CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Interest on finance receivables and loans	$ 1,163,448	$ 900,375	$ 2,303,777	$ 1,712,282
Leased vehicle income	218,938	10,030	366,061	10,030
Other finance and interest income	874	2,156	1,124	4,841
Total finance and other interest income	1,383,260	912,561	2,670,962	1,727,153
Interest expense — Including $36,836, $15,390, $71,079, and $26,884 to affiliates, respectively	128,314	87,476	252,760	170,473
Leased vehicle expense	179,135	7,028	299,204	7,028
Net finance and other interest income	1,075,811	818,057	2,118,998	1,549,652
Provision for loan losses	589,136	408,411	1,287,730	625,604
Net finance and other interest income after provision for loan losses	486,675	409,646	831,268	924,048
Profit sharing	24,056	7,564	56,217	7,564
Net finance and other interest income after provision for loan losses and profit sharing	462,619	402,082	775,051	916,484
Gain on sale of finance receivables and leases	21,602	1,272	57,416	1,272
Servicing fee income	22,099	6,355	32,504	13,626
Fees, commissions, and other	95,030	46,782	184,334	115,640
Total other income	138,731	54,409	274,254	130,538
Salary and benefits expense	93,689	75,332	295,604	137,879
Repossession expense	45,648	30,982	94,079	67,140
Other operating costs	71,889	64,984	139,991	115,153
Total operating expenses	211,226	171,298	529,674	320,172
Income before income taxes	390,124	285,193	519,631	726,850
Income tax expense	143,643	104,129	191,684	256,927
Net income	246,481	181,064	327,947	469,923
Noncontrolling interests	0	854	0	2,397
Net income attributable to Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. shareholders	246,481	181,918	327,947	472,320
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of tax of $1,950, ($1,238), $720 and ($2,944)	(3,364)	2,001	(1,276)	4,835
Change in unrealized gains on investments available for sale, net of tax of zero, $682, zero and $1,625	0	(1,167)	0	(2,623)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	(3,364)	834	(1,276)	2,212
Comprehensive income	243,117	181,898	326,671	472,135
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	586	0	1,577
Comprehensive income attributable to Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. shareholders	$ 243,117	$ 182,484	$ 326,671	$ 473,712
Net income per common share (basic) (in usd per share)	$ 0.71	$ 0.53	$ 0.94	$ 1.36
Net income per common share (diluted) (in usd per share)	$ 0.69	$ 0.53	$ 0.92	$ 1.36
Dividends declared per common share (in usd per share)	$ 0.15	$ 0.84	$ 0.15	$ 0.84
Weighted average common shares (basic)	348,826,897	346,171,491	348,465,666	346,168,144
Weighted average common shares (diluted)	356,381,921	346,171,491	356,008,288	346,168,144