Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 29,116	$ 19,688	$ 18,219	$ 15,815
Accounts receivable, net	444,673	382,382
Inventories	1,605,280	1,443,284
Other current assets	80,307	68,225
Assets held for sale	33,224	133,019
Total current assets	2,192,600	2,046,598
Property and equipment, net	858,975	716,427
Intangible assets	1,138,586	1,003,729
Equity method investments	298,640	288,406
Other long-term assets	13,498	14,672
Total assets	4,502,299	4,069,832
Floor plan notes payable	988,650	911,548
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	713,635	497,074
Accounts payable	223,313	251,960
Accrued expenses	202,761	201,714
Current portion of long-term debt	3,414	10,593
Liabilities held for sale	17,899	88,117
Total current liabilities	2,149,672	1,961,006
Long-term debt	846,777	769,285
Deferred tax liabilities	217,902	178,406
Other long-term liabilities	147,535	115,282
Total liabilities	3,361,886	3,023,979
Total equity	1,140,413	1,045,853	946,039	808,421
Total liabilities and equity	4,502,299	4,069,832
Eliminations [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(297,782)	(269,021)
Inventories	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Assets held for sale	0	0
Total current assets	(297,782)	(269,021)
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Intangible assets	0	0
Equity method investments	0	0
Other long-term assets	(1,360,808)	(1,212,538)
Total assets	(1,658,590)	(1,481,559)
Floor plan notes payable	0	0
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	0	0
Accounts payable	0	0
Accrued expenses	(297,782)	(269,021)
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Liabilities held for sale	0	0
Total current liabilities	(297,782)	(269,021)
Long-term debt	(38,073)	(77,593)
Deferred tax liabilities	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(335,855)	(346,614)
Total equity	(1,322,735)	(1,134,945)
Total liabilities and equity	(1,658,590)	(1,481,559)
Penske Automotive Group [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	305,386	269,021
Inventories	0	0
Other current assets	2,306	1,127
Assets held for sale	0	0
Total current assets	307,692	270,148
Property and equipment, net	6,730	4,957
Intangible assets	0	0
Equity method investments	246,658	234,214
Other long-term assets	1,369,182	1,222,168
Total assets	1,930,262	1,731,487
Floor plan notes payable	0	0
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	90,892	25,000
Accounts payable	1,633	2,186
Accrued expenses	0	564
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Liabilities held for sale	0	0
Total current liabilities	92,525	27,750
Long-term debt	697,324	657,884
Deferred tax liabilities	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	789,849	685,634
Total equity	1,140,413	1,045,853
Total liabilities and equity	1,930,262	1,731,487
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents	27,035	15,211	12,319	14,671
Accounts receivable, net	283,281	228,306
Inventories	904,820	873,795
Other current assets	40,412	32,547
Assets held for sale	21,073	124,480
Total current assets	1,276,621	1,274,339
Property and equipment, net	548,985	445,322
Intangible assets	701,717	482,953
Equity method investments	0	0
Other long-term assets	3,389	3,088
Total assets	2,530,712	2,205,702
Floor plan notes payable	560,998	562,581
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	345,674	293,303
Accounts payable	112,955	86,190
Accrued expenses	99,528	95,978
Current portion of long-term debt	3,414	1,264
Liabilities held for sale	6,465	81,854
Total current liabilities	1,129,034	1,121,170
Long-term debt	77,060	49,689
Deferred tax liabilities	198,348	165,666
Other long-term liabilities	93,328	99,238
Total liabilities	1,497,770	1,435,763
Total equity	1,032,942	769,939
Total liabilities and equity	2,530,712	2,205,702
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Cash and cash equivalents	2,081	4,477	5,900	1,144
Accounts receivable, net	153,788	154,076
Inventories	700,460	569,489
Other current assets	37,589	34,551
Assets held for sale	12,151	8,539
Total current assets	906,069	771,132
Property and equipment, net	303,260	266,148
Intangible assets	436,869	520,776
Equity method investments	51,982	54,192
Other long-term assets	1,735	1,954
Total assets	1,699,915	1,614,202
Floor plan notes payable	427,652	348,967
Floor plan notes payable - non-trade	277,069	178,771
Accounts payable	108,725	163,584
Accrued expenses	401,015	374,193
Current portion of long-term debt	0	9,329
Liabilities held for sale	11,434	6,263
Total current liabilities	1,225,895	1,081,107
Long-term debt	110,466	139,305
Deferred tax liabilities	19,554	12,740
Other long-term liabilities	54,207	16,044
Total liabilities	1,410,122	1,249,196
Total equity	289,793	365,006
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,699,915	$ 1,614,202