,263)	(751)
Dividends	(13,866)
Net cash from (used in) continuing financing activities	41,619	(110,152)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Net cash from continuing operating activities	229,486	37,411
Investing activities:
Purchase of equipment and improvements	(44,779)	(38,691)
Dealership acquisitions, net, including repayment of sellers' floor plan notes payable of $54,453 and $5,683, respectively	(230,426)	(9,280)
Other		83
Net cash used in continuing investing activities	(275,205)	(47,888)
Financing activities:
Proceeds From Repayments Of Other Long Term Debt And Long Term Lines Of Credit	57,015	(12,520)
Net borrowings (repayments) of floor plan notes payable - non-trade	(33,622)	15,809
Distributions from (to) parent	5,572	954
Net cash from (used in) continuing financing activities	28,965	4,243
Net cash from discontinued operations	7,473	455
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(9,281)	(5,779)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	15,437	12,834
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	6,156	7,055
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Net cash from continuing operating activities	(14,039)	(28,473)
Investing activities:
Purchase of equipment and improvements	(33,518)	(18,109)
Dealership acquisitions, net, including repayment of sellers' floor plan notes payable of $54,453 and $5,683, respectively	(1,680)
Other	2,865	(83)
Net cash used in continuing investing activities	(32,333)	(18,192)
Financing activities:
Proceeds From Repayments Of Other Long Term Debt And Long Term Lines Of Credit	(24,554)	32,415
Net borrowings (repayments) of floor plan notes payable - non-trade	75,706	14,547
Distributions from (to) parent	(5,572)	(954)
Net cash from (used in) continuing financing activities	45,580	46,008
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(792)	(657)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	2,371	1,655
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 1,579	$ 998