Intangible Assets and Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Core U.S. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Core U.S. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 RAC Acceptance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 RAC Acceptance [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 International [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 International [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Customer Relationships [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Customer Relationships [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Vendor Relationships [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Vendor Relationships [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Noncompete Agreements [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Changes in Recorded Goodwill (Details) [Abstract]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,339,125,000	$ 1,320,467,000	$ 1,285,700,000	$ 1,282,600,000	$ 54,400,000	$ 54,400,000		$ 2,100,000
Additions from acquisitions	3,198,000	18,755,000
Store dispositions and impairment charges	(1,221,000)	(390,000)
Post purchase price allocation adjustments	137,000	293,000
Goodwill, ending balance	1,341,239,000	1,339,125,000	1,285,700,000	1,282,600,000	54,400,000	54,400,000	1,100,000	2,100,000
Estimated Amortization Expense (Table Details) [Abstract]
2012	611,000
2013	1,640,000
2014	659,000
2015	568,000
2016	568,000
Thereafter	4,130,000
Total	8,176,000	11,730,000
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Average life (years) - amortizable intangible assets									2 years		11 years		3 years
Gross carrying amount- amortizable intangible assets	84,789,000	84,290,000							71,147,000	70,648,000	7,538,000	7,538,000	6,104,000	6,104,000
Accumulated amortization - amortizable intangible assets	76,613,000	72,560,000							69,521,000	65,901,000	994,000	568,000	6,098,000	6,091,000
Goodwill	1,341,239,000	1,339,125,000	1,285,700,000	1,282,600,000	54,400,000	54,400,000	1,100,000	2,100,000
Goodwill impairment charge							$ 1,000,000