Business Segment Information (Segment Information And The Reconciliation Of Segment Balances) (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Dec. 31, 2010
Total interest income	$ 602.1		$ 1,023.8	[1]	$ 1,245.3		$ 2,128.5	[1],[2]
Total interest expense	(805.7)		(807.5)	[1]	(1,504.6)		(1,638.9)	[1],[2]
Provision for credit losses	(84.7)		(246.7)	[1]	(208.1)		(472.8)	[1],[2]
Rental income on operating leases	417.9		417.9	[1]	831.2		843.7	[1],[2]
Other income, excluding rental income	239.9		338.5	[1]	518.1		488.9	[1],[2]
Depreciation on operating lease equipment	(145.5)		(178.1)	[1]	(306.0)		(350.8)	[1],[2]
Operating Expenses	(245.8)		(277.8)	[1]	(462.2)		(539.5)	[1],[2]
Income before provision for income taxes	(21.8)		270.1	[1]	113.7		459.1	[1],[2]
Loans including receivables pledged	22,284.7		29,388.6		22,284.7		29,388.6		24,500.5
Credit balances of factoring clients	(1,084.9)		(877.3)		(1,084.9)		(877.3)		(935.3)	[2]
Assets held for sale	1,863.5	[3]	572.5		1,863.5	[3]	572.5		1,218.5	[2],[3]
Operating lease equipment, net	10,920.4	[3]	10,954.4		10,920.4	[3]	10,954.4		11,136.7	[2],[3]
Corporate Finance [Member]
Total interest income	270.9		494.7		569.6		1,042.7
Total interest expense	(212.0)		(276.0)		(408.8)		(574.8)
Provision for credit losses	(61.3)		(95.2)		(135.8)		(229.1)
Rental income on operating leases	5.5		7.3		12.0		16.1
Other income, excluding rental income	118.2		206.4		282.0		309.0
Depreciation on operating lease equipment	(3.0)		(5.1)		(5.9)		(8.7)
Operating Expenses	(66.9)		(90.3)		(125.7)		(170.2)
Income before provision for income taxes	51.4		241.8		187.4		385.0
Loans including receivables pledged	7,423.9		10,346.2		7,423.9		10,346.2
Credit balances of factoring clients	0		0		0		0
Assets held for sale	378.8		514.8		378.8		514.8
Operating lease equipment, net	51.1		105.6		51.1		105.6
Transportation Finance [Member]
Total interest income	44.5		57.8		87.0		121.5
Total interest expense	(250.8)		(234.3)		(461.3)		(492.6)
Provision for credit losses	(4.7)		(3.0)		(6.5)		(4.3)
Rental income on operating leases	339.5		315.0		664.2		621.8
Other income, excluding rental income	33.0		18.2		57.3		40.4
Depreciation on operating lease equipment	(86.7)		(85.9)		(183.4)		(164.5)
Operating Expenses	(37.4)		(45.5)		(77.2)		(85.1)
Income before provision for income taxes	37.4		22.3		80.1		37.2
Loans including receivables pledged	1,356.3		1,636.9		1,356.3		1,636.9
Credit balances of factoring clients	0		0		0		0
Assets held for sale	257.3		10.4		257.3		10.4
Operating lease equipment, net	10,619.3		10,296.9		10,619.3		10,296.9
Trade Finance [Member]
Total interest income	17.9		24.4		35.0		54.9
Total interest expense	(29.5)		(49.5)		(55.2)		(91.1)
Provision for credit losses	(4.0)		(12.3)		(7.3)		(46.2)
Rental income on operating leases	0		0		0		0
Other income, excluding rental income	42.8		51.4		79.9		100.6
Depreciation on operating lease equipment	0		0		0		0
Operating Expenses	(26.4)		(33.0)		(54.2)		(65.0)
Income before provision for income taxes	0.8		(19.0)		(1.8)		(46.8)
Loans including receivables pledged	2,538.4		2,514.6		2,538.4		2,514.6
Credit balances of factoring clients	(1,084.9)		(877.3)		(1,084.9)		(877.3)
Assets held for sale	0				0
Operating lease equipment, net	0		0		0		0
Vendor Finance [Member]
Total interest income	195.1		345.2		403.4		707.2
Total interest expense	(145.5)		(190.4)		(278.5)		(358.3)
Provision for credit losses	(13.8)		(111.9)		(56.7)		(164.4)
Rental income on operating leases	72.9		96.1		155.0		206.9
Other income, excluding rental income	50.8		33.2		82.4		72.0
Depreciation on operating lease equipment	(55.8)		(87.4)		(116.7)		(178.1)
Operating Expenses	(82.1)		(86.3)		(153.8)		(173.2)
Income before provision for income taxes	21.6		(1.5)		35.1		112.1
Loans including receivables pledged	3,940.4		6,101.3		3,940.4		6,101.3
Credit balances of factoring clients	0		0		0		0
Assets held for sale	528.1		18.8		528.1		18.8
Operating lease equipment, net	250.0		551.9		250.0		551.9
Commercial [Member]
Total interest income	528.4		922.1		1,095.0		1,926.3
Total interest expense	(637.8)		(750.2)		(1,203.8)		(1,516.8)
Provision for credit losses	(83.8)		(222.4)		(206.3)		(444.0)
Rental income on operating leases	417.9		418.4		831.2		844.8
Other income, excluding rental income	244.8		309.2		501.6		522.0
Depreciation on operating lease equipment	(145.5)		(178.4)		(306.0)		(351.3)
Operating Expenses	(212.8)		(255.1)		(410.9)		(493.5)
Income before provision for income taxes	111.2		243.6		300.8		487.5
Loans including receivables pledged	15,259.0		20,599.0		15,259.0		20,599.0
Credit balances of factoring clients	(1,084.9)		(877.3)		(1,084.9)		(877.3)
Assets held for sale	1,164.2		544.0		1,164.2		544.0
Operating lease equipment, net	10,920.4		10,954.4		10,920.4		10,954.4
Consumer [Member]
Total interest income	68.9		96.7		139.7		192.6
Total interest expense	(48.7)		(59.4)		(101.7)		(126.2)
Provision for credit losses	(0.9)		(9.3)		(1.8)		(13.8)
Rental income on operating leases	0		0		0		0
Other income, excluding rental income	3.1		18.3		6.2		24.1
Depreciation on operating lease equipment	0		0		0		0
Operating Expenses	(15.5)		(22.7)		(32.9)		(44.2)
Income before provision for income taxes	6.9		23.6		9.5		32.5
Loans including receivables pledged	7,025.7		8,789.6		7,025.7		8,789.6
Credit balances of factoring clients	0		0		0		0
Assets held for sale	699.3		28.5		699.3		28.5
Operating lease equipment, net	0		0		0		0
Total Segments [Member]
Total interest income	597.3		1,018.8		1,234.7		2,118.9
Total interest expense	(686.5)		(809.6)		(1,305.5)		(1,643.0)
Provision for credit losses	(84.7)		(231.7)		(208.1)		(457.8)
Rental income on operating leases	417.9		418.4		831.2		844.8
Other income, excluding rental income	247.9		327.5		507.8		546.1
Depreciation on operating lease equipment	(145.5)		(178.4)		(306.0)		(351.3)
Operating Expenses	(228.3)		(277.8)		(443.8)		(537.7)
Income before provision for income taxes	118.1		267.2		310.3		520.0
Loans including receivables pledged	22,284.7		29,388.6		22,284.7		29,388.6
Credit balances of factoring clients	(1,084.9)		(877.3)		(1,084.9)		(877.3)
Assets held for sale	1,863.5		572.5		1,863.5		572.5
Operating lease equipment, net	10,920.4		10,954.4		10,920.4		10,954.4
Corporate and Other [Member]
Total interest income	4.8		5.0		10.6		9.6
Total interest expense	(119.2)		2.1		(199.1)		4.1
Provision for credit losses	0		(15.0)		0		(15.0)
Rental income on operating leases	0		(0.5)		0		(1.1)
Other income, excluding rental income	(8.0)		11.0		10.3		(57.2)
Depreciation on operating lease equipment	0		0.3		0		0.5
Operating Expenses	(17.5)		0		(18.4)		(1.8)
Income before provision for income taxes	(139.9)		2.9		(196.6)		(60.9)
Loans including receivables pledged	0		0		0		0
Credit balances of factoring clients	0		0		0		0
Assets held for sale	0		0		0		0
Operating lease equipment, net	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0

[1] These restated balances were disclosed in Note 26 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

[2] 2010 data has been conformed to the current quarter presentation.

[3] The following table presents information on assets and liabilities related to Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) that are consolidated by the Company. The difference between total VIE assets and liabilities represents the Company's interests in those entities, which were eliminated in consolidation. The assets of the consolidated VIEs will be used to settle the liabilities of those entities and, except for the Company's interest in the VIEs, are generally not available to the creditors of CIT or any affiliates of CIT.