Consolidated Statements of Income Statement - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 3,000,935	$ 3,100,303
Cost of goods sold	1,787,059	1,892,039
Gross margin	1,213,876	1,208,264
Selling, general and administrative expenses	899,811	896,532
Restructuring and acquisition related expenses	6,970	3,307
(Gain On Disposal Of Business) And Impairment Of Net Assets Held for Sale	(249)	15,023
Depreciation and amortization	65,495	71,002
Operating income	241,849	222,400
Other expense (income):
Interest expense, net of interest income	25,931	36,089
Loss on debt extinguishment	12,751	0
Other income, net	(3,622)	(3,851)
Total other expense, net	35,060	32,238
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	206,789	190,162
Provision for income taxes	60,411	51,550
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	516	(39,549)
Income from continuing operations	146,894	99,063
Net loss from discontinued operations	(915)	0
Net income	145,979	99,063
Less: net income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest	740	1,015
Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest	103	0
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	$ 145,136	$ 98,048
Basic earnings per share: (1)
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.48	$ 0.31
Net loss from discontinued operations	0.00	0
Net income	0.48	0.31
Less: net income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest	0.00	0.00
Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest	0.00	0
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	0.47	0.31
Diluted earnings per share: (1)
Income from continuing operations	0.48	0.31
Net loss from discontinued operations	0.00	0
Net income	0.48	0.31
Less: net income attributable to continuing noncontrolling interest	0.00	0.00
Less: net income attributable to discontinued noncontrolling interest	0.00	0
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	$ 0.47	$ 0.31