Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 43,753	$ 27,201	$ 18,248	$ 14,139
Accounts receivable, net	552,868	429,633
Inventories	1,991,167	1,535,386
Other current assets	90,854	72,981
Assets held for sale	94,441	159,243
Total current assets	2,773,083	2,224,444
Property and equipment, net	1,023,781	839,630
Intangible assets	1,258,012	1,123,206
Equity method investments	303,160	298,640
Other long-term assets	20,954	13,481
Total assets	5,378,990	4,499,401
Floor plan notes payable	1,408,363	966,579
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	716,621	668,581
Accounts payable	263,349	214,870
Accrued expenses	223,574	195,108
Current portion of long-term debt	19,493	3,414
Liabilities held for sale	62,156	103,001
Total current liabilities	2,693,556	2,151,553
Long-term debt	918,024	846,777
Deferred tax liabilities	287,818	205,845
Other long-term liabilities	163,271	145,654
Total liabilities	4,062,669	3,349,829
Total equity	1,316,321	1,149,572	1,055,012	955,104
Total liabilities and equity	5,378,990	4,499,401
5.75% Notes
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.75%
Eliminations
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Accounts receivable, net	(340,917)	(297,782)
Total current assets	(340,917)	(297,782)
Other long-term assets	(1,527,156)	(1,369,967)
Total assets	(1,868,073)	(1,667,749)
Accrued expenses	(340,917)	(297,782)
Total current liabilities	(340,917)	(297,782)
Long-term debt	(38,692)	(38,073)
Total liabilities	(379,609)	(335,855)
Total equity	(1,488,464)	(1,331,894)
Total liabilities and equity	(1,868,073)	(1,667,749)
Penske Automotive Group
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Accounts receivable, net	340,917	305,386
Other current assets	3,546	2,306
Total current assets	344,463	307,692
Property and equipment, net	4,474	6,730
Equity method investments	252,816	246,658
Other long-term assets	1,540,447	1,378,341
Total assets	2,142,200	1,939,421
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	112,085	90,892
Accounts payable	3,344	1,633
Accrued expenses	450
Total current liabilities	115,879	92,525
Long-term debt	710,000	697,324
Total liabilities	825,879	789,849
Total equity	1,316,321	1,149,572
Total liabilities and equity	2,142,200	1,939,421
Penske Automotive Group | 5.75% Notes
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.75%	5.75%	5.75%
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Cash and cash equivalents	36,783	27,201	15,868	12,541
Accounts receivable, net	372,638	277,291
Inventories	1,197,456	877,032
Other current assets	55,836	34,584
Assets held for sale	59,113	77,850
Total current assets	1,721,826	1,293,958
Property and equipment, net	654,248	534,607
Intangible assets	756,655	692,481
Other long-term assets	5,025	3,373
Total assets	3,137,754	2,524,419
Floor plan notes payable	917,390	558,325
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	334,122	322,814
Accounts payable	123,754	111,373
Accrued expenses	113,753	97,426
Current portion of long-term debt	9,745	3,414
Liabilities held for sale	33,163	37,276
Total current liabilities	1,531,927	1,130,628
Long-term debt	121,618	77,060
Deferred tax liabilities	260,445	186,291
Other long-term liabilities	84,108	91,447
Total liabilities	1,998,098	1,485,426
Total equity	1,139,656	1,038,993
Total liabilities and equity	3,137,754	2,524,419
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Cash and cash equivalents	6,970		2,380	1,598
Accounts receivable, net	180,230	144,738
Inventories	793,711	658,354
Other current assets	31,472	36,091
Assets held for sale	35,328	81,393
Total current assets	1,047,711	920,576
Property and equipment, net	365,059	298,293
Intangible assets	501,357	430,725
Equity method investments	50,344	51,982
Other long-term assets	2,638	1,734
Total assets	1,967,109	1,703,310
Floor plan notes payable	490,973	408,254
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	270,414	254,875
Accounts payable	136,251	101,864
Accrued expenses	450,288	395,464
Current portion of long-term debt	9,748
Liabilities held for sale	28,993	65,725
Total current liabilities	1,386,667	1,226,182
Long-term debt	125,098	110,466
Deferred tax liabilities	27,373	19,554
Other long-term liabilities	79,163	54,207
Total liabilities	1,618,301	1,410,409
Total equity	348,808	292,901
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,967,109	$ 1,703,310