CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 304,028	$ 166,222
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of revenue earning equipment	1,530,775	1,306,661
Depreciation of property and equipment	125,132	117,837
Amortization of other intangible assets	58,899	51,175
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing costs	41,721	75,891
Amortization and write-off of debt discount	4,124	13,914
Stock-based compensation charges	22,260	24,438
Gain (loss) on derivatives	731	(14,330)
Gain on disposal of business	(9,116)	0
Loss on revaluation of foreign denominated debt	2,498	0
Provision for losses on doubtful accounts	23,472	21,211
Asset writedowns	3,181	22,782
Deferred taxes on income	118,731	42,268
Gain on sale of property and equipment	(1,935)	(5,199)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisition:
Receivables	(232,336)	(150,212)
Inventories, prepaid expenses and other assets	(6,176)	(12,547)
Accounts payable	83,112	66,808
Accrued liabilities	10,410	(130,558)
Accrued taxes	66,104	56,268
Public liability and property damage	(3,189)	8,628
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,142,426	1,661,257
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	(69,301)	(123,511)
Revenue earning equipment expenditures	(7,681,018)	(7,864,609)
Proceeds from disposal of revenue earning equipment	4,815,374	4,932,410
Property and equipment expenditures	(229,440)	(202,276)
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment	94,644	48,133
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(196,220)	(222,988)
Purchase of short-term investments, net	0	(32,891)
Proceeds from disposal of business	11,691	0
Other investing activities	(1,400)	760
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,255,670)	(3,464,972)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	282,382	3,058,395
Payment of long-term debt	(656,111)	(3,641,281)
Short-term borrowings:
Proceeds	367,988	371,994
Payments	(962,690)	(814,894)
Proceeds (payments) under the revolving lines of credit, net	1,675,987	934,364
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	0	(10,500)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(38,000)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	3,186	2,690
Loan with Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.	(12,277)	317
Payment of financing costs	(13,679)	(87,640)
Dividends paid	(12,500)	(12,450)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	634,286	(199,005)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	1,044	13,987
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents during the period	(477,914)	(1,988,733)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	931,208	2,374,006
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	453,294	385,273
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest (net of amounts capitalized)	383,166	475,464
Income taxes	43,024	32,544
Supplemental dislcosure fo non-cash flow information [Abstract]
Purchases of revenue earning equipment included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	289,798	217,675
Sales of revenue earning equipment included in receivables	504,930	949,824
Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable	53,708	52,787
Sales of property and equipment included in receivables	$ 38,052	$ 10,777