Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 152,593,000	$ 134,480,000	$ 403,761,000	$ 445,109,000
Less: net income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest	(46,000)	378,000	2,321,000	1,040,000
Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest	376,000	0	568,000	0
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	152,263,000	134,102,000	400,872,000	444,069,000
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation, net of tax	(69,819,000)	(20,951,000)	(74,112,000)	(77,630,000)
Net change in unrealized gains/losses on cash flow hedges, net of tax	(1,261,000)	304,000	(9,648,000)	5,964,000
Net change in unrealized gains/losses on pension plans, net of tax	(2,353,000)	1,274,000	(2,134,000)	(154,000)
Net change in other comprehensive loss from unconsolidated subsidiaries	(1,240,000)	(643,000)	(98,000)	(2,160,000)
Other comprehensive loss	(72,193,000)	(18,730,000)	(85,796,000)	(69,660,000)
Comprehensive income	80,400,000	115,750,000	317,965,000	375,449,000
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Continuing Noncontrolling Interest	(46,000)	378,000	2,321,000	1,040,000
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Discontinued Noncontrolling Interest	376,000	0	568,000	0
Comprehensive income attributable to LKQ stockholders	80,070,000	115,372,000	315,076,000	374,409,000
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	152,263,000	134,102,000	400,872,000	444,069,000
Less: net income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest	0		0
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	152,263,000	134,102,000	400,872,000	444,069,000
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation, net of tax	(69,819,000)	(20,951,000)	(74,112,000)	(77,630,000)
Net change in unrealized gains/losses on cash flow hedges, net of tax	(1,261,000)	304,000	(9,648,000)	5,964,000
Net change in unrealized gains/losses on pension plans, net of tax	(2,353,000)	1,274,000	(2,134,000)	(154,000)
Net change in other comprehensive loss from unconsolidated subsidiaries	(1,240,000)	(643,000)	(98,000)	(2,160,000)
Other comprehensive loss	(72,193,000)	(18,730,000)	(85,796,000)	(69,660,000)
Comprehensive income	80,070,000	115,372,000	315,076,000	374,409,000
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Continuing Noncontrolling Interest	0
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Discontinued Noncontrolling Interest	0		0
Comprehensive income attributable to LKQ stockholders	80,070,000	115,372,000	315,076,000	374,409,000
Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	131,947,000	109,676,000	378,855,000	387,173,000
Less: net income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest	0		0
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	131,947,000	109,676,000	378,855,000	387,173,000
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation, net of tax	(1,429,000)	1,686,000	3,107,000	(2,800,000)
Net change in unrealized gains/losses on cash flow hedges, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net change in unrealized gains/losses on pension plans, net of tax	(2,385,000)	1,246,000	(2,399,000)	(239,000)
Net change in other comprehensive loss from unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive loss	(3,814,000)	2,932,000	708,000	(3,039,000)
Comprehensive income	128,133,000	112,608,000	379,563,000	384,134,000
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Continuing Noncontrolling Interest	0
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Discontinued Noncontrolling Interest	0		0
Comprehensive income attributable to LKQ stockholders	128,133,000	112,608,000	379,563,000	384,134,000
Non-Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	34,843,000	24,914,000	61,786,000	82,931,000
Less: net income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest	(46,000)	378,000	2,321,000	1,040,000
Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest	376,000		568,000
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	34,513,000	24,536,000	58,897,000	81,891,000
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation, net of tax	(69,520,000)	(23,901,000)	(74,900,000)	(81,456,000)
Net change in unrealized gains/losses on cash flow hedges, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net change in unrealized gains/losses on pension plans, net of tax	32,000	28,000	265,000	85,000
Net change in other comprehensive loss from unconsolidated subsidiaries	(1,240,000)	(643,000)	(98,000)	(2,160,000)
Other comprehensive loss	(68,248,000)	(23,230,000)	(74,537,000)	(79,211,000)
Comprehensive income	(33,405,000)	1,684,000	(12,751,000)	3,720,000
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Continuing Noncontrolling Interest	(46,000)	378,000	2,321,000	1,040,000
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Discontinued Noncontrolling Interest	376,000		568,000
Comprehensive income attributable to LKQ stockholders	(33,735,000)	1,306,000	(15,640,000)	2,680,000
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(166,460,000)	(134,212,000)	(437,752,000)	(469,064,000)
Less: net income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest	0		0
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	(166,460,000)	(134,212,000)	(437,752,000)	(469,064,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation, net of tax	70,949,000	22,215,000	71,793,000	84,256,000
Net change in unrealized gains/losses on cash flow hedges, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net change in unrealized gains/losses on pension plans, net of tax	2,353,000	(1,274,000)	2,134,000	154,000
Net change in other comprehensive loss from unconsolidated subsidiaries	1,240,000	643,000	98,000	2,160,000
Other comprehensive loss	72,062,000	20,298,000	73,829,000	82,250,000
Comprehensive income	(94,398,000)	(113,914,000)	(363,923,000)	(386,814,000)
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Continuing Noncontrolling Interest	0
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Discontinued Noncontrolling Interest	0		0
Comprehensive income attributable to LKQ stockholders	$ (94,398,000)	$ (113,914,000)	$ (363,923,000)	$ (386,814,000)