Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 Contracts	Mar. 31, 2012 Contracts
Customer
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	14	35
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	$ 38	$ 41
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	39	41
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	10	25
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	5	20
Customer | North America
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	10	23
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	2	2
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	2	2
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	8	11
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	2	1
Customer | Europe
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	0	7
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	7
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	7
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	4	5
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	36	32
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	37	32
Additional funds loaned not recorded as TDRs	5
Remaining Commitments	30
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	2	14
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	$ 3	$ 19
Dealer
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	0	0