Restructuring (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			60 Months Ended	72 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				72 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				72 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 employee	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 employee	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 Car Rental	Dec. 31, 2011 Car Rental	Dec. 31, 2010 Car Rental	Dec. 31, 2008 Car Rental location	Dec. 31, 2012 Car Rental	Dec. 31, 2012 Equipment Rental	Dec. 31, 2011 Equipment Rental	Dec. 31, 2010 Equipment Rental	Dec. 31, 2008 Equipment Rental branch	Dec. 31, 2012 Equipment Rental	Dec. 31, 2012 Other	Dec. 31, 2012 Other reconciling items	Dec. 31, 2011 Other reconciling items	Dec. 31, 2010 Other reconciling items	Dec. 31, 2012 Direct Operating Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Direct Operating Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Direct Operating Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Selling, general and administrative	Dec. 31, 2011 Selling, general and administrative	Dec. 31, 2010 Selling, general and administrative	Dec. 31, 2012 Termination benefits	Dec. 31, 2011 Termination benefits	Dec. 31, 2010 Termination benefits	Dec. 31, 2012 Pension and Post Retirement expense	Dec. 31, 2011 Pension and Post Retirement expense	Dec. 31, 2010 Pension and Post Retirement expense	Dec. 31, 2012 Consultant costs	Dec. 31, 2011 Consultant costs	Dec. 31, 2010 Consultant costs	Dec. 31, 2012 Asset writedowns	Dec. 31, 2011 Asset writedowns	Dec. 31, 2010 Asset writedowns	Dec. 31, 2012 Facility closure and lease obligation costs	Dec. 31, 2011 Facility closure and lease obligation costs	Dec. 31, 2010 Facility closure and lease obligation costs	Dec. 31, 2012 Facility closures	Dec. 31, 2011 Facility closures	Dec. 31, 2012 Relocation costs and temporary labor costs	Dec. 31, 2011 Relocation costs and temporary labor costs	Dec. 31, 2010 Relocation costs and temporary labor costs	Dec. 31, 2012 Other	Dec. 31, 2011 Other	Dec. 31, 2010 Other	Dec. 31, 2012 FAS 88	Dec. 31, 2011 FAS 88	Dec. 31, 2011 Involuntary Benefits	Dec. 31, 2011 Impairment in Value of Assets [Member]
Restructuring details
Number of off-airport locations closed										250
Number of branches in U.S. equipment rental segment closed															22
Number of employees impacted	650				8,960
Restructuring charges incurred to date						$ 568.4					$ 282.7					$ 230.3	$ 55.4
Restructuring charges		38.0	56.4	54.7			26.4	16.6	18.1			8.8	40.5	34.7				2.8	(0.7)	1.9	22.6	46.6	43.5	15.4	9.8	11.2	26.2	14.4	12.2	1.0	0.4	0.4	1.2	1.3	1.1	0	23.2	20.4	8.9	16.5	14.3			0.4	0.6	5.0	0.3	0	1.3
Expected duration for payment of restructuring obligations (in months)																											12 years
Restructuring reserve
Balance at beginning of period		21.6	17.5																								9.1	6.3		0.2	0.2		0.6	0.1													11.7	10.9
Charges incurred		38.0	56.4																								26.2	14.4		1.0	0.4		1.2	1.3													9.6	40.3
Cash payments		(26.8)	(18.4)																								(22.6)	(15.5)		0	0		(0.9)	(0.6)													(3.3)	(2.3)
Other		(11.8)	(33.9)																								(0.3)	3.9		(1.0)	(0.4)		(0.6)	(0.2)								(10.3)	(13.9)				(9.9)	(37.2)		(1.0)	(0.4)	3.8	(23.2)
Balance at end of period	$ 21.0	$ 21.0	$ 21.6	$ 17.5	$ 21.6	$ 21.0																					$ 12.4	$ 9.1	$ 6.3	$ 0.2	$ 0.2	$ 0.2	$ 0.3	$ 0.6	$ 0.1												$ 8.1	$ 11.7	$ 10.9