Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	$ 3,371,252	$ 3,329,854	$ 3,306,021	$ 3,156,390	$ 2,858,467	$ 2,832,517	$ 2,767,068	$ 2,669,440	$ 13,163,517	$ 11,127,492	$ 9,943,350
Cost of sales									11,150,569	9,365,670	8,358,079
Gross profit	515,113	500,334	503,642	493,859	440,493	449,946	445,304	426,079	2,012,948	1,761,822	1,585,271
Selling, general and administrative expenses									1,594,095	1,419,123	1,287,315
Depreciation									53,995	47,101	44,523
Operating Income (Loss)									364,858	295,598	253,433
Floor plan interest expense									(38,797)	(27,218)	(32,822)
Other interest expense									(46,892)	(44,256)	(48,541)
Debt discount amortization										(1,718)	(8,637)
Equity in earnings of affiliates									27,572	25,451	20,569
Gain on debt repurchase											1,634
Debt redemption costs									(17,753)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									288,988	247,857	185,636
Income taxes									(94,330)	(71,690)	(63,441)
Income from continuing operations									194,658	176,167	122,195
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									(7,491)	2,091	(12,848)
Net income	49,236	41,313	49,612	47,006	48,157	56,045	40,059	33,997	187,167	178,258	109,347
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes									17,610	(24,061)	(10,722)
Comprehensive Income									204,777	154,197	98,625
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests									1,879	1,377	1,066
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders									202,898	152,820	97,559
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									(339,928)	(272,329)	(222,317)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(339,928)	(272,329)	(222,317)
Income taxes									111,586	79,208	76,404
Income from continuing operations									(228,342)	(193,121)	(145,913)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									7,491	(2,091)	12,848
Net income									(220,851)	(195,212)	(133,065)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes									(16,620)	21,212	12,986
Comprehensive Income									(237,471)	(174,000)	(120,079)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests									(252)
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders									(237,219)	(174,000)	(120,079)
Penske Automotive Group
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Selling, general and administrative expenses									19,361	18,978	17,182
Depreciation									1,354	1,369	1,116
Operating Income (Loss)									(20,715)	(20,347)	(18,298)
Floor plan interest expense									(8,572)	(1,364)	(576)
Other interest expense									(29,492)	(25,464)	(30,237)
Debt discount amortization										(1,718)	(8,637)
Equity in earnings of affiliates									23,965	23,044	18,367
Gain on debt repurchase											1,634
Debt redemption costs									(17,753)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									339,928	272,329	222,317
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									287,361	246,480	184,570
Income taxes									(94,330)	(71,690)	(63,441)
Income from continuing operations									193,031	174,790	121,129
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									(7,491)	2,091	(12,848)
Net income									185,540	176,881	108,281
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes									17,610	(24,061)	(10,722)
Comprehensive Income									203,150	152,820	97,559
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests									252
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders									202,898	152,820	97,559
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues									7,891,931	6,637,084	5,777,494
Cost of sales									6,646,738	5,532,337	4,809,883
Gross profit									1,245,193	1,104,747	967,611
Selling, general and administrative expenses									963,493	880,319	784,652
Depreciation									29,488	25,745	24,502
Operating Income (Loss)									252,212	198,683	158,457
Floor plan interest expense									(16,947)	(13,895)	(22,952)
Other interest expense									(3,661)	(3,276)	(2,225)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									231,604	181,512	133,280
Income taxes									(87,804)	(52,780)	(50,744)
Income from continuing operations									143,800	128,732	82,536
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									6	3,063	(14,379)
Net income									143,806	131,795	68,157
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes									966	(9,574)	5,435
Comprehensive Income									144,772	122,221	73,592
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders									144,772	122,221	73,592
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues									5,271,586	4,490,408	4,165,856
Cost of sales									4,503,831	3,833,333	3,548,196
Gross profit									767,755	657,075	617,660
Selling, general and administrative expenses									611,241	519,826	485,481
Depreciation									23,153	19,987	18,905
Operating Income (Loss)									133,361	117,262	113,274
Floor plan interest expense									(13,278)	(11,959)	(9,294)
Other interest expense									(13,739)	(15,516)	(16,079)
Equity in earnings of affiliates									3,607	2,407	2,202
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									109,951	92,194	90,103
Income taxes									(23,782)	(26,428)	(25,660)
Income from continuing operations									86,169	65,766	64,443
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									(7,497)	(972)	1,531
Net income									78,672	64,794	65,974
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes									15,654	(11,638)	(18,421)
Comprehensive Income									94,326	53,156	47,553
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests									1,879	1,377	1,066
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders									$ 92,447	$ 51,779	$ 46,487