Note 13 - Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	Note 13. Subsequent Events *Acquisitions* On October 7, 2013, we acquired the inventory, equipment, real estate and intangible assets of, and assumed certain liabilities related to, Stockton Nissan Kia in Stockton, California, from Stockton Automotive Development, LLC and Fresno Automotive Development, LP. We paid $18.9 million in cash for this acquisition. On October 24, 2013, we acquired the inventory, equipment, real estate and intangible assets of, and assumed certain liabilities related to, Fresno Lincoln Volvo in Fresno, California, from Robert B. Kopf, Inc. and R & V Wilson, Inc. We paid $8.5 million in cash for this acquisition. As of October 25, 2013, the initial accounting for determining the acquisition-date fair value for each major class of assets acquired, including goodwill, and liabilities assumed was not yet complete for these acquisitions. *Common Stock Dividend* On October 21, 2013, our Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.13 per share on our Class A and Class B Common stock related to our third quarter 2013 financial results. The dividend will total approximately $3.4 million and will be paid on November 22, 2013 to shareholders of record on November 8, 2013. *Related Party Transaction* On October 25, 2013, we entered into an agreement for the sale of 11.9 acres of unimproved land in Medford, Oregon for an aggregate price of $4.1 million with Dick Heimann, a director and our Vice Chairman. The land is part of a planned auto mall at which several dealerships, including Lithia-owned stores, will be relocated. Mr. Heimann plans to relocate the Medford BMW, Nissan and Volkswagen stores, which are 80% owned by him and 20% owned by Lithia, to this new location. We used an independent appraisal to determine the sale price for the unimproved land. The transaction will result in a gain to the Company of $2.5 million. The terms of the transaction were reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors which determined that the transaction would benefit Lithia by attracting more potential purchasers to a single location and was on terms no less favorable to Lithia than the terms we could have obtained from an unaffiliated party.

Note 13 - Subsequent Events

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Note 13. Subsequent Events

Acquisitions

On October 7, 2013, we acquired the inventory, equipment, real estate and intangible assets of, and assumed certain liabilities related to, Stockton Nissan Kia in Stockton, California, from Stockton Automotive Development, LLC and Fresno Automotive Development, LP. We paid $18.9 million in cash for this acquisition.

On October 24, 2013, we acquired the inventory, equipment, real estate and intangible assets of, and assumed certain liabilities related to, Fresno Lincoln Volvo in Fresno, California, from Robert B. Kopf, Inc. and R & V Wilson, Inc. We paid $8.5 million in cash for this acquisition.

As of October 25, 2013, the initial accounting for determining the acquisition-date fair value for each major class of assets acquired, including goodwill, and liabilities assumed was not yet complete for these acquisitions.

Common Stock Dividend

On October 21, 2013, our Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.13 per share on our Class A and Class B Common stock related to our third quarter 2013 financial results. The dividend will total approximately $3.4 million and will be paid on November 22, 2013 to shareholders of record on November 8, 2013.

Related Party Transaction

On October 25, 2013, we entered into an agreement for the sale of 11.9 acres of unimproved land in Medford, Oregon for an aggregate price of $4.1 million with Dick Heimann, a director and our Vice Chairman. The land is part of a planned auto mall at which several dealerships, including Lithia-owned stores, will be relocated. Mr. Heimann plans to relocate the Medford BMW, Nissan and Volkswagen stores, which are 80% owned by him and 20% owned by Lithia, to this new location. We used an independent appraisal to determine the sale price for the unimproved land. The transaction will result in a gain to the Company of $2.5 million.

The terms of the transaction were reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors which determined that the transaction would benefit Lithia by attracting more potential purchasers to a single location and was on terms no less favorable to Lithia than the terms we could have obtained from an unaffiliated party.