Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Profit of consolidated companies	$ 544	$ 527	$ 439
Adjustments for non-cash items:
Depreciation and amortization	883	790	707
Amortization of receivables purchase discount	(243)	(233)	(241)
Provision for credit losses	139	101	163
Gain on sales of receivables	(5)	(4)	(3)
Other, net	(4)	77	1
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables from others	10	25	(22)
Other receivables/payables with Caterpillar	23	1	11
Payable to dealers and others	(26)	(95)	(34)
Accrued interest payable	(60)	(22)	(13)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities, net	108	(4)	(18)
Income taxes payable	(33)	(65)	48
Payments on interest rate swaps	2	(2)	(4)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,338	1,096	1,034
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures for equipment on operating leases and other capital expenditures	(1,627)	(1,822)	(1,660)
Proceeds from disposals of equipment	771	681	875
Additions to finance receivables	(14,396)	(14,075)	(18,750)
Collections of finance receivables	12,608	12,256	14,789
Net changes in Caterpillar purchased receivables	10	181	250
Proceeds from sales of receivables	179	227	144
Net change in variable lending to Caterpillar	0	32	(32)
Additions to other notes receivable with Caterpillar	(103)	(45)	(107)
Collections on other notes receivable with Caterpillar	34	29	103
Restricted cash and cash equivalents activity, net	6	2	45
Other, net	(40)	3	(4)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(2,558)	(2,531)	(4,347)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in variable lending from Caterpillar	0	(65)	203
Proceeds from borrowings with Caterpillar	0	1,000	0
Proceeds from debt issued (original maturities greater than three months)	8,655	9,133	13,806
Payments on debt issued (original maturities greater than three months)	(8,463)	(9,101)	(9,935)
Short-term borrowings, net (original maturities three months or less)	1,043	(70)	480
Dividend paid to Caterpillar	(400)	(200)	(250)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	835	697	4,304
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(78)	(22)	(87)
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(463)	(760)	904
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,320	2,080	1,176
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	857	1,320	2,080
Cash paid for interest	674	713	797
Cash paid for taxes	$ 175	$ 192	$ 101
Cash and cash equivalents policy	All short-term investments, which consist primarily of highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, are considered to be cash equivalents.