Debt - Schedule of Debt Instruments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 3,992	$ 3,929
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Including Current Maturities	2,297	2,266
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current	1,096	1,195
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	1,201	1,071
Financial Services Operations [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	986	914
Financial Services Operations [Member] \| Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	1,205	1,242
Financial Services Operations [Member] \| Commercial Paper [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	77	74
Financial Services Operations [Member] \| Borrowings Secured By Operating and Finance Leases [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	29	36
Manufacturing Operations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Including Current Maturities	2,906	2,958
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current	115	100
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	2,791	2,858
Manufacturing Operations [Member] \| Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	694	694
Manufacturing Operations [Member] \| Notes Payable to Banks [Member] \| Eight Point Two Five Percent Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	19	20
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	8.25%
Long-term Debt	1,181	1,180
Manufacturing Operations [Member] \| Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] \| Four Point Five Zero Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	17	19
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.50%
Long-term Debt	183	181
Manufacturing Operations [Member] \| Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] \| Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	36	40
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.75%
Long-term Debt	375	371
Manufacturing Operations [Member] \| Debt Of Majority Owned Dealerships [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	28	30
Manufacturing Operations [Member] \| Financing Arrangements and Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	50	54
Manufacturing Operations [Member] \| Tax Exempt Bond [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.50%
Long-term Debt	225	225
Manufacturing Operations [Member] \| Promissory Note [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	5	10
Manufacturing Operations [Member] \| Financed lease obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	141	184
Manufacturing Operations [Member] \| Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$ 24	$ 29

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Definition

The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 7

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20, 22

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligation due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 6

-Section H

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt and capital leases due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligations including current maturities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsIncludingCurrentMaturities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=nav_FinancialServicesOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=nav_ManufacturingOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: