11. Fair Value measurements (Details-fair values) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 20,202	$ 17,859
Restricted cash and equivalents	173,451	175,382
Finance receivables, net	1,589,952cpss_FinanceReceivablesFairValue	1,512,567cpss_FinanceReceivablesFairValue
Finance receivables measured at fair value	743us-gaap_ReceivablesFairValueDisclosure	1,664us-gaap_ReceivablesFairValueDisclosure	9,058us-gaap_ReceivablesFairValueDisclosure	14,476us-gaap_ReceivablesFairValueDisclosure
Residual interest in securitizations	32	68
Accrued interest receivable	24,496	23,372
Liabilities:
Warehouse lines of credit	21,965	56,839
Accrued interest payable	2,678	2,613
Residual interest financing	12,074us-gaap_OtherSecuredFinancings	12,327us-gaap_OtherSecuredFinancings
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value		1,250cpss_DebtSecuredReceivablesFairValue
Securitization trust debt	1,720,705	1,619,742
Subordinated renewable notes	15,082	15,233
Carrying Value [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	20,202	17,859
Restricted cash and equivalents	173,451	175,382
Finance receivables, net	1,615,762	1,534,496
Finance receivables measured at fair value	743	1,664
Residual interest in securitizations	32	68
Accrued interest receivable	24,496	23,372
Liabilities:
Warehouse lines of credit	21,965	56,839
Accrued interest payable	2,678	2,613
Residual interest financing	12,074	12,327
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value		1,250
Securitization trust debt	1,697,649	1,598,496
Subordinated renewable notes	15,082	15,233
Fair Value Inputs Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	20,202	17,859
Restricted cash and equivalents	173,451	175,382
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Finance receivables measured at fair value	0	0
Residual interest in securitizations	0	0
Accrued interest receivable	0	0
Liabilities:
Warehouse lines of credit	0	0
Accrued interest payable	0	0
Residual interest financing	0	0
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value		0
Securitization trust debt	0	0
Subordinated renewable notes	0	0
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Restricted cash and equivalents	0	0
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Finance receivables measured at fair value	0	0
Residual interest in securitizations	0	0
Accrued interest receivable	0	0
Liabilities:
Warehouse lines of credit	0	0
Accrued interest payable	0	0
Residual interest financing	0	0
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value		0
Securitization trust debt	0	0
Subordinated renewable notes	0	0
Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Restricted cash and equivalents	0	0
Finance receivables, net	1,589,952	1,512,567
Finance receivables measured at fair value	743	1,664
Residual interest in securitizations	32	68
Accrued interest receivable	24,496	23,372
Liabilities:
Warehouse lines of credit	21,965	56,839
Accrued interest payable	2,678	2,613
Residual interest financing	12,074	12,327
Debt secured by receivables measured at fair value		1,250
Securitization trust debt	1,720,705	1,619,742
Subordinated renewable notes	$ 15,082	$ 15,233

Debt Secured Receivables Fair Value.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Finance Receivables Fair Value.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Securitization Trust Debt Fair Value Disclosure.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Fair value portion of liabilities incurred for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business and related party payables.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 14

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13487-108611

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6935-107765

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- Definition

Interest, dividends, rents, ancillary and other revenues earned but not yet received by the entity on its investments.

+ References

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- Definition

Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash Equivalents

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016

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- Definition

Fair value of subordinated debt obligations including, but not limited to, subordinated loan, subordinated bond, subordinated debenture or junior debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a),(b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

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- Definition

Fair value portion of contractual arrangement with a lender under which borrowings can be made up to a specific amount at any point in time.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Line-of-Credit Arrangement

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6517033

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- Definition

Secured financing other than securities sold under agreements to repurchase and securities loaned.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 15

-Paragraph 83

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=39740004&loc=d3e34841-113949

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- Definition

Fair value portion of receivables, including, but not limited to, trade account receivables, note receivables, and loan receivables.

+ References

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- Definition

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. For a classified balance sheet represents the current portion only (the noncurrent portion has a separate concept); there is a separate and distinct element for unclassified presentations.

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- Definition

Fair value portion of interest continued to be held by a transferor after transferring financial assets to a third party.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 860

-SubTopic 10

-Section 15

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51676357&loc=d3e94415-111705

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