Condensed consolidating guarantor and non-guarantor financial information (Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operations	$ 346	$ 539
Cash flow from investment activities
Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	48	21
Net sales (purchases) of marketable securities	558	(34)
Capital exprenditures	(299)	(326)
Other Investing activities	(31)	(31)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	276	(370)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net borrowings (repayments) of debt	(487)	(299)
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	(3)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(607)	(317)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(7)	7
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	8	(141)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	539	585
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	547	444
NIC [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operations	(330)	(254)
Cash flow from investment activities
Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net sales (purchases) of marketable securities	383	81
Capital exprenditures	0	0
Other Investing activities	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	383	81
Cash flows from financing activities
Net borrowings (repayments) of debt	(47)	48
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	20	25
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(27)	73
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	26	(100)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	226	239
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	252	139
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operations	458	448
Cash flow from investment activities
Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	45	19
Net sales (purchases) of marketable securities	175	(115)
Capital exprenditures	(126)	(158)
Other Investing activities	86	(4)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	180	(258)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net borrowings (repayments) of debt	(643)	(258)
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	(48)	(43)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(691)	(301)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(7)	7
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(60)	(104)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	300	324
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	240	220
Navistar, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operations	(362)	95
Cash flow from investment activities
Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	3	2
Net sales (purchases) of marketable securities	0	0
Capital exprenditures	(173)	(168)
Other Investing activities	(117)	(27)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(287)	(193)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net borrowings (repayments) of debt	691	161
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	691	161
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	42	63
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	13	22
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	55	85
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operations	580	250
Cash flow from investment activities
Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net sales (purchases) of marketable securities	0	0
Capital exprenditures	0	0
Other Investing activities	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities
Net borrowings (repayments) of debt	(488)	(250)
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	(92)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(580)	(250)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	0	0
Consolidated Entities [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	(120)	(18)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	$ 547