Financing Activities (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	$ 426	$ 369
Receivables written off	(64)	(149)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	27	47
Provision for credit losses	40	160
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	(1)	(2)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(6)	1
Balance at end of period	422	426
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment	77	54
Collectively evaluated for impairment	345	372
Allowance, Ending Balance	422	426
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment	609	593
Collectively evaluated for impairment	28,270	27,990
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	28,879	28,583
Customer
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	414	360
Receivables written off	(64)	(149)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	27	47
Provision for credit losses	39	157
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	(1)	(2)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(6)	1
Balance at end of period	409	414
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment	77	54
Collectively evaluated for impairment	332	360
Allowance, Ending Balance	409	414
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment	609	593
Collectively evaluated for impairment	19,729	19,290
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	20,338	19,883
Dealer
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	9	6
Receivables written off	0	0
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	0	0
Provision for credit losses	1	3
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Balance at end of period	10	9
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	10	9
Allowance, Ending Balance	10	9
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	5,305	5,586
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	5,305	5,586
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	3	3
Receivables written off	0	0
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Balance at end of period	3	3
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	3	3
Allowance, Ending Balance	3	3
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	3,236	3,114
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	$ 3,236	$ 3,114

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Reduction to the allowance for credit losses related to adjustments due to sale of receivables.

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Reduction to the allowance for credit losses related to foreign currency translation adjustment.

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- Definition

Provision charged for the period based on estimated losses to be realized from loan and lease transactions, excluding miscellaneous other receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

A valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

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The valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible that were collectively evaluated for impairment.

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Amount of valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible that were individually evaluated for impairment.

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- Definition

Amount of recovery of financing receivables doubtful of collection that were previously charged off.

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Amount of direct write-downs of financing receivables charged against the allowance.

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- Definition

The balance of financing receivables that were collectively evaluated for impairment.

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The balance of financing receivables that were individually evaluated for impairment.

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- Definition

Amount before allowance and after deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

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