Consolidating Condensed Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed consolidating balance sheet
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 71,101	$ 43,447	$ 25,886	$ 26,997
Accounts receivable, net	588,311	554,851
Inventories	2,293,390	2,000,206
Other current assets	83,508	90,485
Assets held for sale	1,065	71,107
Total current assets	3,037,375	2,760,096
Property and equipment, net	1,211,020	1,031,188
Intangible assets	1,401,497	1,263,590
Equity method investments	333,081	303,160
Other long-term assets	27,831	20,956
Total assets	6,010,804	5,378,990
Floor plan notes payable	1,537,185	1,408,362
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	802,051	725,526
Accounts payable	380,000	263,881
Accrued expenses	275,483	223,972
Current portion of long-term debt	46,894	19,493
Liabilities held for sale	2,592	51,279
Total current liabilities	3,044,205	2,692,513
Long-term debt	1,014,070	918,024
Deferred tax liabilities	338,430	287,818
Other long-term liabilities	156,708	164,314
Total liabilities	4,553,413	4,062,669
Total equity	1,457,391	1,316,321
Total liabilities and equity	6,010,804	5,378,990
5.75% Notes
Condensed consolidating balance sheet
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.75%	5.75%	5.75%
Domestic Subsidiaries ownership guaranteeing obligations (as a percent)	100.00%
Penske Automotive Group | 5.75% Notes
Condensed consolidating balance sheet
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.75%	5.75%
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed consolidating balance sheet
Domestic Subsidiaries ownership guaranteeing obligations (as a percent)	100.00%
Reportable legal entities | Penske Automotive Group
Condensed consolidating balance sheet
Accounts receivable, net	378,659	340,917
Other current assets	2,955	3,546
Total current assets	381,614	344,463
Property and equipment, net	4,251	4,474
Equity method investments	280,730	252,816
Other long-term assets	1,613,941	1,540,447
Total assets	2,280,536	2,142,200
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	128,100	112,085
Accounts payable	2,841	3,344
Accrued expenses	205	450
Total current liabilities	131,146	115,879
Long-term debt	692,000	710,000
Total liabilities	823,146	825,879
Total equity	1,457,390	1,316,321
Total liabilities and equity	2,280,536	2,142,200
Reportable legal entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed consolidating balance sheet
Cash and cash equivalents	7,514	36,478	17,527	26,767
Accounts receivable, net	292,806	375,442
Inventories	1,300,592	1,212,521
Other current assets	32,593	55,841
Assets held for sale	165	28,716
Total current assets	1,633,670	1,708,998
Property and equipment, net	814,083	662,722
Intangible assets	768,677	761,005
Other long-term assets	5,232	5,029
Total assets	3,221,662	3,137,754
Floor plan notes payable	884,700	917,391
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	375,983	346,683
Accounts payable	128,236	124,663
Accrued expenses	142,530	114,636
Current portion of long-term debt	36,236	9,745
Liabilities held for sale	383	17,766
Total current liabilities	1,568,068	1,530,884
Long-term debt	166,262	121,618
Deferred tax liabilities	313,342	260,445
Other long-term liabilities	77,865	85,151
Total liabilities	2,125,537	1,998,098
Total equity	1,096,125	1,139,656
Total liabilities and equity	3,221,662	3,137,754
Reportable legal entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed consolidating balance sheet
Cash and cash equivalents	63,587	6,969	8,359	230
Accounts receivable, net	295,505	179,409
Inventories	992,798	787,685
Other current assets	47,960	31,098
Assets held for sale	900	42,391
Total current assets	1,400,750	1,047,552
Property and equipment, net	392,686	363,992
Intangible assets	632,820	502,585
Equity method investments	52,351	50,344
Other long-term assets	11,322	2,636
Total assets	2,489,929	1,967,109
Floor plan notes payable	652,485	490,971
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	297,968	266,758
Accounts payable	248,923	135,874
Accrued expenses	511,407	449,803
Current portion of long-term debt	10,658	9,748
Liabilities held for sale	2,209	33,513
Total current liabilities	1,723,650	1,386,667
Long-term debt	252,280	125,098
Deferred tax liabilities	25,088	27,373
Other long-term liabilities	78,843	79,163
Total liabilities	2,079,861	1,618,301
Total equity	410,068	348,808
Total liabilities and equity	2,489,929	1,967,109
Eliminations
Condensed consolidating balance sheet
Accounts receivable, net	(378,659)	(340,917)
Total current assets	(378,659)	(340,917)
Other long-term assets	(1,602,664)	(1,527,156)
Total assets	(1,981,323)	(1,868,073)
Accrued expenses	(378,659)	(340,917)
Total current liabilities	(378,659)	(340,917)
Long-term debt	(96,472)	(38,692)
Total liabilities	(475,131)	(379,609)
Total equity	(1,506,192)	(1,488,464)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (1,981,323)	$ (1,868,073)