Finance Receivables Finance Revenues (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
Finance revenues from on-balance sheet receivables:
Retail notes and finance leases revenue	$ 136	$ 183
Operating lease revenue	32	33
Total finance revenues from on-balance sheet receivables	288	273
Revenues from off-balance sheet securitization:
Gross finance revenues	290	309
Less: Intercompany revenues	90	90
Finance revenues	200	219	269
Off Balance Sheet Securitization Transactions [Member]
Revenues from off-balance sheet securitization:
Fair value adjustment	1	37
Excess spread income	0	32
Fees and Commissions	0	6
Gain (loss) on sale of finance receivables	1	(39)
Securitization income	2	36
Cash flows from off-balance sheet securitization transactions:
Proceeds from sales of finance receivables		3,509	4,178
Servicing fees		6	8
Cash from net excess spread		32	31
Cash Flows Between Transferor and Transferee Investment Income		0	1
Net cash from securitization transactions		3,547	4,218
Wholesale Portfolio [Member] \| Notes Receivable [Member]
Finance revenues from on-balance sheet receivables:
Finance revenues interest income	93	39
Retail And Wholesale Portfolios [Member] \| Accounts Receivable [Member]
Finance revenues from on-balance sheet receivables:
Finance revenues interest income	$ 27	$ 18

Cash Flows Between Transferee And Transferor Cash From Net Excess Spread

No definition available.

Name:	nav_CashFlowsBetweenTransfereeAndTransferorCashFromNetExcessSpread
Namespace Prefix:	nav_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash Flows Between Transferor and Transferee Investment Income

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nav_CashFlowsBetweenTransferorAndTransfereeInvestmentIncome
Namespace Prefix:	nav_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash Flows Between Transferor And Transferee Net Cash From Securitization Transactions

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nav_CashFlowsBetweenTransferorAndTransfereeNetCashFromSecuritizationTransactions
Namespace Prefix:	nav_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Finance Revenues Excess Spread Income

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nav_FinanceRevenuesExcessSpreadIncome
Namespace Prefix:	nav_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Finance Revenues From On Balance Sheet Receivables

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nav_FinanceRevenuesFromOnBalanceSheetReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	nav_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	nav_FinanceRevenuesFromOnBalanceSheetReceivablesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	nav_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross Finance Revenues

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nav_GrossFinanceRevenues
Namespace Prefix:	nav_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Retail Notes And Finance Leases Revenue

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nav_RetailNotesAndFinanceLeasesRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	nav_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Revenue From Off Balance Sheet Securitization Fair Value Adjustments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nav_RevenueFromOffBalanceSheetSecuritizationFairValueAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	nav_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	nav_RevenuesFromOffBalanceSheetSecuritizationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	nav_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Securitization Income

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nav_SecuritizationIncome
Namespace Prefix:	nav_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashFlowsBetweenTransfereeAndTransferorAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash Flows between a transferor and a transferee attributable to newly transferred assets related to either a securitization, asset-backed financing arrangement, or similar transfer in which the transferor has continuing involvement with the transferred financial assets underlying the transaction (including, but not limited to, servicing, recourse, and restrictions on transferor's interests in the transferred financial assets).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 140

-Paragraph 17

-Subparagraph h

-Clause 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS140-4/FIN46(R)-8

-Paragraph B11

-Subparagraph a

-Clause 3

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashFlowsBetweenTransfereeAndTransferorProceedsFromNewTransfers
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash Flows between a transferee and a transferor attributable to servicing fees related to a securitization, asset-backed financing arrangement, or similar transfer in which the transferor has continuing involvement with the transferred financial assets underlying the transaction (including, but not limited to, servicing, recourse, and restrictions on transferor's interests in the transferred financial assets).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashFlowsBetweenTransfereeAndTransferorServicingFees
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total fees and commissions earned from providing services such as leasing of space or maintaining: (1) depositor accounts; (2) transfer agent; (3) fiduciary and trust; (4) brokerage and underwriting; (5) mortgage; (6) credit cards; (7) correspondent clearing; and (8) other such services and activities performed for others.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher OTS

-Name Federal Regulation (FR)

-Number Title 12

-Chapter V

-Section 563c.102

-Paragraph 13

-Subsection II

-LegacyDoc This is a non-GAAP reference that was included in the 2009 taxonomy. It will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 13

-Article 9

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FeesAndCommissions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate financial services revenue and operating interest income earned during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialServicesRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net gain (loss) resulting from the sale, transfer, termination, or other disposition of assets during the period, excluding transactions involving capital leases, assets-held- or available-for-lease, and other real estate owned which, to the extent appropriate, are included in gains (losses) on the disposition of assets in nonoperating income (expense).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest generated from day to day operating activities of the business. This element represents a revenue generating activity and is therefore gross (before any related cost of revenue items).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestIncomeOperating
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of revenue recognized for the period from operating leases, including minimum lease revenue, contingent revenue, percentage revenue and sublease revenue.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 13

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6453417&loc=d3e39896-112707

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesIncomeStatementLeaseRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Revenues arising from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, such as pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's' management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Related Parties

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6523133

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 57

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 946

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.1(c))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488393&loc=d3e606610-122999

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 07

-Paragraph b

-Subparagraph 1

-Article 6

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration