Guarantor Consolidating Financial Statements Guarantor Cash Flow (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 372,522	$ 281,863
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	178,444	72,397
Amortization of Deferred Loan Origination Fees, Net	(37,635)	(14,910)
Amortization of Finance Receivables Pemium	(2,075)	143,775
Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium)	(26,068)	(57,698)
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	188,596	134,935
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(34,002)	41,159
Share-based Compensation	3,141	9,585
Other Noncash Income (Expense)	(9,072)	(23,148)
Change In Equity In Income Of Affiliates
Increase Decrease In Other Assets	(4,399)	27,743
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities	48,159	(500)
Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Taxes Payable	5,985	(79,518)
Increase or Decrease in Intercompany Taxes Payable	247,750	203,155
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	931,346	738,838
Payments to Acquire Receivables	4,353,965	3,793,696
Principal Collection and Recoveries on Receivables	3,049,533	2,816,607
Payments To Acquire Commercial Lending Receivable	581,499
Principal Collections and Recoveries on Commercial Lending Receivables	299,731
Net Proceeds From the Sale of Receivables
Purchases of Leased Vehicles	857,433	584,726
Proceeds from Termination of Leased Vehicles	32,607	32,017
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	10,911	5,858
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross		9,601
Cash Acquired from Acquisition		9,283
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash and Investments	(200,554)	3,114
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	(18,956)	(6,359)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	(6,143)	24,221
Investment in Affiliates - Net Change
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(2,196,284)	(1,556,950)
Proceeds from Lines of Credit	1,199,707	2,717,534
Repayments of Lines of Credit	1,752,095	2,991,574
Proceeds from Issuance of Financial Services Obligations	5,400,000	3,650,000
Repayments of Financial Services Obligations	3,306,678	2,821,473
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt	(1,000,000)	(500,000)
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs	(43,547)	(44,968)
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount	(505)	(75,164)
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent
Increase (Decrease) Due from Affiliates
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	2,496,882	934,355
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	1,231,944	116,243
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,740	(3,582)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	1,805,981	307,215
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	388,189	283,494
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	1,292	1,316
Amortization of Deferred Loan Origination Fees, Net	143	(917)
Amortization of Finance Receivables Pemium	201	9,152
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	171,545	113,051
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	39,461	(8,383)
Other Noncash Income (Expense)	1,703	12,273
Change In Equity In Income Of Affiliates	(467,364)	(364,974)
Increase Decrease In Other Assets	(3,589)	(2,436)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities	34,447	29,002
Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Taxes Payable	189	5,086
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	166,217	76,664
Payments to Acquire Receivables	4,353,965	3,793,696
Principal Collection and Recoveries on Receivables	(133)	854
Payments To Acquire Commercial Lending Receivable	581,499
Principal Collections and Recoveries on Commercial Lending Receivables	299,731
Net Proceeds From the Sale of Receivables	4,115,913	3,244,815
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	1,665	2,288
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	(29,090)	2,840
Investment in Affiliates - Net Change	(2,176,310)	(167,819)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	1,683,782	(385,336)
Increase (Decrease) Due from Affiliates	608,502	(386,422)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	(608,502)	386,422
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	1,241,497	77,750
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	1,742,053	262,754
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	468,665	377,241
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	175,314	65,804
Amortization of Deferred Loan Origination Fees, Net	(37,778)	(13,993)
Amortization of Finance Receivables Pemium	(2,276)	134,623
Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium)	(26,068)	(57,515)
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	17,051	21,884
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(69,275)	(53,893)
Other Noncash Income (Expense)	(10,775)	(36,857)
Increase Decrease In Other Assets	(1,050)	25,607
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities	13,806	(3,468)
Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Taxes Payable	1,041	(5,289)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	528,655	454,144
Payments to Acquire Receivables	4,115,913	3,244,815
Principal Collection and Recoveries on Receivables	3,049,666	2,815,753
Purchases of Leased Vehicles	857,433	584,726
Proceeds from Termination of Leased Vehicles	32,607	32,017
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	9,246	5,494
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross		9,601
Cash Acquired from Acquisition		9,283
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash and Investments	(200,554)	3,114
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	(18,956)	(6,359)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	1,127	21,381
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(1,681,936)	(1,005,719)
Proceeds from Lines of Credit	1,199,707	2,717,534
Repayments of Lines of Credit	1,752,095	2,991,574
Proceeds from Issuance of Financial Services Obligations	5,400,000	3,650,000
Repayments of Financial Services Obligations	3,306,678	2,821,473
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs	(31,375)	(37,346)
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent	(2,186,423)	16,625
Increase (Decrease) Due from Affiliates	(1,810,565)	(62,024)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	1,133,701	595,790
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	(19,580)	44,215
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents	11,767	(9,304)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	63,928	44,461
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	(856,854)	(660,735)
Change In Equity In Income Of Affiliates	856,854	660,735
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Payments to Acquire Receivables	(4,115,913)	(3,244,815)
Net Proceeds From the Sale of Receivables	(4,115,913)	(3,244,815)
Investment in Affiliates - Net Change	2,176,310	167,852
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(2,176,310)	(167,852)
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent	2,186,423	(16,625)
Increase (Decrease) Due from Affiliates	86	(163,238)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	2,186,337	146,613
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)	10,027	(21,239)
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(10,027)	21,239
Parent Company [Member]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	372,522	281,863
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	1,838	5,277
Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium)		(183)
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(4,188)	103,435
Share-based Compensation	3,141	9,585
Change In Equity In Income Of Affiliates	(389,490)	(295,761)
Increase Decrease In Other Assets	240	4,572
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities	(94)	(26,034)
Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Taxes Payable	4,755	(79,315)
Increase or Decrease in Intercompany Taxes Payable	247,750	203,155
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	236,474	208,030
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment		(1,924)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	21,820
Investment in Affiliates - Net Change		(33)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(21,820)	1,957
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt	1,000,000	(500,000)
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs	(12,172)	(7,622)
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount	(505)	(75,164)
Increase (Decrease) Due from Affiliates	1,201,977	611,684
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	(214,654)	(194,470)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease)		15,517
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents		$ (15,517)