Restructuring and Acquisition Related Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs	$ 2	$ 7	$ 8	$ 13
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs	8	2	8	2
Andrew Page [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs		4		7
2020 Global Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs	10		38
2020 Global Restructuring Program [Member] | Maximum
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	75		75
2020 Global Restructuring Program [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	65		65
2019 Global Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs	1	18	6	23	$ 37
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	45		45
2019 Global Restructuring Program [Member] | Maximum
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost Remaining	4		4
2019 Global Restructuring Program [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost Remaining	2		2
1 LKQ Europe Program [Member] | Maximum
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost Remaining	55		55
1 LKQ Europe Program [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost Remaining	45		45
Restructuring Charges And Business Combination Acquisition Related Costs [Member] | 2019 Global Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs		4		10
cost of goods and services sold [Member] | Andrew Page [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs		$ 4
cost of goods and services sold [Member] | 2020 Global Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs	1		7
cost of goods and services sold [Member] | 2019 Global Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Costs				$ 13
Specialty [Member] | 2020 Global Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	1		1
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	1		1
Specialty [Member] | 2019 Global Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	1		1
North America [Member] | 2020 Global Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	31		31
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	22		22
North America [Member] | 2019 Global Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	14		14
Europe [Member] | 2020 Global Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	39		39
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	15		15
Europe [Member] | 2019 Global Restructuring Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	$ 31		$ 31