Consolidated Statements of Income Statement - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 3,147,773	$ 3,122,378	$ 9,496,249	$ 8,873,893
Cost of goods sold	1,947,444	1,925,180	5,840,469	5,460,845
Gross margin	1,200,329	1,197,198	3,655,780	3,413,048
Selling, general and administrative expenses	892,124	879,150	2,687,024	2,472,085
Restructuring and acquisition related expenses	8,929	6,614	20,613	26,546
Impairment of net assets held for sale	(3,601)	0	44,919	0
Depreciation and amortization	71,513	76,701	213,349	196,322
Operating income	231,364	234,733	689,875	718,095
Other expense (income):
Interest expense, net of interest income	31,976	40,860	103,949	107,647
Other income, net	(5,939)	(6,959)	(15,523)	(9,414)
Total other expense, net	26,037	33,901	88,426	98,233
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	205,327	200,832	601,449	619,862
Provision for income taxes	57,747	46,068	165,122	156,427
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	4,232	(20,284)	(33,745)	(18,326)
Income from continuing operations	151,812	134,480	402,582	445,109
Net income from discontinued operations	781	0	1,179	0
Net income	152,593	134,480	403,761	445,109
Less: net (loss) income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest	(46)	378	2,321	1,040
Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest	376	0	568	0
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	$ 152,263	$ 134,102	$ 400,872	$ 444,069
Basic earnings per share: (1)
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.49	$ 0.42	$ 1.29	$ 1.42
Net income from discontinued operations	0.00	0	0.00	0
Net income	0.50	0.42	1.30	1.42
Less: net (loss) income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest	0.00	0.00	0.01	0.00
Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest	0.00	0	0.00	0
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	0.50	0.42	1.29	1.42
Diluted earnings per share: (1)
Income from continuing operations	0.49	0.42	1.29	1.41
Net income from discontinued operations	0.00	0	0.00	0
Net income	0.50	0.42	1.29	1.41
Less: net (loss) income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest	0.00	0.00	0.01	0.00
Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest	0.00	0	0.00	0
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	$ 0.49	$ 0.42	$ 1.28	$ 1.41