Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	$ 3,399,867	$ 3,156,390
Cost of sales	2,866,880	2,662,531
Gross profit	532,987	493,859
Selling, general and administrative expenses	413,312	386,705
Depreciation	14,449	12,950
Operating Income (Loss)	105,226	94,204
Floor plan interest expense	(10,211)	(9,493)
Other interest expense	(11,776)	(12,131)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	2,348	4,410
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	85,587	76,990
Income taxes	(28,381)	(26,908)
Income from continuing operations	57,206	50,082
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	813	(3,076)
Net income (loss)	58,019	47,006
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	(37,119)	10,701
Comprehensive Income	20,900	57,707
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	889	188
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	20,011	57,519
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(97,859)	(87,760)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(97,859)	(87,760)
Income taxes	32,586	30,742
Income from continuing operations	(65,273)	(57,018)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(813)	3,076
Net income (loss)	(66,086)	(53,942)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	36,784	(9,692)
Comprehensive Income	(29,302)	(63,634)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	(534)
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	(28,768)	(63,634)
Penske Automotive Group
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Selling, general and administrative expenses	5,158	4,595
Depreciation	378	362
Operating Income (Loss)	(5,536)	(4,957)
Floor plan interest expense	(2,287)	(2,198)
Other interest expense	(6,716)	(7,563)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	1,912	3,760
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	97,859	87,760
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	85,232	76,802
Income taxes	(28,381)	(26,908)
Income from continuing operations	56,851	49,894
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	813	(3,076)
Net income (loss)	57,664	46,818
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	(37,119)	10,701
Comprehensive Income	20,545	57,519
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	534
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	20,011	57,519
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	2,017,973	1,806,894
Cost of sales	1,685,065	1,514,572
Gross profit	332,908	292,322
Selling, general and administrative expenses	256,469	234,721
Depreciation	8,251	6,958
Operating Income (Loss)	68,188	50,643
Floor plan interest expense	(4,810)	(3,723)
Other interest expense	(1,067)	(910)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	62,311	46,010
Income taxes	(24,426)	(20,635)
Income from continuing operations	37,885	25,375
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	601	(1,741)
Net income (loss)	38,486	23,634
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	1,051	(234)
Comprehensive Income	39,537	23,400
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	39,537	23,400
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Revenues	1,381,894	1,349,496
Cost of sales	1,181,815	1,147,959
Gross profit	200,079	201,537
Selling, general and administrative expenses	151,685	147,389
Depreciation	5,820	5,630
Operating Income (Loss)	42,574	48,518
Floor plan interest expense	(3,114)	(3,572)
Other interest expense	(3,993)	(3,658)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	436	650
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	35,903	41,938
Income taxes	(8,160)	(10,107)
Income from continuing operations	27,743	31,831
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	212	(1,335)
Net income (loss)	27,955	30,496
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes	(37,835)	9,926
Comprehensive Income	(9,880)	40,422
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	889	188
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	$ (10,769)	$ 40,234