Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	$ 3,401,409	$ 2,898,441	$ 10,006,631	$ 8,466,560
Cost of sales	2,890,413	2,437,678	8,477,057	7,112,376
Gross profit	510,996	460,763	1,529,574	1,354,184
Selling, general and administrative expenses	409,432	369,783	1,216,231	1,098,132
Depreciation	14,037	12,427	41,013	36,132
Operating Income (Loss)	87,527	78,553	272,330	219,920
Floor plan interest expense	(10,055)	(6,837)	(29,675)	(20,617)
Other interest expense	(11,689)	(11,153)	(35,474)	(32,889)
Debt discount amortization				(1,718)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	8,814	9,623	21,392	17,527
Debt redemption costs	(17,753)		(17,753)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	56,844	70,186	210,820	182,223
Income taxes	(15,308)	(13,246)	(69,052)	(49,289)
Income from continuing operations	41,536	56,940	141,768	132,934
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(223)	(895)	(3,837)	(2,833)
Net income (loss)	41,313	56,045	137,931	130,101
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	17,948	(25,827)	17,758	(10,782)
Comprehensive Income	59,261	30,218	155,689	119,319
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	489	338	1,197	907
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	58,772	29,880	154,492	118,412
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(81,949)	(74,137)	(253,149)	(202,948)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(81,949)	(74,137)	(253,149)	(202,948)
Income taxes	22,179	14,064	83,308	55,235
Income from continuing operations	(59,770)	(60,073)	(169,841)	(147,713)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	223	895	3,837	2,833
Net income (loss)	(59,547)	(59,178)	(166,004)	(144,880)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	(16,882)	26,327	(15,150)	10,301
Comprehensive Income	(76,429)	(32,851)	(181,154)	(134,579)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	(207)		(207)
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	(76,222)	(32,851)	(180,947)	(134,579)
Penske Automotive Group
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Selling, general and administrative expenses	5,073	4,381	14,408	14,120
Depreciation	328	471	936	1,013
Operating Income (Loss)	(5,401)	(4,852)	(15,344)	(15,133)
Floor plan interest expense	(2,322)	(449)	(6,774)	(911)
Other interest expense	(7,695)	(6,347)	(21,986)	(18,581)
Debt discount amortization				(1,718)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	7,784	7,359	18,538	14,711
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	81,949	74,137	253,149	202,948
Debt redemption costs	(17,753)		(17,753)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	56,562	69,848	209,830	181,316
Income taxes	(15,308)	(13,246)	(69,052)	(49,289)
Income from continuing operations	41,254	56,602	140,778	132,027
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(223)	(895)	(3,837)	(2,833)
Net income (loss)	41,031	55,707	136,941	129,194
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	17,948	(25,827)	17,758	(10,782)
Comprehensive Income	58,979	29,880	154,699	118,412
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	207		207
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	58,772	29,880	154,492	118,412
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	2,008,394	1,704,606	5,852,620	4,902,510
Cost of sales	1,697,032	1,417,915	4,923,776	4,071,715
Gross profit	311,362	286,691	928,844	830,795
Selling, general and administrative expenses	245,553	225,818	732,673	671,606
Depreciation	7,661	6,655	22,258	19,450
Operating Income (Loss)	58,148	54,218	173,913	139,739
Floor plan interest expense	(4,320)	(3,194)	(12,309)	(10,414)
Other interest expense	(804)	(988)	(2,668)	(2,237)
Equity in earnings of affiliates		825		825
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	53,024	50,861	158,936	127,913
Income taxes	(14,717)	(7,281)	(59,469)	(33,581)
Income from continuing operations	38,307	43,580	99,467	94,332
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	242	(754)	(1,755)	(2,351)
Net income (loss)	38,549	42,826	97,712	91,981
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	175	(5,379)	(74)	(9,093)
Comprehensive Income	38,724	37,447	97,638	82,888
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	38,724	37,447	97,638	82,888
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	1,393,015	1,193,835	4,154,011	3,564,050
Cost of sales	1,193,381	1,019,763	3,553,281	3,040,661
Gross profit	199,634	174,072	600,730	523,389
Selling, general and administrative expenses	158,806	139,584	469,150	412,406
Depreciation	6,048	5,301	17,819	15,669
Operating Income (Loss)	34,780	29,187	113,761	95,314
Floor plan interest expense	(3,413)	(3,194)	(10,592)	(9,292)
Other interest expense	(3,190)	(3,818)	(10,820)	(12,071)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	1,030	1,439	2,854	1,991
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	29,207	23,614	95,203	75,942
Income taxes	(7,462)	(6,783)	(23,839)	(21,654)
Income from continuing operations	21,745	16,831	71,364	54,288
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(465)	(141)	(2,082)	(482)
Net income (loss)	21,280	16,690	69,282	53,806
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	16,707	(20,948)	15,224	(1,208)
Comprehensive Income	37,987	(4,258)	84,506	52,598
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	489	338	1,197	907
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	$ 37,498	$ (4,596)	$ 83,309	$ 51,691