Restructuring (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended					60 Months Ended	72 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				72 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				72 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 employee	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 employee	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 Car Rental	Dec. 31, 2011 Car Rental	Dec. 31, 2010 Car Rental	Dec. 31, 2008 Car Rental location	Dec. 31, 2012 Car Rental	Dec. 31, 2012 Equipment Rental	Dec. 31, 2011 Equipment Rental	Dec. 31, 2010 Equipment Rental	Dec. 31, 2008 Equipment Rental branch	Dec. 31, 2012 Equipment Rental	Dec. 31, 2012 Other	Dec. 31, 2012 Other reconciling items	Dec. 31, 2011 Other reconciling items	Dec. 31, 2010 Other reconciling items	Dec. 31, 2012 Direct operating	Dec. 31, 2011 Direct operating	Dec. 31, 2010 Direct operating	Dec. 31, 2012 Selling, general and administrative	Dec. 31, 2011 Selling, general and administrative	Dec. 31, 2010 Selling, general and administrative	Dec. 31, 2012 Asset writedowns	Dec. 31, 2011 Asset writedowns	Dec. 31, 2010 Asset writedowns	Dec. 31, 2012 Termination benefits		Dec. 31, 2011 Termination benefits		Dec. 31, 2010 Termination benefits	Dec. 31, 2012 Pension and post retirement expense		Dec. 31, 2011 Pension and post retirement expense		Dec. 31, 2010 Pension and post retirement expense	Dec. 31, 2012 Consultant costs		Dec. 31, 2011 Consultant costs		Dec. 31, 2010 Consultant costs	Dec. 31, 2012 Facility closure and lease obligation costs	Dec. 31, 2011 Facility closure and lease obligation costs	Dec. 31, 2010 Facility closure and lease obligation costs	Dec. 31, 2012 Facility closures	Dec. 31, 2011 Facility closures	Dec. 31, 2012 Relocation costs and temporary labor costs	Dec. 31, 2011 Relocation costs and temporary labor costs	Dec. 31, 2010 Relocation costs and temporary labor costs	Dec. 31, 2012 Other		Dec. 31, 2011 Other		Dec. 31, 2010 Other	Dec. 31, 2012 FAS 88 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 FAS 88 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Involuntary Benefits [Member]
Restructuring details
Number of off-airport locations closed													250
Number of branches in U.S. equipment rental segment closed																		22
Number of employees impacted	650							8,960
Restructuring charges incurred to date									$ 568.4					$ 282.7					$ 230.3	$ 55.4
Restructuring charges			38.0		56.4		54.7			26.4	16.6	18.1			8.8	40.5	34.7				2.8	(0.7)	1.9	22.6	46.6	43.5	15.4	9.8	11.2	0	23.2	20.4	26.2		14.4		12.2	1.0		0.4		0.4	1.2		1.3		1.1	8.9	16.5	14.3			0.4	0.6	5.0	0.3		0		1.3
Increase (decrease) in income per share (in dollars per share)		$ (0.09)			$ (0.07)		$ 0.09
Expected duration for payment of restructuring obligations																																	12 months
Restructuring reserve
Restructuring reserve, Balance at beginning of period	21.6		21.6		17.5																												9.1		6.3			0.2		0.2			0.6		0.1											11.7		10.9
Charges incurred			38.0		56.4																												26.2		14.4			1.0		0.4			1.2		1.3											9.6		40.3
Cash payments			(26.8)		(18.4)																												(22.6)		(15.5)			0		0			(0.9)		(0.6)											(3.3)		(2.3)
Other			(11.8)	[1]	(33.9)	[1]																									(23.2)		(0.3)	[1]	3.9	[1]		(1.0)	[1]	(0.4)	[1]		(0.6)	[1]	(0.2)	[1]					(10.3)	(13.9)				(9.9)	[1]	(37.2)	[1]		(1.0)	(0.4)	3.8
Restructuring reserve, Balance at end of period			$ 21.0		$ 21.6		$ 17.5	$ 21.6	$ 21.0																								$ 12.4		$ 9.1		$ 6.3	$ 0.2		$ 0.2		$ 0.2	$ 0.3		$ 0.6		$ 0.1									$ 8.1		$ 11.7		$ 10.9

[1] Consists of decreases of $23.2 million for asset writedowns, $13.9 million for facility closures, $0.4 million in ASC 715 pension adjustment and $0.2 million of consultant costs, partly offset by a $3.8 million increase for involuntary benefits.