11. Fair Value measurements (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 10,468	$ 10,094
Restricted cash and equivalents	107,240	159,228
Finance receivables, net	671,022	506,647
Finance receivables measured at fair value	77,484	160,253
Residual interest in securitizations	4,895	4,414
Accrued interest receivable	8,819	6,432
Liabilities:
Warrant derivative liability	95	967
Warehouse lines of credit	20,398	25,393
Accrued interest payable	2,748	1,239
Residual interest financing	13,773	21,884
Securitization trust debt	743,878	594,224
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value	76,630	166,828
Senior secured debt	54,452	58,344
Subordinated renewable notes	21,525	20,750
CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	10,468	10,094
Restricted cash and equivalents	107,240	159,228
Finance receivables, net	670,150	506,279
Finance receivables measured at fair value	77,484	160,253
Residual interest in securitizations	4,895	4,414
Accrued interest receivable	8,819	6,432
Liabilities:
Warrant derivative liability	95	967
Warehouse lines of credit	20,398	25,393
Accrued interest payable	2,748	1,239
Residual interest financing	13,773	21,884
Securitization trust debt	721,396	583,065
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value	76,630	166,828
Senior secured debt	54,452	58,344
Subordinated renewable notes	21,525	20,750
FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	10,468	10,094
Restricted cash and equivalents	107,240	159,228
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Finance receivables measured at fair value	0	0
Residual interest in securitizations	0	0
Accrued interest receivable	0	0
Liabilities:
Warrant derivative liability	0	0
Warehouse lines of credit	0	0
Accrued interest payable	0	0
Residual interest financing	0	0
Securitization trust debt	0	0
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value	0	0
Senior secured debt	0	0
Subordinated renewable notes	0	0
level 2
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Restricted cash and equivalents	0	0
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Finance receivables measured at fair value	0	0
Residual interest in securitizations	0	0
Accrued interest receivable	0	0
Liabilities:
Warrant derivative liability	0	0
Warehouse lines of credit	0	0
Accrued interest payable	0	0
Residual interest financing	0	0
Securitization trust debt	0	0
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value	0	0
Senior secured debt	0	0
Subordinated renewable notes	0	0
level 3
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Restricted cash and equivalents	0	0
Finance receivables, net	671,022	506,647
Finance receivables measured at fair value	77,484	160,253
Residual interest in securitizations	4,895	4,414
Accrued interest receivable	8,819	6,432
Liabilities:
Warrant derivative liability	95	967
Warehouse lines of credit	20,398	25,393
Accrued interest payable	2,748	1,239
Residual interest financing	13,773	21,884
Securitization trust debt	743,878	594,224
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value	76,630	166,828
Senior secured debt	54,452	58,344
Subordinated renewable notes	$ 21,525	$ 20,750