Business Unit Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013 item	Mar. 31, 2012
Business Unit Segment Information
Number of operating segments	4
Revenues:
Lease contracts	$ 121,085	$ 37,544
Management contracts	90,095	47,964
Total parking services revenue	211,180	85,508
Reimbursed management contract revenue	159,477	103,937
Total revenue	370,657	189,445
Gross profit
Lease contracts	8,967	2,157
Management contracts	31,358	18,693
Total gross profit	40,325	20,850
Gross Margin
General and administrative expenses	27,948	15,045
General and administrative expense percentage of gross profit	69.00%	72.00%
Depreciation and amortization	7,493	1,728
Operating income	4,884	4,077
Other expenses (income):
Interest expense	4,840	1,130
Interest income	(111)	(70)
Total other expenses (income)	4,729	1,060
Income before income taxes	155	3,017
Income tax expense	(154)	1,215
Net income	309	1,802
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	569	72
Net (loss) income attributable to Standard Parking Corporation	(260)	1,730
Region One
Revenues:
Lease contracts	75,040	17,142
Management contracts	25,886	12,065
Total parking services revenue	100,926	29,207
Gross profit
Lease contracts	5,154	629
Management contracts	11,243	6,490
Total gross profit	16,397	7,119
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	7.00%	4.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	43.00%	54.00%
Other expenses (income):
Net gain related to sale of rights associated with certain contracts	2,700	0
Region Two
Revenues:
Lease contracts	1,326
Management contracts	10,226	7,102
Total parking services revenue	11,552	7,102
Gross profit
Lease contracts	266
Management contracts	2,287	1,198
Total gross profit	2,553	1,198
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	20.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	22.00%	17.00%
Region Three
Revenues:
Lease contracts	12,289	5,417
Management contracts	18,141	13,535
Total parking services revenue	30,430	18,952
Gross profit
Lease contracts	781	436
Management contracts	6,851	5,636
Total gross profit	7,632	6,072
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	6.00%	8.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	38.00%	42.00%
Region Four
Revenues:
Lease contracts	9,214	10,837
Management contracts	27,410	12,011
Total parking services revenue	36,642	22,848
Gross profit
Lease contracts	(1,918)	760
Management contracts	8,200	3,182
Total gross profit	6,282	3,942
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	(21.00%)	7.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	30.00%	26.00%
Region Five
Revenues:
Lease contracts	23,267	4,148
Management contracts	9,057	3,067
Total parking services revenue	32,324	7,215
Gross profit
Lease contracts	4,668	357
Management contracts	3,779	1,449
Total gross profit	8,447	1,806
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	20.00%	9.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	42.00%	47.00%
Other
Revenues:
Lease contracts	(51)
Management contracts	(643)	184
Total parking services revenue	(694)	184
Gross profit
Lease contracts	16	(25)
Management contracts	(1,002)	738
Total gross profit	$ (986)	$ 713
Gross Margin
Lease contracts (as a percent)	31.00%
Management contracts (as a percent)	(156.00%)	401.00%

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