Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Information (Details) [Abstract]
Number of retail installment sales stores			41
Number of Stores in Canada			18
Number of Stores in Mexico			90
Impairment charge			$ 0	$ 7,320	$ 18,939
Litigation expense			0	(2,800)	0
Restructuring charge	7,600	4,900	0	13,943	0
Royalty fee percentage, minimum			2.00%
Royalty fee percentag, maximum			4.00%
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues			3,082,646	2,882,184	2,731,632
Gross profit			2,133,917	2,052,516	1,995,672
Operating profit			318,472	293,157	303,769
Depreciation			73,361	65,214	63,410
Amortization and write-down of intangibles			5,889	4,675	3,254
Capital expenditures			102,453	132,710	93,007
Rental merchandise on rent, net			821,887	766,425	655,248
Rental merchandise held for rent, net			198,917	186,768	181,606
Assets			2,869,105	2,801,378	2,688,331
Location count			4,288	4,040	3,601
Core U.S. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues			2,655,411	2,631,416	2,667,943
Gross profit			1,904,586	1,918,781	1,970,280
Operating profit			318,496	317,473	311,501
Depreciation			63,793	60,558	61,879
Amortization and write-down of intangibles			2,103	1,092	3,254
Capital expenditures			84,680	108,553	90,866
Rental merchandise on rent, net			597,771	619,189	606,121
Rental merchandise held for rent, net			189,526	177,625	177,621
Assets			2,508,370	2,536,115	2,554,980
Location count				2,994	2,985
RAC Acceptance [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues			343,283	193,295	18,203
Gross profit			194,607	114,228	12,074
Operating profit			27,972	(13,985)	(5,372)
Depreciation			3,631	2,229	395
Amortization and write-down of intangibles			2,819	3,583
Capital expenditures			5,275	5,881	1,450
Rental merchandise on rent, net			209,964	139,340	44,293
Rental merchandise held for rent, net			2,979	1,274	2,809
Assets			292,070	217,157	114,382
Location count			966	750	384
International [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues			40,211	18,490	10,054
Gross profit			27,831	13,011	7,128
Operating profit			(30,322)	(13,551)	(5,226)
Depreciation			5,848	2,295	989
Amortization and write-down of intangibles			967
Capital expenditures			12,498	18,276	691
Rental merchandise on rent, net			14,152	7,896	4,834
Rental merchandise held for rent, net			6,412	7,869	1,176
Assets			65,954	44,535	15,179
Location count			108	80	23
ColorTyme [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues			43,741	38,983	35,432
Gross profit			6,893	6,496	6,190
Operating profit			2,326	3,220	2,866
Depreciation			89	132	147
Assets			2,711	3,571	3,790
Location count			224	216	209
Financial Services Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues					56,200
Gross profit					56,200
Operating profit					$ (12,800)