Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Profit of consolidated companies	$ 390	$ 461	$ 544
Adjustments for non-cash items:
Depreciation and amortization	851	848	883
Amortization of receivables purchase discount	(207)	(222)	(243)
Provision for credit losses	135	119	139
Other, net	72	29	(9)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables from others	(69)	(43)	10
Other receivables/payables with Caterpillar	1	(17)	23
Payable to dealers and others	36	83	(26)
Accrued interest payable	(21)	7	(60)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities, net	71	76	107
Income taxes payable	138	(74)	(33)
Proceeds from interest rate contracts	44	4	3
Debt exchange premium	(33)	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,408	1,271	1,338
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures for equipment on operating leases and other capital expenditures	(1,636)	(1,461)	(1,627)
Proceeds from disposals of equipment	789	583	771
Additions to finance receivables	(11,862)	(12,928)	(14,396)
Collections of finance receivables	12,341	12,225	12,608
Net changes in Caterpillar purchased receivables	399	745	10
Proceeds from sales of receivables	127	136	179
Net change in variable lending to Caterpillar	30	0	0
Additions to other notes receivable with Caterpillar	(146)	(134)	(103)
Collections on other notes receivable with Caterpillar	76	58	34
Proceeds from sale of securities	5	0	0
Restricted cash and cash equivalents activity, net	(11)	(7)	6
Settlements of derivatives	(25)	(58)	(40)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	87	(841)	(2,558)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in variable lending from Caterpillar	1,492	0	0
Proceeds from borrowings with Caterpillar	253	0	0
Payments on borrowings with Caterpillar	(1,203)	0	0
Proceeds from debt issued (original maturities greater than three months)	5,109	5,129	8,655
Payments on debt issued (original maturities greater than three months)	(6,032)	(7,775)	(8,463)
Short-term borrowings, net (original maturities three months or less)	(61)	3,018	1,043
Dividend paid to Caterpillar	(275)	(600)	(400)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(717)	(228)	835
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	1	(43)	(78)
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	779	159	(463)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,016	857	1,320
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,795	1,016	857
Cash paid for interest	608	579	674
Cash (received) paid for taxes	$ (61)	125	175
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.
Non-cash activity:
Debt exchange, original medium term notes amount	$ 381
Debt exchange, new medium term notes amount	$ 366
Debt exchange, new medium term notes interest rate (as a percent)	1.93%
Debt exchange, new medium term notes due date (year)	2021
Debt exchange, cash paid	$ 15
Debt exchange premium	$ (33)	$ 0	$ 0