Revenues Revenues (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Rentals and fees	$ 552,580	$ 552,194	$ 1,679,697	$ 1,723,019
Merchandise sales	67,141	67,566	239,487	266,061
Installment sales	15,681	17,276	49,459	51,690
Other	2,140	2,257	6,995	7,428
Total store revenues	637,542	639,293	1,975,638	2,048,198
Merchandise sales	4,135	2,676	12,649	9,211
Royalty income and fees	3,265	1,996	10,428	6,177
Total revenues	644,942	643,965	1,998,715	2,063,586
Rental purchase agreements [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	39,400		39,400		$ 41,100
Other product plans [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	2,800		2,800		3,000
Franchise fees [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	2,700		2,700		$ 1,700
Core Us [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Rentals and fees	403,483		1,226,233
Merchandise sales	30,135		106,828
Installment sales	15,681		49,459
Other	2,021		6,561
Total store revenues	451,320		1,389,081
Merchandise sales	0		0
Royalty income and fees	0		0
Total revenues	451,320	442,763	1,389,081	1,390,687
Acceptance Now [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Rentals and fees	137,061		418,684
Merchandise sales	36,264		130,347
Installment sales	0		0
Other	113		404
Total store revenues	173,438		549,435
Merchandise sales	0		0
Royalty income and fees	0		0
Total revenues	173,438	184,293	549,435	622,160
Mexico [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Rentals and fees	12,036		34,780
Merchandise sales	742		2,312
Installment sales	0		0
Other	6		30
Total store revenues	12,784		37,122
Merchandise sales	0		0
Royalty income and fees	0		0
Total revenues	12,784	12,237	37,122	35,351
Franchising [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Rentals and fees	0		0
Merchandise sales	0		0
Installment sales	0		0
Other	0		0
Total store revenues	0		0
Merchandise sales	4,135		12,649
Royalty income and fees	3,265		10,428
Total revenues	$ 7,400	$ 4,672	$ 23,077	$ 15,388