SCHEDULE I CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 243,079,000	$ 195,730,000	$ (31,298,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs	54,131,000	92,206,000	73,120,000
Amortization and write-off of debt discount	28,899,000	38,119,000	40,701,000
Deferred taxes on income	128,760,000	68,138,000	(26,529,000)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts payable	49,896,000	(1,139,000)	119,054,000
Accrued liabilities	(22,554,000)	(144,048,000)	(53,445,000)
Accrued taxes	2,801,000	15,177,000	272,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	2,717,983,000	2,233,339,000	2,208,679,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(4,746,771,000)	(2,192,902,000)	(943,568,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of Long-term Debt	(952,147,000)	(3,649,315,000)	(2,954,233,000)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	11,220,000	13,058,000	7,635,000
Proceeds from disgorgement of stockholder short-swing profits	17,000	77,000	7,000
Payments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation	(20,095,000)	(11,465,000)	(7,836,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,624,525,000	(1,486,666,000)	133,754,000
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Continuing Operations	(398,524,000)	(1,442,391,000)	1,388,528,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	931,779,000	2,374,170,000	985,642,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	533,255,000	931,779,000	2,374,170,000
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest (net of amounts capitalized)	560,027,000	640,627,000	533,044,000
Income taxes	71,661,000	49,557,000	50,688,000
Parent
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	243,079,000	176,170,000	(48,681,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs	2,295,000	2,297,000	2,294,000
Amortization and write-off of debt discount	24,912,000	22,172,000	19,733,000
Deferred taxes on income	(8,078,000)	(5,583,000)	(6,652,000)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Taxes receivable	(11,529,000)	(9,723,000)	(10,007,000)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(5,288,000)	(64,000)	(16,000)
Accounts payable	0	0	(4,315,000)
Accrued liabilities	(41,000)	39,000	12,000
Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(275,779,000)	(210,489,000)	18,383,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(30,429,000)	(25,181,000)	(29,249,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investment in and advances to consolidated subsidiaries	(520,000)	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	25,520,000	22,950,000	23,000,000
Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions, Return of Capital	25,000,000	22,950,000	23,000,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of Long-term Debt	(4,000)	(16,000)	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	11,220,000	13,058,000	7,894,000
Accounts receivable from Hertz affiliate	13,220,000	984,000	6,173,000
Proceeds from disgorgement of stockholder short-swing profits	17,000	77,000	7,000
Payments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation	(20,095,000)	(11,465,000)	(7,836,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	4,358,000	2,638,000	6,238,000
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Continuing Operations	(551,000)	407,000	(11,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	571,000	164,000	175,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	20,000	571,000	164,000
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest (net of amounts capitalized)	24,897,000	24,897,000	24,861,000
Income taxes	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0