Finance Receivables (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Allowance for credit losses	$ 365	$ 343	$ 416	$ 365
Allowance for credit losses as a percent of our recorded investment in finance receivables			1.49%	1.33%
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	365	343
Receivables written off	(181)	(157)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	31	43
Provision for credit losses	215	129
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	(6)	(1)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(8)	8
Balance at end of period	416	365
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			$ 229	$ 149
Collectively evaluated for impairment			187	216
Allowance, Ending Balance	365	343	416	365
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			803	942
Collectively evaluated for impairment			27,125	26,549
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			27,928	27,491
Customer
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Allowance for credit losses	353	331	405	353
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	353	331
Receivables written off	(181)	(157)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	31	43
Provision for credit losses	216	129
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	(6)	(1)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(8)	8
Balance at end of period	405	353
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			229	149
Collectively evaluated for impairment			176	204
Allowance, Ending Balance	353	331	405	353
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			803	942
Collectively evaluated for impairment			18,771	18,847
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			19,574	19,789
Dealer
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Allowance for credit losses	9	10	7	9
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	9	10
Receivables written off	0	0
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	0	0
Provision for credit losses	(2)	(1)
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Balance at end of period	7	9
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			7	9
Allowance, Ending Balance	9	10	7	9
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			4,338	4,241
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			4,338	4,241
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Allowance for credit losses	3	2	4	3
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	3	2
Receivables written off	0	0
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	0	0
Provision for credit losses	1	1
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Balance at end of period	4	3
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			4	3
Allowance, Ending Balance	$ 3	$ 2	4	3
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			4,016	3,461
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			$ 4,016	$ 3,461

-- None. No documentation exists for this element. --

No definition available.

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- Definition

This element represents the allowance for credit losses expressed as a percent of finance receivables which is net of unearned income.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) from converting allowance reserve for credit loss to currency of reporting entity from amount denominated or measured in a different currency, which decreases (increases) the allowance for loan and lease losses.

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- Definition

Amount of reduction of allowance reserve for credit loss arising from sale of loan and lease portfolios.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

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

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- Definition

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

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- Definition

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

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

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

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- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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- Definition

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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- Definition

Amount of expense related to estimated loss from loan and lease transactions.

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