CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Total Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Penske Automotive Group	Voting and Non-voting Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Non-controlling Interest
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 955,104	$ 951,526	$ 9	$ 737,104	$ 203,821	$ 10,592	$ 3,578
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009			91,617,746
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Equity compensation	7,898	7,898		7,898
Equity compensation (in shares)			495,146
Exercise of options, including tax benefit of $155 and $319 for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	540	540		540
Exercise of options, including tax benefit of $155 and $319 for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively (in shares)			55,000
Repurchase of common stock	(751)	(751)		(751)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)			(68,340)
Repurchase of 3.5% senior subordinated convertible notes	(6,157)	(6,157)		(6,157)
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(341)						(341)
Sale of subsidiary shares to non-controlling interest	94	94		94
Foreign currency translation	(16,852)	(16,852)				(16,852)
Interest rate swaps	5,435	5,435				5,435
Other	695	695				695
Net income	109,347	108,281			108,281		1,066
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	1,055,012	1,050,709	9	738,728	312,102	(130)	4,303
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			92,099,552
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Equity compensation	5,128	5,128		5,128
Equity compensation (in shares)			391,904
Exercise of options, including tax benefit of $155 and $319 for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	3,370	3,370		3,370
Exercise of options, including tax benefit of $155 and $319 for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively (in shares)			235,668
Repurchase of common stock	(44,263)	(44,263)		(44,263)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	(2,450,000)		(2,449,768)
Dividends	(21,992)	(21,992)			(21,992)
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(1,412)						(1,412)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from non-controlling interest	(850)	(853)		(853)			3
Sale of subsidiary shares to non-controlling interest	382	225		225			157
Foreign currency translation	(5,792)	(5,792)				(5,792)
Interest rate swaps	(9,574)	(9,574)				(9,574)
Other	(8,695)	(8,695)				(8,695)
Net income	178,258	176,881			176,881		1,377
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	1,149,572	1,145,144	9	702,335	466,991	(24,191)	4,428
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			90,277,356
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Equity compensation	6,626	6,626		6,626
Equity compensation (in shares)			423,040
Repurchase of common stock	(9,829)	(9,829)		(9,829)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	(350,000)		(405,631)
Repurchase of 3.5% senior subordinated convertible notes	564	564		564
Dividends	(41,505)	(41,505)			(41,505)
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(1,433)						(1,433)
Sale of subsidiary shares to non-controlling interest	7,549	317		317			7,232
Foreign currency translation	18,506	18,254				18,254	252
Interest rate swaps	966	966				966
Other	(1,862)	(1,862)				(1,862)
Net income	187,167	185,540			185,540		1,627
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,316,321	$ 1,304,215	$ 9	$ 700,013	$ 611,026	$ (6,833)	$ 12,106
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012			90,294,765