CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets
Cash	$ 26,768		$ 17,671
Accounts receivable (owned fleet), net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,059 and $794 at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 , respectively	38,877		32,627
Accounts receivable (managed fleet)	12,436		19,131
Current portion of direct finance leases	12,370		10,625
Prepaid expenses	16,421		11,952
Deferred tax assets	2,189		2,189
Other current assets	250		919
Total current assets	109,311		95,114
Restricted cash	10,018		4,376
Rental equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $161,114 and $147,654 at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 , respectively	1,339,757		1,210,234
Net investment in direct finance leases	73,610		74,929
Furniture, fixtures and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,314 and $1,254 at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 , respectively	1,786		1,847
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $7,637 and $7,447 at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	1,198		1,441
Total assets (1)	1,535,680	[1]	1,387,941	[1]
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	5,549		5,985
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	4,254		8,465
Due to container investors	16,285		18,589
Unearned revenue	7,780		7,893
Current portion of debt	67,830		61,044
Current portion of capital lease obligations	2,033		2,242
Rental equipment payable	53,260		2,561
Total current liabilities	156,991		106,779
Debt	970,949		888,990
Deferred income tax liability	39,950		40,051
Capital lease obligations	4,569		5,084
Income taxes payable	192		192
Total liabilities (2)	1,172,651	[2]	1,041,096	[2]
Stockholders' equity
Common stock: par value $.0001 per share; authorized 84,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 22,143,690 and 22,052,529 shares at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 , respectively	2		2
Additional paid-in capital	182,359		181,063
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,096)		(2,917)
Retained earnings	184,764		168,697
Total stockholders' equity	363,029		346,845
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 1,535,680		$ 1,387,941

[1] Total assets at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, include the following assets of certain variable interest entities (VIEs) that can only be used to settle the liabilities of those VIEs: Cash, $6,441 and $3,695; and Rental equipment net of accumulated depreciation, $79,402 and $62,286, respectively.

[2] Total liabilities at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, include the following VIE liabilities for which the VIE creditors do not have recourse to CAI International, Inc.: Debt, $95,140 and $75,200, respectively.