Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of units that cliff vest after three years			264,000
Number of units that vest 50% on each of the third and fourth anniversary of the date of grant			93,000
Number of units that vest ratably over a three-year period (in number of units)			621,000
Number of units that vest on the first anniversary of the date of the grant (in number of units)			31,000
Fair value of restricted stock units which contain 2.5-year vesting periods (in dollars per unit)	$ 11.93
Fair value of restricted stock units which contain three-year vesting periods (in dollars per unit)	$ 10.59		$ 11.38
Fair value of restricted stock units which contain four-year vesting periods (in dollars per unit)			$ 12.53
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options, Ending Balance	1,901,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Balance at end of year	$ 2.89	[1]	$ 7.90	[1]	$ 7.22	[1]	$ 11.30
Stock- based compensation expense	$ 16,000,000		$ 17,000,000		$ 15,000,000
Stock- based compensation expense, net of tax	10,000,000		11,000,000		9,000,000
Time Vested Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of stock option					$ 6.16
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted RSUs description	RSUs granted by the Company entitle the employee to receive one share of Avis Budget common stock upon vesting, which occurs ratably over a 2.5-, three- or four-year period for the RSUs outstanding as of December 31, 2012.
Number of restricted stock units target award vested range, minimum	0.00%
Number of restricted stock units target award vested range, maximum	100.00%
Share-based compensation vesting period	2 years 6 months
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation vesting period	3 years
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation vesting period	4 years
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Market Vesting Schedule
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted at fair market value (in number of RSUs)	488,000		357,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Time Based Vesting Schedule
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted at fair market value (in number of RSUs)	835,000		652,000		989,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Performance Based Vesting Schedule
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted at fair market value (in number of RSUs)	486,000
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average contractual life	7 months 6 days
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options, Ending Balance	500,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Balance at end of year	$ 24.40
Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted at fair market value, Number of Options					160,000
Restricted Cash Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Fair value of restricted stock units which contain 2.5-year vesting periods (in dollars per unit)	$ 11.93
Outstanding stock -cash units	156,000
Weighted average contractual life	2 years 1 month 6 days
Restricted Cash Units | Time Based Vesting Schedule
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation vesting period	2 years 6 months
Granted at fair market value (in number of RSUs)	35,000
Restricted Cash Units | Market Based Vesting Schedule
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation vesting period	2 years 6 months
Granted at fair market value (in number of RSUs)	121,000
2007 Equity And Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock based compensation plan, authorized grant	16,000,000
Stock based compensation plan, shares available for grant	5,000,000
Tax benefits from compensation expense	36,000,000
Employee service share based compensation incremental tax benefit to be realized from exercise of stock awards	14,000,000
Stock options, vest ratably, in years	5
Stock options granted expiration period, in years	10
2007 Equity And Incentive Plan | Deferred Compensation Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted at fair market value (in number of RSUs)	53,000		54,000		51,000
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Employee's maximum fair value amount through ESPP	$ 25,000
Share based compensation percentage in annual base salary	10.00%
Purchase price of common stock calculated at fair value of end of option period	95.00%
Aggregate shares available for purchase that can be newly issued or issued from treasury	1,000,000
Employee stock purchase plan, maximum reserved shares	2,500,000
Shares available for purchase in a given period that can be newly issued or issued from treasury	125,000
Share-based compensation, shares sold	12,000

[1] As of December 31, 2012, the Company's outstanding stock options had an aggregate intrinsic value of $32 million; there were 1.9 million "in-the-money" stock options; and the aggregate unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock options was $1 million, to be recognized over 2.1 years. Approximately 1.8 million stock options are exercisable as of December 31, 2012 and approximately 32,000 stock options are eligible to vest in 2013.