Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations (Note 2)	$ 885,291	$ 1,163,418	$ 609,010
Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations:
Capital expenditures	(189,035)	(170,845)	(116,748)
Origination of finance receivables	(2,622,024)	(2,252,532)	(1,378,226)
Collections on finance receivables	2,760,049	2,668,962	607,168
Collection of retained securitization interests			61,170
Purchases of marketable securities	(142,653)	(184,365)	(39,685)
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities	130,121	84,217
Other, net			2,834
Net cash (used by) provided by investing activities of continuing operations	(63,542)	145,437	(863,487)
Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations:
Proceeds from issuance of medium term notes	447,076		496,514
Repayment of medium term notes	(59,211)	(200,000)
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured notes			595,026
Repayment of senior unsecured notes		(380,757)
Proceeds from securitization debt	1,082,599	598,187	2,413,192
Repayments of securitization debt	(1,754,568)	(1,896,665)	(263,083)
Net increase (decrease) in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper	237,827	30,575	(1,083,331)
Net repayments in asset-backed commercial paper	(483)	(845)	(513,168)
Net change in restricted cash	59,232	77,654	(167,667)
Dividends	(111,011)	(94,145)	(93,807)
Purchase of common stock for treasury, net of issuances	(224,548)	(1,706)	(1,920)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments	6,303	3,767	170
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans	7,840	7,845	11
Net cash (used by) provided by financing activities of continuing operations	(308,944)	(1,856,090)	1,381,937
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations	(7,788)	4,940	6,789
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations	505,017	(542,295)	1,134,249
Cash flows from discontinued operations:
Cash flows from operating activities of discontinued operations		(71,073)	(71,298)
Cash flows from investing activities of discontinued operations			(18,805)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations		(1,195)	(1,208)
Net cash used by discontinued operations, total		(72,268)	(91,311)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	505,017	(614,563)	1,042,938
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	1,021,933	1,630,433	568,894
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations - beginning of period		6,063	24,664
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	505,017	(614,563)	1,042,938
Less: Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations - end of period			(6,063)
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$ 1,526,950	$ 1,021,933	$ 1,630,433