Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations (Note 2)	$ 801,458	$ 885,291	$ 1,163,418
Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations:
Capital expenditures	(189,002)	(189,035)	(170,845)
Origination of finance receivables	(2,858,701)	(2,622,024)	(2,252,532)
Collections on finance receivables	2,768,089	2,760,049	2,668,962
Purchases of marketable securities	(4,993)	(142,653)	(184,365)
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities	23,296	130,121	84,217
Net cash (used by) provided by investing activities of continuing operations	(261,311)	(63,542)	145,437
Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations:
Proceeds from issuance of medium term notes	993,737	447,076	0
Repayment of medium term notes	420,870	59,211	200,000
Repayment of senior unsecured notes	0	0	(380,757)
Proceeds from securitization debt	763,895	1,082,599	598,187
Repayments of securitization debt	1,405,599	1,754,568	1,896,665
Net borrowings of asset-backed commercial paper	200,417	0	0
Net repayments in asset-backed commercial paper	24,301	483	845
Net increase (decrease) in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper	(744,724)	237,827	30,575
Net change in restricted cash	41,647	59,232	77,654
Dividends	141,681	111,011	94,145
Purchase of common stock for treasury, net of issuances	(311,632)	(224,548)	(1,706)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments	13,065	6,303	3,767
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans	45,973	7,840	7,845
Net cash (used by) provided by financing activities of continuing operations	(990,073)	(308,944)	(1,856,090)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations	(8,886)	(7,788)	4,940
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations	(458,812)	505,017	(542,295)
Cash flows from discontinued operations:
Cash flows from operating activities of discontinued operations	0	0	(71,073)
Cash flows from investing activities of discontinued operations	0	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	0	0	(1,195)
Net cash used by discontinued operations, total	0	0	(72,268)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(458,812)	505,017	(614,563)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	1,526,950	1,021,933	1,630,433
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations - beginning of period	0	0	6,063
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(458,812)	505,017	(614,563)
Less: Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations - end of period	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$ 1,068,138	$ 1,526,950	$ 1,021,933