Consolidated Statement of Operations by Industry Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Revenues:
Self-moving equipment rentals	$ 466,994		$ 446,548
Self-storage revenues	34,736		31,828
Self-moving and self-storage products and service sales	67,178		64,378
Property management fees	4,860		4,735
Life insurance premiums	46,426		50,999
Property and casualty insurance premiums	7,243		6,898
Net investment and interest income	12,257		17,263
Other revenue	25,722		20,316
Total revenues	665,416		642,965
Costs and expenses:
Operating expenses	283,393		271,975
Commission expenses	61,107		56,952
Cost of sales	32,227		32,778
Benefits and losses	46,078		49,930
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	2,811		4,375
Lease expense	32,796		34,234
Depreciation net of (gains) losses on disposals	56,125		44,358
Total costs and expenses	514,537		494,602
Earnings from operations	150,879		148,363
Interest income (expense)	(23,491)		(22,633)
Total pretax earnings (loss)	127,388		125,730
Income tax expense	(46,819)		(47,507)
Net earnings	80,569		78,223
Less: Excess of redemption value over carrying value of preferred shares redeemed			(5,908)
Preferred stock dividends paid			(3,077)
Earnings available to common shareholders	80,569		69,238
Property and Casualty Insurance
Revenues:
Property and casualty insurance premiums	7,243	[1]	6,898	[2]
Net investment and interest income	2,200	[1]	2,234	[2]
Total revenues	9,443	[1]	9,132	[2]
Costs and expenses:
Operating expenses	3,290	[1]	2,774	[2]
Benefits and losses	3,566	[1]	4,459	[2]
Total costs and expenses	6,856	[1]	7,233	[2]
Earnings (loss) from operations before subsidiaries	2,587	[1]	1,899	[2]
Earnings from operations	2,587	[1]	1,899	[2]
Total pretax earnings (loss)	2,587	[1]	1,899	[2]
Income tax expense	(906)	[1]	(665)	[2]
Net earnings	1,681	[3]	1,234	[4]
Earnings available to common shareholders	1,681	[1]	1,234	[2]
Life Insurance
Revenues:
Life insurance premiums	46,426	[1]	50,999	[2]
Net investment and interest income	7,010	[1]	8,538	[2]
Other revenue	446	[1]	462	[2]
Total revenues	53,882	[1]	59,999	[2]
Costs and expenses:
Operating expenses	7,155	[1]	8,118	[2]
Benefits and losses	42,512	[1]	45,471	[2]
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	2,811	[3]	4,375	[4]
Total costs and expenses	52,478	[1]	57,964	[2]
Earnings (loss) from operations before subsidiaries	1,404	[1]	2,035	[2]
Earnings from operations	1,404	[1]	2,035	[2]
Total pretax earnings (loss)	1,404	[1]	2,035	[2]
Income tax expense	(503)	[1]	(668)	[2]
Net earnings	901	[3]	1,367	[4]
Earnings available to common shareholders	901	[1]	1,367	[2]
Eliminations
Revenues:
Self-moving equipment rentals	(321)	[5]	(337)	[5]
Net investment and interest income	(88)	[6]	(538)	[6],[7]
Other revenue	(349)	[6]	(290)	[6]
Total revenues	(758)		(1,165)
Costs and expenses:
Operating expenses	(657)	[5],[6]	(618)	[5],[6]
Lease expense	(30)	[6]	(306)	[6]
Total costs and expenses	(687)		(924)
Earnings (loss) from operations before subsidiaries	(71)		(241)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(2,582)	[8]	(2,601)	[8]
Earnings from operations	(2,653)		(2,842)
Interest income (expense)	71	[6]	84	[6]
Total pretax earnings (loss)	(2,582)		(2,758)
Net earnings	(2,582)		(2,758)
Preferred stock dividends paid			164	[7]
Earnings available to common shareholders	(2,582)		(2,594)
Moving and Storage Consolidations
Revenues:
Self-moving equipment rentals	467,315		446,885
Self-storage revenues	34,736		31,828
Self-moving and self-storage products and service sales	67,178		64,378
Property management fees	4,860		4,735
Net investment and interest income	3,135		7,029
Other revenue	25,625		20,144
Total revenues	602,849		574,999
Costs and expenses:
Operating expenses	273,605		261,701
Commission expenses	61,107		56,952
Cost of sales	32,227		32,778
Lease expense	32,826		34,540
Depreciation net of (gains) losses on disposals	56,125		44,358
Total costs and expenses	455,890		430,329
Earnings (loss) from operations before subsidiaries	146,959		144,670
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	2,582		2,601
Earnings from operations	149,541		147,271
Interest income (expense)	(23,562)		(22,717)
Total pretax earnings (loss)	125,979		124,554
Income tax expense	(45,410)		(46,174)
Net earnings	80,569		78,380
Less: Excess of redemption value over carrying value of preferred shares redeemed			(5,908)
Preferred stock dividends paid			(3,241)
Earnings available to common shareholders	80,569		69,231
AMERCO /NV/
Revenues:
Net investment and interest income	1,253		1,719
Other revenue	81
Total revenues	1,334		1,719
Costs and expenses:
Operating expenses	3,462		2,728
Lease expense	24		22
Depreciation net of (gains) losses on disposals	1		1
Total costs and expenses	3,487		2,751
Earnings (loss) from operations before subsidiaries	(2,153)		(1,032)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	66,615		63,851
Earnings from operations	64,462		62,819
Interest income (expense)	24,660		24,467
Total pretax earnings (loss)	89,122		87,286
Income tax expense	(8,553)		(8,906)
Net earnings	80,569		78,380
Less: Excess of redemption value over carrying value of preferred shares redeemed			(5,908)
Preferred stock dividends paid			(3,241)
Earnings available to common shareholders	80,569		69,231
U-Haul
Revenues:
Self-moving equipment rentals	467,315		446,885
Self-storage revenues	34,452		31,512
Self-moving and self-storage products and service sales	67,178		64,378
Property management fees	4,860		4,735
Net investment and interest income	1,688		5,160
Other revenue	27,167		21,531
Total revenues	602,660		574,201
Costs and expenses:
Operating expenses	290,311		277,728
Commission expenses	61,107		56,952
Cost of sales	32,227		32,778
Lease expense	32,797		34,511
Depreciation net of (gains) losses on disposals	52,320		41,401
Total costs and expenses	468,762		443,370
Earnings (loss) from operations before subsidiaries	133,898		130,831
Earnings from operations	133,898		130,831
Interest income (expense)	(34,154)		(34,282)
Total pretax earnings (loss)	99,744		96,549
Income tax expense	(36,413)		(36,365)
Net earnings	63,331		60,184
Earnings available to common shareholders	63,331		60,184
Real Estate
Revenues:
Self-storage revenues	284		316
Net investment and interest income	194		150
Other revenue	21,085		19,747
Total revenues	21,563		20,213
Costs and expenses:
Operating expenses	2,540		2,379
Lease expense	5		7
Depreciation net of (gains) losses on disposals	3,804		2,956
Total costs and expenses	6,349		5,342
Earnings (loss) from operations before subsidiaries	15,214		14,871
Earnings from operations	15,214		14,871
Interest income (expense)	(14,068)		(12,902)
Total pretax earnings (loss)	1,146		1,969
Income tax expense	(444)		(903)
Net earnings	702		1,066
Earnings available to common shareholders	702		1,066
Eliminations
Revenues:
Other revenue	(22,708)	[6]	(21,134)	[6]
Total revenues	(22,708)		(21,134)
Costs and expenses:
Operating expenses	(22,708)	[6]	(21,134)	[6]
Total costs and expenses	(22,708)		(21,134)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(64,033)	[8]	(61,250)	[8]
Earnings from operations	(64,033)		(61,250)
Total pretax earnings (loss)	(64,033)		(61,250)
Net earnings	(64,033)		(61,250)
Earnings available to common shareholders	$ (64,033)		$ (61,250)

[1] Balances for the quarter ended March 31, 2012

[2] Balances for the quarter ended March 31, 2011

[3] Balance for the period ended March 31, 2012

[4] Balance for the period ended March 31, 2011

[5] Eliminate intercompany premiums

[6] Eliminate intercompany lease /interest income

[7] Eliminate preferred stock dividends paid to affiliates

[8] Eliminate equity in earnings of subsidiaries