Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Revolving Credit Facility [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Letter Of Credit United Kindom Overdraft Facility [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Letter Of Credit Canadian Processing Contract [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Bank Machine Overdraft Facility [Member] GBP (£)	Mar. 31, 2013 Cardtronics Mexico Equipment Financing Agreements [Member] USD ($) agreement	Mar. 31, 2013 Cardtronics Mexico Equipment Financing Agreements [Member] MXN agreement	Mar. 31, 2013 Senior Subordinated Notes Due September 2018 [Member] USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity under revolving credit facility			$ 250,000,000
Termination date			Jul. 01, 2016
Line Of Credit Facility Expandable Borrowing Capacity			325,000,000
Swing line facility capacity			15,000,000
Sub-limit of revolving credit facility, foreign currency			60,000,000
Sub-limit of revolving credit facility, letter of credit			20,000,000
Percentage of stock in foreign subsidiaries used as collateral	66.00%
Line of credit facility outstanding	151,400,000	152,000,000			100,000
Letter of credit posted				2,000,000
Available borrowing capacity			96,500,000
Senior subordinated notes stated interest percentage									8.25%
8.25% Senior subordinated notes due September 2018	200,000,000	200,000,000							200,000,000
Maturity date									Sep. 01, 2018
Bank Overdraft Facility Capacity						1,000,000
Spread over bank rate						1.00%
Bank's base rate						0.50%
Other long-term debt term, in years							5 years	5 years
Number of five year equipment financing agreements with a single lender							4	4
Average fixed rate of interest							10.04%	10.04%
Equipment financing notes	2,589,000	2,819,000						31,800,000
Percentage of issued guarantees							51.00%	51.00%
Amount Of Guarantee Issued For Equipment Financing Agreement							$ 1,300,000	16,200,000