Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Total revenues	$ 2,959,117	$ 2,942,520	$ 2,874,905	$ 2,779,690	$ 2,670,304	$ 2,659,549	$ 2,596,383	$ 2,402,149	$ 11,556,232	$ 10,328,385	$ 9,012,217
Cost of sales									9,730,842	8,684,270	7,505,088
Gross profit	455,820	465,736	461,646	442,188	416,928	416,557	413,883	396,747	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
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									1,803	(15,269)	(3,265)
Net (loss) income	48,157	56,045	40,059	33,997	29,071	30,260	29,684	20,332	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	47,687	55,707	39,560	33,927	28,509	29,977	29,441	20,354	176,881	108,281	76,461
Eliminations [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									(272,860)	(226,029)	(174,763)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(272,860)	(226,029)	(174,763)
Income taxes									79,461	77,710	61,283
Income from continuing operations									(193,399)	(148,319)	(113,480)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									(1,803)	15,269	3,265
Net (loss) income									(195,202)	(133,050)	(110,215)
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders									(195,202)	(133,050)	(110,215)
Penske Automotive Group [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Selling, general and administrative expenses									18,978	17,182	18,259
Depreciation									1,369	1,116	1,160
Operating income									(20,347)	(18,298)	(19,419)
Floor plan interest expense									(1,364)	(576)
Other interest expense									(25,464)	(30,237)	(41,036)
Debt discount amortization									(1,718)	(8,637)	(13,043)
Equity in earnings of affiliates									23,044	18,367	11,087
Gain on debt repurchase										1,634	10,429
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									272,860	226,029	174,763
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									247,011	188,282	122,781
Income taxes									(71,933)	(64,732)	(43,055)
Income from continuing operations									175,078	123,550	79,726
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									1,803	(15,269)	(3,265)
Net (loss) income									176,881	108,281	76,461
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders									176,881	108,281	76,461
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Total revenues									6,788,576	5,923,698	5,103,635
Cost of sales									5,661,749	4,934,474	4,214,692
Gross profit									1,126,827	989,224	888,943
Selling, general and administrative expenses									900,362	803,007	749,693
Depreciation									26,490	25,236	30,980
Operating income									199,975	160,981	108,270
Floor plan interest expense									(14,434)	(23,539)	23,804
Other interest expense									(3,276)	(2,220)	140
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									182,265	135,222	84,326
Income taxes									(53,097)	(51,534)	(35,394)
Income from continuing operations									129,168	83,688	48,932
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									2,608	(15,548)	(981)
Net (loss) income									131,776	68,140	47,951
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders									131,776	68,140	47,951
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Total revenues									4,767,656	4,404,687	3,908,582
Cost of sales									4,069,093	3,749,796	3,290,396
Gross profit									698,563	654,891	618,186
Selling, general and administrative expenses									558,957	518,936	486,548
Depreciation									21,044	19,901	19,261
Operating income									118,562	116,054	112,377
Floor plan interest expense									(12,717)	(9,664)	(10,293)
Other interest expense									(16,280)	(16,719)	(13,909)
Equity in earnings of affiliates									2,407	2,202	2,721
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									91,972	91,873	90,896
Income taxes									(26,364)	(26,176)	(25,889)
Income from continuing operations									65,608	65,697	65,007
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									(805)	279	(2,284)
Net (loss) income									64,803	65,976	62,723
Less: Income attributable to non-controlling interests									1,377	1,066	459
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders									$ 63,426	$ 64,910	$ 62,264