Fair Value Of Financial Instruments	3 Months Ended
Fair Value Of Financial Instruments	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Abstract]
Fair Value Of Financial Instruments	CAI INTERNATIONAL, INC. NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (9)Fair Value of Financial Instruments The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The Company’s senior secured notes of $90.6 million, asset-backed notes of $352.9 million and collateralized financing obligations of $109.0 million as of March 31, 2014 were estimated to have a fair value of approximately $89.5 million, $349.3 million and $106.4 million, respectively, based on the fair value of estimated future payments calculated using prevailing interest rates. The fair value of these financial instruments would be categorized as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Management believes that the balances of the Company’s revolving credit facilities of $328.5 million, term loans totaling $279.3 million, net investment in direct finance leases of $94.5 million and capital lease obligations of $4.8 million approximate their fair values as of March 31, 2014. The fair value of these financial instruments would be categorized as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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