Consolidated Cash Flow Statement by Industry Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 124,474		$ 112,968
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	84,010		68,999
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	4,184		3,683
Change in allowance for losses on trade receivables	22		(14)
Change in allowance for inventory reserves	(1,760)		(935)
Net gain on sale of real and personal property	(22,959)		(11,565)
Net (gain) loss on sale of investments	(874)		(1,776)
Deferred income tax	12,407		31,828
Net change in other operating assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance recoverables and trade receivables	(717)		(22,715)
Inventories	(561)		(973)
Prepaid expenses	5,368		14,098
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	(6,575)		(7,808)
Other assets	(6,814)		(4,532)
Related party assets	8,089		24,878
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	94,004		18,162
Policy benefits and losses, claims and loss expenses payable	(9,878)		1,609
Other policyholders' funds and liabilities	1,827		(180)
Deferred income	7,683		7,584
Related party liabilities	1,878		5,962
Net cash provided by operating activities	293,808		239,273
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	(343,988)		(275,156)
Short term investments	(62,293)		(64,652)
Fixed maturities investments	(69,426)		(66,855)
Equity securities	(3,281)		(388)
Preferred stock	(2)		(634)
Real estate	(4,211)		(131)
Mortgage loans	(5,069)		(9,798)
Proceeds from sale of:
Property, plant and equipment	128,989		93,239
Short term investments	62,631		64,818
Fixed maturities investments	25,624		41,491
Equity securities	2,009		904
Preferred stock	1,000		3,295
Mortgage loans	12,069		20,152
Net cash used by investing activities	(255,948)		(193,715)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	207,152		88,182
Principal repayments on credit facilities	(52,464)		(61,996)
Debt issuance costs	(2,422)		(232)
Capital lease payments	(18,007)		(10,449)
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	87		127
Investment contract deposits	37,892		34,742
Investment contract withdrawals	(11,551)		(6,754)
Net cash provided by financing activities	160,687		43,620
Effects of exchange rate on cash	(1,074)		(335)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	197,473		88,843
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	495,112		463,744
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	692,585		552,587
Operating Segments [Member] | Moving and Storage Consolidations [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	124,474		112,968
Earnings from consolidated entities	(5,594)		(5,508)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	84,010		68,999
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Change in allowance for losses on trade receivables	18		(14)
Change in allowance for inventory reserves	(1,760)		(935)
Net gain on sale of real and personal property	(22,959)		(11,565)
Net (gain) loss on sale of investments	0		(6)
Deferred income tax	10,697		27,824
Net change in other operating assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance recoverables and trade receivables	(13,561)		(21,081)
Inventories	(561)		(973)
Prepaid expenses	5,368		14,073
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Other assets	(7,487)		(4,639)
Related party assets	8,855		24,765
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	92,473		18,907
Policy benefits and losses, claims and loss expenses payable	613		(5,590)
Other policyholders' funds and liabilities	0		0
Deferred income	7,683		7,584
Related party liabilities	1,018		5,471
Net cash provided by operating activities	283,287		230,280
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	(343,988)		(275,156)
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		0
Preferred stock	0		0
Real estate	0		0
Mortgage loans	(3,719)		(5,566)
Proceeds from sale of:
Property, plant and equipment	128,989		93,239
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		516
Preferred stock	0		0
Mortgage loans	8,154		20,632
Net cash used by investing activities	(210,564)		(166,335)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	207,152		88,182
Principal repayments on credit facilities	(52,464)		(61,996)
Debt issuance costs	(2,422)		(232)
Capital lease payments	(18,007)		(10,449)
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	87		127
Proceeds from (repayment of) intercompany loans	0		0
Investment contract deposits	0		0
Investment contract withdrawals	0		0
Net cash provided by financing activities	134,346		15,632
Effects of exchange rate on cash	(1,074)		(335)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	205,995		79,242
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	464,710		427,560
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	670,705		506,802
Operating Segments [Member] | Property and Casualty Insurance [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	2,614	[1]	2,853	[2]
Earnings from consolidated entities	0	[1]	0	[2]
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	0	[1]	0	[2]
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0	[3]	0	[3]
Change in allowance for losses on trade receivables	0	[1]	0	[2]
Change in allowance for inventory reserves	0	[1]	0	[2]
Net gain on sale of real and personal property	0	[1]	0	[2]
Net (gain) loss on sale of investments	(127)	[1]	(258)	[2]
Deferred income tax	115	[1]	875	[2]
Net change in other operating assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance recoverables and trade receivables	13,888	[1]	520	[2]
Inventories	0	[1]	0	[2]
Prepaid expenses	0	[1]	0	[2]
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0	[1]	0	[2]
Other assets	721	[1]	190	[2]
Related party assets	(885)	[1]	(96)	[2]
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	0	[1]	0	[2]
Policy benefits and losses, claims and loss expenses payable	(14,843)	[1]	1,326	[2]
Other policyholders' funds and liabilities	581	[1]	(501)	[2]
Deferred income	0	[1]	0	[2]
Related party liabilities	668	[1]	467	[2]
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,732	[1]	5,376	[2]
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	0	[1]	0	[2]
Short term investments	(13,040)	[1]	(16,298)	[2]
Fixed maturities investments	(19,217)	[1]	(14,285)	[2]
Equity securities	(3,281)	[1]	(388)	[2]
Preferred stock	(2)	[1]	(634)	[2]
Real estate	0	[1]	0	[2]
Mortgage loans	(1,350)	[1]	0	[2]
Proceeds from sale of:
Property, plant and equipment	0	[1]	0	[2]
Short term investments	20,051	[1]	14,570	[2]
Fixed maturities investments	11,626	[1]	5,213	[2]
Equity securities	2,009	[1]	388	[2]
Preferred stock	0	[1]	2,295	[2]
Mortgage loans	243	[1]	221	[2]
Net cash used by investing activities	(2,961)	[1]	(8,918)	[2]
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	0	[1]	0	[2]
Principal repayments on credit facilities	0	[1]	0	[2]
Debt issuance costs	0	[1]	0	[2]
Capital lease payments	0	[1]	0	[2]
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	0	[1]	0	[2]
Proceeds from (repayment of) intercompany loans	0	[1]	0	[2]
Investment contract deposits	0	[1]	0	[2]
Investment contract withdrawals	0	[1]	0	[2]
Net cash provided by financing activities	0	[1]	0	[2]
Effects of exchange rate on cash	0	[1]	0	[2]
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(229)	[1]	(3,542)	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	12,758	[4]	14,120	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	12,529	[5]	10,578	[2]
Operating Segments [Member] | Life Insurance [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	2,980	[1]	2,655	[2]
Earnings from consolidated entities	0	[1]	0	[2]
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	0	[1]	0	[2]
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	4,184	[3]	3,683	[3]
Change in allowance for losses on trade receivables	4	[1]	0	[2]
Change in allowance for inventory reserves	0	[1]	0	[2]
Net gain on sale of real and personal property	0	[1]	0	[2]
Net (gain) loss on sale of investments	(747)	[1]	(1,512)	[2]
Deferred income tax	1,595	[1]	3,129	[2]
Net change in other operating assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance recoverables and trade receivables	(1,044)	[1]	(2,154)	[2]
Inventories	0	[1]	0	[2]
Prepaid expenses	0	[1]	25	[2]
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	(6,575)	[1]	(7,808)	[2]
Other assets	(48)	[1]	(83)	[2]
Related party assets	0	[1]	0	[2]
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,531	[1]	(745)	[2]
Policy benefits and losses, claims and loss expenses payable	4,352	[1]	5,873	[2]
Other policyholders' funds and liabilities	1,246	[1]	321	[2]
Deferred income	0	[1]	0	[2]
Related party liabilities	311	[1]	233	[2]
Net cash provided by operating activities	7,789	[1]	3,617	[2]
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	0	[1]	0	[2]
Short term investments	(49,253)	[1]	(48,354)	[2]
Fixed maturities investments	(50,209)	[1]	(52,570)	[2]
Equity securities	0	[1]	0	[2]
Preferred stock	0	[1]	0	[2]
Real estate	(4,211)	[1]	(131)	[2]
Mortgage loans	0	[1]	(5,785)	[2]
Proceeds from sale of:
Property, plant and equipment	0	[1]	0	[2]
Short term investments	42,580	[1]	50,248	[2]
Fixed maturities investments	13,998	[1]	36,278	[2]
Equity securities	0	[1]	0	[2]
Preferred stock	1,000	[1]	1,000	[2]
Mortgage loans	3,672	[1]	852	[2]
Net cash used by investing activities	(42,423)	[1]	(18,462)	[2]
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	0	[1]	0	[2]
Principal repayments on credit facilities	0	[1]	0	[2]
Debt issuance costs	0	[1]	0	[2]
Capital lease payments	0	[1]	0	[2]
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	0	[1]	0	[2]
Proceeds from (repayment of) intercompany loans	0	[1]	0	[2]
Investment contract deposits	37,892	[1]	34,742	[2]
Investment contract withdrawals	(11,551)	[1]	(6,754)	[2]
Net cash provided by financing activities	26,341	[1]	27,998	[2]
Effects of exchange rate on cash	0	[1]	0	[2]
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(8,293)	[1]	13,143	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	17,644	[4]	22,064	[2]
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	9,351	[5]	35,207	[2]
Operating Segments [Member] | AMERCO [Member] | Moving and Storage Consolidations [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	124,474		112,968
Earnings from consolidated entities	(111,308)		(99,795)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	1		1
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Change in allowance for losses on trade receivables	0		0
Change in allowance for inventory reserves	0		0
Net gain on sale of real and personal property	0		0
Net (gain) loss on sale of investments	0		(6)
Deferred income tax	10,697		27,824
Net change in other operating assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance recoverables and trade receivables	0		0
Inventories	0		0
Prepaid expenses	18,537		22,475
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Other assets	(2)		0
Related party assets	(526)		552
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	37,987		8,633
Policy benefits and losses, claims and loss expenses payable	0		0
Other policyholders' funds and liabilities	0		0
Deferred income	0		0
Related party liabilities	0		0
Net cash provided by operating activities	79,860		72,652
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	0		0
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		0
Preferred stock	0		0
Real estate	0		0
Mortgage loans	0		0
Proceeds from sale of:
Property, plant and equipment	0		0
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		516
Preferred stock	0		0
Mortgage loans	0		0
Net cash used by investing activities	0		516
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	0		0
Principal repayments on credit facilities	0		0
Debt issuance costs	0		0
Capital lease payments	0		0
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	0		0
Proceeds from (repayment of) intercompany loans	(4,856)		(28,668)
Investment contract deposits	0		0
Investment contract withdrawals	0		0
Net cash provided by financing activities	(4,856)		(28,668)
Effects of exchange rate on cash	0		0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	75,004		44,500
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	321,544		327,119
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	396,548		371,619
Operating Segments [Member] | Uhaul [Member] | Moving and Storage Consolidations [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	104,622		92,049
Earnings from consolidated entities	0		0
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	78,949		65,055
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Change in allowance for losses on trade receivables	18		(14)
Change in allowance for inventory reserves	(1,760)		(935)
Net gain on sale of real and personal property	(22,939)		(10,889)
Net (gain) loss on sale of investments	0		0
Deferred income tax	0		0
Net change in other operating assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance recoverables and trade receivables	(13,561)		(21,081)
Inventories	(561)		(973)
Prepaid expenses	(12,966)		(7,723)
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Other assets	561		(1,172)
Related party assets	9,381		24,213
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	53,943		10,400
Policy benefits and losses, claims and loss expenses payable	613		(5,590)
Other policyholders' funds and liabilities	0		0
Deferred income	7,683		7,584
Related party liabilities	1,040		1,158
Net cash provided by operating activities	205,023		152,082
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	(273,863)		(156,306)
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		0
Preferred stock	0		0
Real estate	0		0
Mortgage loans	0		(1,580)
Proceeds from sale of:
Property, plant and equipment	128,969		92,112
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		0
Preferred stock	0		0
Mortgage loans	1,653		1,680
Net cash used by investing activities	(143,241)		(64,094)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	56,470		39,258
Principal repayments on credit facilities	(19,504)		(29,295)
Debt issuance costs	(31)		(177)
Capital lease payments	(18,007)		(10,449)
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	87		127
Proceeds from (repayment of) intercompany loans	50,308		(52,359)
Investment contract deposits	0		0
Investment contract withdrawals	0		0
Net cash provided by financing activities	69,323		(52,895)
Effects of exchange rate on cash	(1,074)		(335)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	130,031		34,758
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	140,844		98,926
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	270,875		133,684
Operating Segments [Member] | Real Estate [Member] | Moving and Storage Consolidations [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	1,092		2,238
Earnings from consolidated entities	0		0
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	5,060		3,943
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Change in allowance for losses on trade receivables	0		0
Change in allowance for inventory reserves	0		0
Net gain on sale of real and personal property	(20)		(676)
Net (gain) loss on sale of investments	0		0
Deferred income tax	0		0
Net change in other operating assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance recoverables and trade receivables	0		0
Inventories	0		0
Prepaid expenses	(203)		(679)
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Other assets	(8,046)		(3,467)
Related party assets	0		0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	543		(126)
Policy benefits and losses, claims and loss expenses payable	0		0
Other policyholders' funds and liabilities	0		0
Deferred income	0		0
Related party liabilities	(22)		4,313
Net cash provided by operating activities	(1,596)		5,546
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	(70,125)		(118,850)
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		0
Preferred stock	0		0
Real estate	0		0
Mortgage loans	(3,719)		(6,500)
Proceeds from sale of:
Property, plant and equipment	20		1,127
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		0
Preferred stock	0		0
Mortgage loans	6,501		21,466
Net cash used by investing activities	(67,323)		(102,757)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	150,682		48,924
Principal repayments on credit facilities	(32,960)		(32,701)
Debt issuance costs	(2,391)		(55)
Capital lease payments	0		0
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	0		0
Proceeds from (repayment of) intercompany loans	(45,452)		81,027
Investment contract deposits	0		0
Investment contract withdrawals	0		0
Net cash provided by financing activities	69,879		97,195
Effects of exchange rate on cash	0		0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	960		(16)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	2,322		1,515
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	3,282		1,499
Operating Segments [Member] | Moving and Storage Operating Eliminations [Member] | Moving and Storage Consolidations [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	(105,714)		(94,287)
Earnings from consolidated entities	105,714		94,287
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	0		0
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Change in allowance for losses on trade receivables	0		0
Change in allowance for inventory reserves	0		0
Net gain on sale of real and personal property	0		0
Net (gain) loss on sale of investments	0		0
Deferred income tax	0		0
Net change in other operating assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance recoverables and trade receivables	0		0
Inventories	0		0
Prepaid expenses	0		0
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Other assets	0		0
Related party assets	0		0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	0		0
Policy benefits and losses, claims and loss expenses payable	0		0
Other policyholders' funds and liabilities	0		0
Deferred income	0		0
Related party liabilities	0		0
Net cash provided by operating activities	0		0
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	0		0
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		0
Preferred stock	0		0
Real estate	0		0
Mortgage loans	0		2,514	[6]
Proceeds from sale of:
Property, plant and equipment	0		0
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		0
Preferred stock	0		0
Mortgage loans	0		(2,514)	[6]
Net cash used by investing activities	0		0
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	0		0
Principal repayments on credit facilities	0		0
Debt issuance costs	0		0
Capital lease payments	0		0
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	0		0
Proceeds from (repayment of) intercompany loans	0		0
Investment contract deposits	0		0
Investment contract withdrawals	0		0
Net cash provided by financing activities	0		0
Effects of exchange rate on cash	0		0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	0		0
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	0		0
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	(5,594)		(5,508)
Earnings from consolidated entities	5,594		5,508
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	0		0
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Change in allowance for losses on trade receivables	0		0
Change in allowance for inventory reserves	0		0
Net gain on sale of real and personal property	0		0
Net (gain) loss on sale of investments	0		0
Deferred income tax	0		0
Net change in other operating assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance recoverables and trade receivables	0		0
Inventories	0		0
Prepaid expenses	0		0
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Other assets	0		0
Related party assets	119	[6]	209	[6]
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	0		0
Policy benefits and losses, claims and loss expenses payable	0		0
Other policyholders' funds and liabilities	0		0
Deferred income	0		0
Related party liabilities	(119)	[6]	(209)	[6]
Net cash provided by operating activities	0		0
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	0		0
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		0
Preferred stock	0		0
Real estate	0		0
Mortgage loans	0		1,553	[6],[7],[8]
Proceeds from sale of:
Property, plant and equipment	0		0
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		0
Preferred stock	0		0
Mortgage loans	0		(1,553)	[6]
Net cash used by investing activities	0		0
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	0		0
Principal repayments on credit facilities	0		0
Debt issuance costs	0		0
Capital lease payments	0		0
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	0		0
Proceeds from (repayment of) intercompany loans	0		0
Investment contract deposits	0		0
Investment contract withdrawals	0		0
Net cash provided by financing activities	0		0
Effects of exchange rate on cash	0		0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	0		0
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	$ 0		$ 0

[1] Balance for the period ended March 31, 2014

[2] Balance for the period ended March 31, 2013

[3] Balances for the quarter ended March 31, 2014

[4] Balances as of December 31, 2013

[5] Balances as of March 31, 2014

[6] Elimination of interecompany investments

[7] Eliminate intercompany lease / interest income

[8] Eliminate intercompany premiums