Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenue:
Total revenues	$ 11,556,232	$ 10,328,385	$ 9,012,217
Cost of sales:
Total cost of sales	9,730,842	8,684,270	7,505,088
Gross profit	1,825,390	1,644,115	1,507,129
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,478,297	1,339,125	1,254,500
Depreciation	48,903	46,253	51,401
Operating income	298,190	258,737	201,228
Floor plan interest expense	(28,515)	(33,779)	(34,097)
Other interest expense	(45,020)	(49,176)	(55,085)
Debt discount amortization	(1,718)	(8,637)	(13,043)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	25,451	20,569	13,808
Gain on debt repurchase		1,634	10,429
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	248,388	189,348	123,240
Income taxes	(71,933)	(64,732)	(43,055)
Income from continuing operations	176,455	124,616	80,185
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,803	(15,269)	(3,265)
Net income	178,258	109,347	76,920
Less: Income attributable to non-controlling interests	1,377	1,066	459
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	176,881	108,281	76,461
Basic earnings per share attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ 1.92	$ 1.34	$ 0.87
Discontinued operations	$ 0.02	$ (0.16)	$ (0.03)
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	$ 1.94	$ 1.18	$ 0.84
Shares used in determining basic earnings per share	91,154	92,018	91,557
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ 1.92	$ 1.34	$ 0.87
Discontinued operations	$ 0.02	$ (0.16)	$ (0.04)
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	$ 1.94	$ 1.18	$ 0.83
Shares used in determining diluted earnings per share	91,274	92,091	91,653
Amounts attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	176,455	124,616	80,185
Less: Income attributable to non-controlling interests	1,377	1,066	459
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	175,078	123,550	79,726
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,803	(15,269)	(3,265)
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders	176,881	108,281	76,461
Cash dividends per share	$ 0.24
New vehicle [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenues	5,811,084	5,276,371	4,481,682
Cost of sales:
Total cost of sales	5,328,053	4,841,556	4,119,190
Used vehicle [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenues	3,399,981	2,857,922	2,524,421
Cost of sales:
Total cost of sales	3,136,474	2,637,356	2,306,468
Finance and insurance, net [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenues	278,027	244,687	215,039
Service and parts [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenues	1,394,990	1,301,811	1,272,872
Cost of sales:
Total cost of sales	599,651	564,494	573,232
Fleet and wholesale vehicle [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenues	672,150	647,594	518,203
Cost of sales:
Total cost of sales	$ 666,664	$ 640,864	$ 506,198