Condensed Consolidating Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Financial Information Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Millions	9 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operations	$ 539	$ 664
Cash flow from investment activities
Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	21	341
Net increase in marketable securities	(34)	(301)
Capital expenditures	(326)	(189)
Other investing activities	(31)	(82)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(370)	(231)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net borrowings (repayments) of debt	(299)	(1,115)
Other financing activities	(18)	(12)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(317)	(1,127)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	7	(3)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period	(141)	(697)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	585	1,212
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	444	515
NIC [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operations	(254)	(450)
Cash flow from investment activities
Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net increase in marketable securities	81	(155)
Capital expenditures	0	0
Other investing activities	0	(21)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	81	(176)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net borrowings (repayments) of debt	48	0
Other financing activities	25	33
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	73	33
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period	(100)	(593)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	239	792
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	139	199
Navistar, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operations	95	(281)
Cash flow from investment activities
Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	2	4
Net increase in marketable securities	0	0
Capital expenditures	(168)	(65)
Other investing activities	(27)	(71)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(193)	(132)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net borrowings (repayments) of debt	161	405
Other financing activities	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	161	405
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period	63	(8)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	22	36
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	85	28
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operations	448	935
Cash flow from investment activities
Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	19	337
Net increase in marketable securities	(115)	(146)
Capital expenditures	(158)	(124)
Other investing activities	(4)	(24)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(258)	43
Cash flows from financing activities
Net borrowings (repayments) of debt	(258)	(1,060)
Other financing activities	(43)	(11)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(301)	(1,071)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	7	(3)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period	(104)	(96)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	324	384
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	220	288
Eliminations and Other [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operations	250	460
Cash flow from investment activities
Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net increase in marketable securities	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0
Other investing activities	0	34
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	0	34
Cash flows from financing activities
Net borrowings (repayments) of debt	(250)	(460)
Other financing activities	0	(34)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(250)	(494)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	$ 0	$ 0

Includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Entity may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. Compensating balance arrangements that do not legally restrict the withdrawal or usage of cash amounts may be reported as Cash and Cash Equivalents, while legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or company statements of intention with regard to particular deposits are not generally reported as cash and cash equivalents. Includes cash and cash equivalents associated with the entity's continuing operations. Excludes cash and cash equivalents associated with the disposal group (and discontinued operation).

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