Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended							3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 segment	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Senior Subordinated Notes	Jun. 30, 2012 8.875% Senior Notes due January 2014	Feb. 29, 2012 8.875% Senior Notes due January 2014	Jun. 30, 2012 7.875% Senior Notes due January 2014	Feb. 29, 2012 7.875% Senior Notes due January 2014	Jun. 30, 2012 Total reportable segments	Jun. 30, 2011 Total reportable segments	Jun. 30, 2012 Total reportable segments	Jun. 30, 2011 Total reportable segments	Jun. 30, 2012 Car Rental	Jun. 30, 2011 Car Rental	Jun. 30, 2012 Car Rental	Jun. 30, 2011 Car Rental	Jun. 30, 2012 Equipment Rental	Jun. 30, 2011 Equipment Rental	Jun. 30, 2012 Equipment Rental	Jun. 30, 2011 Equipment Rental	Jun. 30, 2012 Other reconciling items	Jun. 30, 2011 Other reconciling items	Jun. 30, 2012 Other reconciling items	Jun. 30, 2011 Other reconciling items	Jun. 30, 2012 Purchase accounting	Jun. 30, 2011 Purchase accounting	Jun. 30, 2012 Purchase accounting	Jun. 30, 2011 Purchase accounting	Jun. 30, 2012 Non Cash debt charges	Jun. 30, 2011 Non Cash debt charges	Jun. 30, 2012 Non Cash debt charges	Jun. 30, 2011 Non Cash debt charges	Jun. 30, 2012 Restructuring charges	Jun. 30, 2011 Restructuring charges	Jun. 30, 2012 Restructuring charges	Jun. 30, 2011 Restructuring charges	Jun. 30, 2012 Restructuring related charges	Jun. 30, 2011 Restructuring related charges	Jun. 30, 2012 Restructuring related charges	Jun. 30, 2011 Restructuring related charges	Jun. 30, 2011 Management transition costs	Jun. 30, 2012 Acquisition related costs	Jun. 30, 2011 Acquisition related costs	Jun. 30, 2012 Acquisition related costs	Jun. 30, 2011 Acquisition related costs	Jun. 30, 2011 Pension adjustment	Jun. 30, 2011 Pension adjustment	Jun. 30, 2011 Premiums paid on debt	Jun. 30, 2011 Premiums paid on debt	Jun. 30, 2012 Other	Jun. 30, 2011 Other	Jun. 30, 2012 Other	Jun. 30, 2011 Other
Segment Information
Number of reportable segments			2
Reconciliation of adjusted pre-tax income to income (loss) before income taxes
Revenues	$ 2,225,148,000	$ 2,072,293,000	$ 4,186,073,000	$ 3,852,296,000						$ 2,224,600,000	$ 2,070,500,000	$ 4,185,000,000	$ 3,849,000,000	$ 1,889,600,000	$ 1,768,800,000	$ 3,547,900,000	$ 3,279,100,000	$ 335,000,000	$ 301,700,000	$ 637,100,000	$ 569,900,000																														$ 500,000	$ 1,800,000	$ 1,100,000	$ 3,300,000
Adjustments:
Adjusted pre-tax income (loss)	158,734,000	94,646,000	121,925,000	(64,236,000)						319,900,000	275,600,000	437,400,000	347,100,000	277,400,000	242,200,000	369,000,000	303,500,000	42,500,000	33,400,000	68,400,000	43,600,000	(86,000,000)	(91,200,000)	(174,200,000)	(178,700,000)	(29,000,000)	(22,500,000)	(53,000,000)	(43,100,000)	(20,600,000)	(27,100,000)	(45,800,000)	(87,000,000)	(16,100,000)	(33,700,000)	(25,500,000)	(38,400,000)	(5,000,000)	(2,800,000)	(5,600,000)	(3,300,000)	(2,500,000)	(4,500,000)	(6,100,000)	(11,400,000)	(9,000,000)	13,100,000	13,100,000	(10,700,000)	(62,400,000)
Interest rate (as a percent)					10.50%	8.875%	8.875%	7.875%	7.875%
Increase (decrease) in assets			$ 1,756,000,000