Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 26,254	$ 43,447	$ 35,947	$ 26,997
Accounts receivable, net	530,647	554,851
Inventories	2,125,771	2,000,206
Other current assets	90,352	90,485
Assets held for sale	33,849	73,398
Total current assets	2,806,873	2,762,387
Property and equipment, net	1,148,495	1,031,188
Intangible assets	1,231,166	1,261,299
Equity method investments	332,503	303,160
Other long-term assets	18,595	20,956
Total assets	5,537,632	5,378,990
Floor plan notes payable	1,474,440	1,408,362
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	753,130	725,526
Accounts payable	314,050	263,881
Accrued expenses	226,968	223,972
Current portion of long-term debt	44,896	19,493
Liabilities held for sale	23,547	51,279
Total current liabilities	2,837,031	2,692,513
Long-term debt	875,307	918,024
Deferred tax liabilities	313,756	287,818
Other long-term liabilities	155,273	164,314
Total liabilities	4,181,367	4,062,669
Total equity	1,356,265	1,316,321
Total liabilities and equity	5,537,632	5,378,990
5.75% Notes
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.75%	5.75%
Domestic Subsidiaries ownership guaranteeing obligations (as a percent)	100.00%
Eliminations
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Accounts receivable, net	(364,074)	(340,917)
Total current assets	(364,074)	(340,917)
Other long-term assets	(1,490,576)	(1,527,156)
Total assets	(1,854,650)	(1,868,073)
Accrued expenses	(364,074)	(340,917)
Total current liabilities	(364,074)	(340,917)
Long-term debt	(38,182)	(38,692)
Total liabilities	(402,256)	(379,609)
Total equity	(1,452,394)	(1,488,464)
Total liabilities and equity	(1,854,650)	(1,868,073)
Penske Automotive Group
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Accounts receivable, net	364,074	340,917
Other current assets	7,068	3,546
Total current assets	371,142	344,463
Property and equipment, net	4,356	4,474
Equity method investments	273,827	252,816
Other long-term assets	1,503,443	1,540,447
Total assets	2,152,768	2,142,200
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	122,700	112,085
Accounts payable	3,338	3,344
Accrued expenses	465	450
Total current liabilities	126,503	115,879
Long-term debt	670,000	710,000
Total liabilities	796,503	825,879
Total equity	1,356,265	1,316,321
Total liabilities and equity	2,152,768	2,142,200
Penske Automotive Group | 5.75% Notes
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.75%	5.75%
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Cash and cash equivalents	759	36,478	17,966	26,767
Accounts receivable, net	328,455	375,442
Inventories	1,318,613	1,212,521
Other current assets	33,953	55,841
Assets held for sale	15,984	29,400
Total current assets	1,697,764	1,709,682
Property and equipment, net	789,341	662,722
Intangible assets	767,816	760,321
Other long-term assets	4,030	5,029
Total assets	3,258,951	3,137,754
Floor plan notes payable	962,001	917,391
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	340,030	346,683
Accounts payable	130,711	124,663
Accrued expenses	129,726	114,636
Current portion of long-term debt	35,769	9,745
Liabilities held for sale	9,598	17,766
Total current liabilities	1,607,835	1,530,884
Long-term debt	175,856	121,618
Deferred tax liabilities	288,245	260,445
Other long-term liabilities	79,733	85,151
Total liabilities	2,151,669	1,998,098
Total equity	1,107,282	1,139,656
Total liabilities and equity	3,258,951	3,137,754
Domestic Subsidiaries ownership guaranteeing obligations (as a percent)	100.00%
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Cash and cash equivalents	25,495	6,969	17,981	230
Accounts receivable, net	202,192	179,409
Inventories	807,158	787,685
Other current assets	49,331	31,098
Assets held for sale	17,865	43,998
Total current assets	1,102,041	1,049,159
Property and equipment, net	354,798	363,992
Intangible assets	463,350	500,978
Equity method investments	58,676	50,344
Other long-term assets	1,698	2,636
Total assets	1,980,563	1,967,109
Floor plan notes payable	512,439	490,971
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	290,400	266,758
Accounts payable	180,001	135,874
Accrued expenses	460,851	449,803
Current portion of long-term debt	9,127	9,748
Liabilities held for sale	13,949	33,513
Total current liabilities	1,466,767	1,386,667
Long-term debt	67,633	125,098
Deferred tax liabilities	25,511	27,373
Other long-term liabilities	75,540	79,163
Total liabilities	1,635,451	1,618,301
Total equity	345,112	348,808
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,980,563	$ 1,967,109