Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Profit of consolidated companies	$ 594	$ 390	$ 461
Adjustments for non-cash items:
Depreciation and amortization	820	851	848
Amortization of receivables purchase discount	(253)	(207)	(222)
Provision for credit losses	132	135	119
Other, net	57	72	29
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables from others	70	(69)	(43)
Other receivables/payables with Caterpillar	26	1	(17)
Payable to dealers and others	(66)	36	83
Accrued interest payable	11	(21)	7
Accrued expenses and other liabilities, net	(261)	71	76
Income taxes payable	102	138	(74)
Settlements of designated derivatives	(9)	44	4
Debt exchange premium	0	(33)	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,223	1,408	1,271
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures for equipment on operating leases and other capital expenditures	(1,373)	(1,636)	(1,461)
Proceeds from disposals of equipment	1,003	789	583
Additions to finance receivables	(13,920)	(11,862)	(12,928)
Collections of finance receivables	14,353	12,341	12,225
Net changes in Caterpillar purchased receivables	(732)	399	745
Proceeds from sales of receivables	127	127	136
Net change in variable lending to Caterpillar	(51)	30	0
Additions to other notes receivable with Caterpillar	(53)	(146)	(134)
Collections on other notes receivable with Caterpillar	75	76	58
Restricted cash and cash equivalents activity, net	5	(11)	(7)
Settlements of undesignated derivatives	45	(25)	(58)
Other, net	(6)	5	0
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	(527)	87	(841)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in variable lending from Caterpillar	40	1,492	0
Proceeds from borrowings with Caterpillar	0	253	0
Payments on borrowings with Caterpillar	(49)	(1,203)	0
Proceeds from debt issued (original maturities greater than three months)	8,702	5,109	5,129
Payments on debt issued (original maturities greater than three months)	(6,919)	(6,032)	(7,775)
Short-term borrowings, net (original maturities three months or less)	(2,854)	(61)	3,018
Dividend paid to Caterpillar	(725)	(275)	(600)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(1,805)	(717)	(228)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	22	1	(43)
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(1,087)	779	159
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,795	1,016	857
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	708	1,795	1,016
Cash paid for interest	647	608	579
Cash (received) paid for taxes	$ 159	(61)	125
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	$ 0	$ 33	$ 0