Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014		303,453,000
Restricted stock units vested, net of shares withheld for employee tax, shares		840,000
Exercise of stock options, shares		1,425,000
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards, shares		(144,000)
Ending Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015		305,574,000
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 2,720,657	$ 3,035	$ 1,054,686	$ 1,703,161	$ (40,225)
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	423,223	0	0	423,223	0
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0
Net income	423,223
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(65,245)	0	0	0	(65,245)
Restricted stock units vested, net of shares withheld for employee tax, value	(4,341)	8	(4,349)	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	21,336	0	21,336	0	0
Exercise of stock options, value	8,863	14	8,849	0	0
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards, value	(3,936)	(2)	(3,934)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payments	14,125	0	14,125	0	0
Ending balance, total Company stockholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2015	3,114,682	$ 3,055	1,090,713	2,126,384	(105,470)
Restricted stock units vested, net of shares withheld for employee tax, shares		847,000
Exercise of stock options, shares		1,124,000
Ending Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016		307,545,000
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	463,975	$ 0	0	463,975	0
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0
Net income	463,975
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(161,705)	0	0	0	(161,705)
Restricted stock units vested, net of shares withheld for employee tax, value	(4,438)	9	(4,447)	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	22,472	0	22,472	0	0
Exercise of stock options, value	7,963	11	7,952	0	0
Ending balance, total Company stockholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2016	3,442,949	$ 3,075	1,116,690	2,590,359	(267,175)
Ending balance, total stockholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 3,442,949
Restricted stock units vested, net of shares withheld for employee tax, shares		749,000
Exercise of stock options, shares	866,799	867,000
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards, shares		(34,000)
Ending Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017		309,127,000
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	$ 533,744	$ 0	0	533,744	0
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(3,516)
Net income	530,228
Other comprehensive income (loss)	196,699	0	0	0	196,699
Restricted stock units vested, net of shares withheld for employee tax, value	(4,325)	7	(4,332)	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	22,832	0	22,832	0	0
Exercise of stock options, value	7,470	9	7,461	0	0
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards, value	(1,200)		(1,200)
Sales of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interest	12,000
Ending balance, total Company stockholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2017	4,198,169	$ 3,091	$ 1,141,451	$ 3,124,103	$ (70,476)
Ending balance, noncontrolling interest at Dec. 31, 2017	8,484
Ending balance, total stockholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 4,206,653