14. Fair Value measurements (Details - Fair Value Financial Assets) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 17,859	$ 22,112	$ 12,966	$ 10,094
Restricted cash and equivalents	175,382	132,284
Finance receivables, net	1,534,496	1,115,437
Finance receivables measured at fair value	1,664us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure	14,476us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Residual interest in securitizations	68	854	4,824
Accrued interest receivable	23,372	18,670
Liabilities:
Warehouse lines of credit	56,839us-gaap_LinesOfCreditCurrent	9,452us-gaap_LinesOfCreditCurrent
Accrued interest payable	2,613	2,908
Residual interest financing	12,327us-gaap_OtherSecuredFinancings	19,096us-gaap_OtherSecuredFinancings
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value	1,250us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	13,117us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Securitization trust debt	1,598,496us-gaap_SecuredDebt	1,177,559us-gaap_SecuredDebt
Senior secured debt, related party		38,559cpss_SeniorSecuredDebt
Subordinated renewable notes	15,233us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt	19,142us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt
Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	17,859	22,112
Restricted cash and equivalents	175,382	132,284
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:
Warehouse lines of credit	0	0
Accrued interest payable	0	0
Residual interest financing	0	0
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value	0	0
Securitization trust debt	0	0
Senior secured debt, related party		0
Subordinated renewable notes	0	0
Level 2 [Member]
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:
Warehouse lines of credit	0	0
Accrued interest payable	0	0
Residual interest financing	0	0
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value	0	0
Securitization trust debt	0	0
Senior secured debt, related party		0
Subordinated renewable notes	0	0
Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Restricted cash and equivalents	0	0
Finance receivables, net	1,512,567	1,100,153
Finance receivables measured at fair value	1,664	14,476
Residual interest in securitizations	68	854
Accrued interest receivable	23,372	18,670
Liabilities:
Warehouse lines of credit	56,839	9,452
Accrued interest payable	2,613	2,908
Residual interest financing	12,327	19,096
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value	1,250	13,117
Securitization trust debt	1,619,742	1,189,086
Senior secured debt, related party		38,559
Subordinated renewable notes	15,233	19,142
Carrying Value [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	17,859	22,112
Restricted cash and equivalents	175,382	132,284
Finance receivables, net	1,534,496	1,115,437
Finance receivables measured at fair value	1,664	14,476
Residual interest in securitizations	68	854
Accrued interest receivable	23,372	18,670
Liabilities:
Warehouse lines of credit	56,839	9,452
Accrued interest payable	2,613	2,908
Residual interest financing	12,327	19,096
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value	1,250	13,117
Securitization trust debt	1,598,496	1,177,559
Senior secured debt, related party		38,559
Subordinated renewable notes	15,233	19,142
Total Amount [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	17,859	22,112
Restricted cash and equivalents	175,382	132,284
Finance receivables, net	1,512,567	1,100,153
Finance receivables measured at fair value	1,664	14,476
Residual interest in securitizations	68	854
Accrued interest receivable	23,372	18,670
Liabilities:
Warehouse lines of credit	56,839	9,452
Accrued interest payable	2,613	2,908
Residual interest financing	12,327	19,096
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value	1,250	13,117
Securitization trust debt	1,619,742	1,189,086
Senior secured debt, related party		38,559
Subordinated renewable notes	$ 15,233	$ 19,142

Senior Secured Debt.

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Fair value portion of liabilities incurred for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business and related party payables.

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The amount owed to the reporting entity by counterparties in securitized loan transactions.

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Interest, dividends, rents, ancillary and other revenues earned but not yet received by the entity on its investments.

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Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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Fair value of financial and nonfinancial obligations.

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The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current portion of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

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Amount after allowance and deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of consumer loans, including, but not limited to, mortgage, home equity, vehicles, credit card, installment, and lease financing. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

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Secured financing other than securities sold under agreements to repurchase and securities loaned.

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The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. For a classified balance sheet represents the current portion only (the noncurrent portion has a separate concept); there is a separate and distinct element for unclassified presentations.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date, including the current and noncurrent portions, of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer). Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower.

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of subordinated debt (with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Subordinated debt places a lender in a lien position behind debt having a higher priority of repayment in liquidation of the entity's assets.

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