Consolidated Cash Flow Statement by Industry Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 280,721		$ 250,959
Earnings from consolidated entities	0		0
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	172,617		141,518
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	8,474		9,740
Change in allowance for losses on trade receivables	(219)		(6)
Change in allowance for inventory reserves	(960)		716
Net gain on sale of real and personal property	(44,500)		(20,876)
Net (gain) loss on sale of investments	(2,788)		(4,060)
Deferred income tax	23,212		63,947
Net change in other operating assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance recoverables and trade receivables	13,396		24,561
Inventories	(1,260)		(5,750)
Prepaid expenses	14,012		2,323
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	(13,728)		(16,289)
Other assets	(7,885)		(4,370)
Related party assets	2,170		8,650
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	35,919		24,866
Policy benefits and losses, claims and loss expenses payable	(3,918)		309
Other policyholders' funds and liabilities	1,356		494
Deferred income	1,962		2,191
Related party liabilities	375		4,475
Net cash provided by operating activities	478,956		483,398
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	(599,351)		(457,671)
Short term investments	(130,294)		(154,703)
Fixed maturities investments	(114,112)		(174,593)
Equity securities	(3,707)		(388)
Preferred stock	(3)		(635)
Real estate	(11,312)		(252)
Mortgage loans	(21,189)		(14,260)
Proceeds from sale of:
Property, plant and equipment	260,659		176,453
Short term investments	130,326		162,580
Fixed maturities investments	48,955		93,050
Equity securities	3,030		6,803
Preferred stock	1,000		6,004
Real estate	401
Mortgage loans	18,623		36,415
Net cash used by investing activities	(416,974)		(321,197)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	506,792		138,041
Principal repayments on credit facilities	(208,101)		(122,945)
Debt issuance costs	(9,847)		(233)
Capital lease payments	(40,694)		(21,425)
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	167		260
Proceeds from (repayment of) intercompany loans	0		0
Investment contract deposits	71,571		74,253
Investment contract withdrawals	(24,075)		(14,721)
Net cash provided by financing activities	295,813		53,230
Effects of exchange rate on cash	(3,761)		401
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	354,034		215,832
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	495,112		463,744
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	849,146		679,576
Operating Segments [Member] | Moving and Storage Consolidations [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	280,721		250,959
Earnings from consolidated entities	(15,675)		(14,583)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	172,617		141,518
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Change in allowance for losses on trade receivables	(209)		(6)
Change in allowance for inventory reserves	(960)		716
Net gain on sale of real and personal property	(44,500)		(20,876)
Net (gain) loss on sale of investments	0		(42)
Deferred income tax	18,872		58,672
Net change in other operating assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance recoverables and trade receivables	(1,605)		16,111
Inventories	(1,260)		(5,750)
Prepaid expenses	14,012		2,323
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Other assets	(7,829)		(4,605)
Related party assets	3,172		14,085
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	30,017		21,895
Policy benefits and losses, claims and loss expenses payable	8,241		1,487
Other policyholders' funds and liabilities	0		0
Deferred income	1,962		2,191
Related party liabilities	629		4,752
Net cash provided by operating activities	458,205		468,847
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	(599,351)		(457,671)
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		0
Preferred stock	0		0
Real estate	0		0
Mortgage loans	(5,465)		(11,804)
Proceeds from sale of:
Property, plant and equipment	260,659		176,453
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		6,415
Preferred stock	0		0
Real estate	0
Mortgage loans	10,088		33,809
Net cash used by investing activities	(334,069)		(252,798)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	506,792		138,041
Principal repayments on credit facilities	(208,101)		(122,945)
Debt issuance costs	(9,847)		(233)
Capital lease payments	(40,694)		(21,425)
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	167		260
Proceeds from (repayment of) intercompany loans	0		0
Investment contract deposits	0		0
Investment contract withdrawals	0		0
Net cash provided by financing activities	248,317		(6,302)
Effects of exchange rate on cash	(3,761)		401
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	368,692		210,148
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	464,710		427,560
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	833,402		637,708
Operating Segments [Member] | Moving and Storage Consolidations [Member] | AMERCO [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	280,721		250,959
Earnings from consolidated entities	(256,760)		(224,946)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	3		3
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		(42)
Deferred income tax	18,872		58,672
Net change in other operating assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance recoverables and trade receivables	0		0
Inventories	0		0
Prepaid expenses	18,537		11,178
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Other assets	(2)		5
Related party assets	(527)		551
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	3,173		3,699
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	64,017		100,079
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		6,415
Preferred stock	0		0
Real estate	0
Mortgage loans	0		0
Net cash used by investing activities	0		6,415
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	125,492		43,946
Investment contract deposits	0		0
Investment contract withdrawals	0		0
Net cash provided by financing activities	125,492		43,946
Effects of exchange rate on cash	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	189,509		150,440
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	321,544		327,119
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	511,053		477,559
Operating Segments [Member] | Moving and Storage Consolidations [Member] | Uhaul [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	243,091		207,460
Earnings from consolidated entities	0		0
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	161,687		133,101
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Change in allowance for losses on trade receivables	(209)		(6)
Change in allowance for inventory reserves	(960)		716
Net gain on sale of real and personal property	(44,500)		(20,200)
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	(1,605)		16,288
Inventories	(1,260)		(5,750)
Prepaid expenses	(3,778)		(8,077)
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Other assets	661		(378)
Related party assets	3,699		13,534
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	25,865		18,288
Policy benefits and losses, claims and loss expenses payable	8,241		1,487
Other policyholders' funds and liabilities	0		0
Deferred income	1,962		2,191
Related party liabilities	674		460
Net cash provided by operating activities	393,568		359,114
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	(459,337)		(295,231)
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	260,532		175,302
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		0
Preferred stock	0		0
Real estate	0
Mortgage loans	1,653		1,680
Net cash used by investing activities	(197,152)		(119,829)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	152,970		64,124
Principal repayments on credit facilities	(40,353)		(58,684)
Debt issuance costs	(53)		(178)
Capital lease payments	(40,694)		(21,425)
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	167		260
Proceeds from (repayment of) intercompany loans	(86,964)		(164,059)
Investment contract deposits	0		0
Investment contract withdrawals	0		0
Net cash provided by financing activities	(14,927)		(179,962)
Effects of exchange rate on cash	(3,761)		401
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	177,728		59,724
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	140,844		98,926
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	318,572		158,650
Operating Segments [Member] | Moving and Storage Consolidations [Member] | Real Estate [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	(2,006)		2,903
Earnings from consolidated entities	0		0
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	10,927		8,414
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		(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		(177)
Inventories	0		0
Prepaid expenses	(747)		(778)
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0		0
Other assets	(8,488)		(4,232)
Related party assets	0		0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	979		(92)
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	(45)		4,292
Net cash provided by operating activities	620		9,654
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	(140,014)		(162,440)
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		0
Preferred stock	0		0
Real estate	0		0
Mortgage loans	(5,465)		(12,738)
Proceeds from sale of:
Property, plant and equipment	127		1,151
Short term investments	0		0
Fixed maturities investments	0		0
Equity securities	0		0
Preferred stock	0		0
Real estate	0
Mortgage loans	8,435		34,643
Net cash used by investing activities	(136,917)		(139,384)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	353,822		73,917
Principal repayments on credit facilities	(167,748)		(64,261)
Debt issuance costs	(9,794)		(55)
Capital lease payments	0		0
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	0		0
Proceeds from (repayment of) intercompany loans	(38,528)		120,113
Investment contract deposits	0		0
Investment contract withdrawals	0		0
Net cash provided by financing activities	137,752		129,714
Effects of exchange rate on cash	0		0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,455		(16)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	2,322		1,515
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	3,777		1,499
Operating Segments [Member] | Moving and Storage Consolidations [Member] | Moving and Storage Operating Eliminations [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	(241,085)		(210,363)
Earnings from consolidated entities	241,085		210,363
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	[1]
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
Real estate	0
Mortgage loans	0		(2,514)	[1]
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
Operating Segments [Member] | Property and Casualty Insurance [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	7,145	[2]	7,021	[3]
Earnings from consolidated entities	0	[2]	0	[3]
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	0	[2]	0	[3]
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0	[4]	0	[5]
Change in allowance for losses on trade receivables	0	[2]	0	[3]
Change in allowance for inventory reserves	0	[2]	0	[3]
Net gain on sale of real and personal property	0	[2]	0	[3]
Net (gain) loss on sale of investments	(870)	[2]	(267)	[3]
Deferred income tax	2,556	[2]	3,118	[3]
Net change in other operating assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance recoverables and trade receivables	16,061	[2]	4,489	[3]
Inventories	0	[2]	0	[3]
Prepaid expenses	0	[2]	0	[3]
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	0	[2]	0	[3]
Other assets	802	[2]	309	[3]
Related party assets	(1,395)	[2]	(5,584)	[3]
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	0	[2]	0	[3]
Policy benefits and losses, claims and loss expenses payable	(17,946)	[2]	(7,009)	[3]
Other policyholders' funds and liabilities	405	[2]	76	[3]
Deferred income	0	[2]	0	[3]
Related party liabilities	179	[2]	(57)	[3]
Net cash provided by operating activities	6,937	[2]	2,096	[3]
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	0	[2]	0	[3]
Short term investments	(32,488)	[2]	(27,972)	[3]
Fixed maturities investments	(27,323)	[2]	(39,655)	[3]
Equity securities	(3,281)	[2]	(388)	[3]
Preferred stock	(3)	[2]	(635)	[3]
Real estate	(3,812)	[2]	0	[3]
Mortgage loans	(3,150)	[2]	0	[3]
Proceeds from sale of:
Property, plant and equipment	0	[2]	0	[3]
Short term investments	36,003	[2]	39,072	[3]
Fixed maturities investments	15,928	[2]	11,936	[3]
Equity securities	3,030	[2]	388	[3]
Preferred stock	0	[2]	4,504	[3]
Real estate	5
Mortgage loans	3,760	[2]	1,984	[3]
Net cash used by investing activities	(11,331)	[2]	(10,766)	[3]
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	0	[2]	0	[3]
Principal repayments on credit facilities	0	[2]	0	[3]
Debt issuance costs	0	[2]	0	[3]
Capital lease payments	0	[2]	0	[3]
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	0	[2]	0	[3]
Proceeds from (repayment of) intercompany loans	0	[2]	0	[3]
Investment contract deposits	0	[2]	0	[3]
Investment contract withdrawals	0	[2]	0	[3]
Net cash provided by financing activities	0	[2]	0	[3]
Effects of exchange rate on cash	0		0	[3]
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(4,394)	[2]	(8,670)	[3]
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	12,758	[6]	14,120	[3]
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	8,364	[7]	5,450	[3]
Operating Segments [Member] | Life Insurance [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	8,530	[2]	7,562	[3]
Earnings from consolidated entities	0	[2]	0	[3]
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation	0	[2]	0	[3]
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	8,474	[4]	9,740	[5]
Change in allowance for losses on trade receivables	(10)	[2]	0	[3]
Change in allowance for inventory reserves	0	[2]	0	[3]
Net gain on sale of real and personal property	0	[2]	0	[3]
Net (gain) loss on sale of investments	(1,918)	[2]	(3,751)	[3]
Deferred income tax	1,784	[2]	2,157	[3]
Net change in other operating assets and liabilities:
Reinsurance recoverables and trade receivables	(1,060)	[2]	3,961	[3]
Inventories	0	[2]	0	[3]
Prepaid expenses	0	[2]	0	[3]
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	(13,728)	[2]	(16,289)	[3]
Other assets	(858)	[2]	(74)	[3]
Related party assets	0	[2]	0	[3]
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	5,902	[2]	2,971	[3]
Policy benefits and losses, claims and loss expenses payable	5,787	[2]	5,831	[3]
Other policyholders' funds and liabilities	951	[2]	418	[3]
Deferred income	0	[2]	0	[3]
Related party liabilities	(40)	[2]	(71)	[3]
Net cash provided by operating activities	13,814	[2]	12,455	[3]
Purchase of:
Property, plant and equipment	0	[2]	0	[3]
Short term investments	(97,806)	[2]	(126,731)	[3]
Fixed maturities investments	(86,789)	[2]	(134,938)	[3]
Equity securities	(426)	[2]	0	[3]
Preferred stock	0	[2]	0	[3]
Real estate	(7,500)	[2]	(252)	[3]
Mortgage loans	(12,574)	[2]	(14,009)	[3]
Proceeds from sale of:
Property, plant and equipment	0	[2]	0	[3]
Short term investments	94,323	[2]	123,508	[3]
Fixed maturities investments	33,027	[2]	81,114	[3]
Equity securities	0	[2]	0	[3]
Preferred stock	1,000	[2]	1,500	[3]
Real estate	396
Mortgage loans	4,775	[2]	12,175	[3]
Net cash used by investing activities	(71,574)	[2]	(57,633)	[3]
Cash flow from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities	0	[2]	0	[3]
Principal repayments on credit facilities	0	[2]	0	[3]
Debt issuance costs	0	[2]	0	[3]
Capital lease payments	0	[2]	0	[3]
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan - repayments from loan	0	[2]	0	[3]
Proceeds from (repayment of) intercompany loans	0	[2]	0	[3]
Investment contract deposits	71,571	[2]	74,253	[3]
Investment contract withdrawals	(24,075)	[2]	(14,721)	[3]
Net cash provided by financing activities	47,496	[2]	59,532	[3]
Effects of exchange rate on cash	0	[2]	0	[3]
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(10,264)	[2]	14,354	[3]
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period	17,644	[6]	22,064	[3]
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	7,380	[7]	36,418	[3]
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings	(15,675)		(14,583)
Earnings from consolidated entities	15,675		14,583
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	393	[1]	149	[1]
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	(393)	[1]	(149)	[1]
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		11,553	[1]
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
Real estate	0
Mortgage loans	0		(11,553)	[1]
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] Elimination of interecompany investments

[2] Balance for the period ended June 30, 2014

[3] Balance for the period ended June 30, 2013

[4] Balances for the six months ended June 30, 2014

[5] Balances for the six months ended June 30, 2013

[6] Balances as of December 31, 2013

[7] Balances as of June 30, 2014