Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details-Allowance for credit losses) - Finance Receivables - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Allowance for Credit Loss Activity
Balance at beginning of year	$ 420	$ 507
Receivables written off	(212)	(281)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	27	44
Provision for credit losses	213	162
Other	(3)	(12)
Balance at end of period	457	420
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			$ 211	$ 217
Collectively evaluated for impairment			246	203
Ending Balance	420	420	457	420
Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			690	672
Collectively evaluated for impairment			20,942	21,725
Total Finance Receivables			21,632	22,397
Adjustments to adopt new accounting guidance | Credit losses
Allowance for Credit Loss Activity
Balance at beginning of year	12
Balance at end of period		12
Allowance for Credit Losses
Ending Balance	12	12		12
Customer
Allowance for Credit Loss Activity
Balance at beginning of year	375	486
Receivables written off	(212)	(281)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	27	44
Provision for credit losses	213	138
Other	(3)	(12)
Balance at end of period	412	375
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			172	178
Collectively evaluated for impairment			240	197
Ending Balance	375	375	412	375
Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			612	594
Collectively evaluated for impairment			17,967	18,093
Total Finance Receivables			18,579	18,687
Customer | Adjustments to adopt new accounting guidance | Credit losses
Allowance for Credit Loss Activity
Balance at beginning of year	12
Balance at end of period		12
Allowance for Credit Losses
Ending Balance	12	12		12
Dealer
Allowance for Credit Loss Activity
Balance at beginning of year	45	21
Receivables written off	0	0
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	24
Other	0	0
Balance at end of period	45	45
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			39	39
Collectively evaluated for impairment			6	6
Ending Balance	45	21	45	45
Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			78	78
Collectively evaluated for impairment			2,975	3,632
Total Finance Receivables			$ 3,053	3,710
Dealer | Adjustments to adopt new accounting guidance | Credit losses
Allowance for Credit Loss Activity
Balance at beginning of year	0
Balance at end of period		0
Allowance for Credit Losses
Ending Balance	$ 0	$ 0		$ 0