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Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 14, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001031203
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 988.4
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		22,730,588

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 4,650	$ 14,895
Contracts-in-transit and vehicle receivables, net	204,396	167,507
Accounts and notes receivable, net	111,228	92,775
Inventories	1,194,288	867,470
Deferred income taxes	19,750	16,012
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	31,869	16,925
Total current assets	1,566,181	1,175,584
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	667,768	585,633
GOODWILL	582,384	531,458
INTANGIBLE FRANCHISE RIGHTS	196,058	170,687
OTHER ASSETS	10,624	12,981
Total assets	3,023,015	2,476,343
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Floorplan Notes Payable Credit Facility	968,959	718,945
Floorplan Offset	(112,261)	(109,207)
Floorplan Notes Payable Manufacturer Affiliates	211,965	155,980
Current maturities of long-term debt	31,358	14,663
Current liabilities from interest rate risk management activities	0	7,273
Accounts payable	167,439	148,048
Accrued expenses	128,118	109,245
Total current liabilities	1,395,578	1,044,947
LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current maturities	555,016	482,601
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES	94,130	78,459
LIABILITIES FROM INTEREST RATE RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES	43,089	26,766
OTHER LIABILITIES	42,413	36,470
COMMITMENTS AND CONTIGENCIES (NOTE 14)
Temporary Equity, Carrying Amount, Attributable to Parent	32,505	0
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock	0	0
Common stock	258	260
Additional paid-in capital	332,836	363,375
Retained earnings	677,864	591,037
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(33,057)	(29,236)
Treasury stock, at cost	(117,617)	(118,336)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	860,284	807,100
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 3,023,015	$ 2,476,343

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares shares in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	1,000	1,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common Stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, shares authorized	50,000	50,000
Common Stock, shares issued	25,836	25,967
Treasury securities, shares	3,110	3,260

Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
REVENUES:
New vehicle retail sales	$ 4,291,098	$ 3,402,647	$ 3,086,807
Used vehicle retail sales	1,756,918	1,416,520	1,271,039
Used vehicle wholesale sales	288,139	251,043	215,530
Parts and service sales	880,070	813,819	767,004
Finance, insurance and other, net	259,875	195,736	168,789
Total revenues	7,476,100	6,079,765	5,509,169
COST OF SALES:
New vehicle retail sales	4,043,659	3,192,309	2,909,012
Used vehicle retail sales	1,610,912	1,291,996	1,156,035
Used vehicle wholesale sales	285,695	246,963	212,833
Parts and service sales	418,582	387,897	354,256
Total cost of sales	6,358,848	5,119,165	4,632,136
GROSS PROFIT	1,117,252	960,600	877,033
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES	848,446	735,229	693,635
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSE	31,534	27,063	26,455
ASSET IMPAIRMENTS	7,276	4,805	10,840
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	229,996	193,503	146,103
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Floorplan interest expense	(31,796)	(27,687)	(34,110)
Other interest expense, net	(37,465)	(33,722)	(27,217)
Gain (loss) on redemption of long-term debt	0	0	(3,872)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	160,735	132,094	80,904
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	(60,526)	(49,700)	(30,600)
NET INCOME	$ 100,209	$ 82,394	$ 50,304
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE	$ 4.39	$ 3.50	$ 2.09
Weighted average common shares outstanding	21,620	22,157	22,767
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE	$ 4.19	$ 3.47	$ 2.09
Weighted average common shares outstanding	22,688	22,409	22,788
CASH DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE	$ 0.59	$ 0.48	$ 0.10

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Statement of Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	$ 100,209	$ 82,394	$ 50,304
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	1,843	(117)	(594)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax benefit	(8)	(42)	(54)
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps:
Unrealized loss arising during the period, net of tax benefit	(12,724)	(18,705)	(6,922)
Reclassification adjustment for loss included in interest expense, net of tax provision	7,068	8,383	15,071
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps, net of tax	(5,656)	(10,322)	8,149
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAXES	(3,821)	(10,481)	7,501
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$ 96,388	$ 71,913	$ 57,805

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Statement of Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Tax (benefit) provision on unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	$ (5)	$ (25)	$ (32)
Tax (benefit) provision of unrealized loss on interest rate swap	(7,634)	(11,222)	(4,154)
Tax (benefit) provision of reclassification adjustment	$ 4,241	$ 5,029	$ 9,043

- Definition

Tax effect of the income statement impact of the reclassification adjustment of accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges realized in net income. Also includes reclassification adjustments of an entity's share of an equity investee's deferred hedging gain (loss) realized in net income.

+ References + Details

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in-Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 720,156	$ 262	$ 346,055	$ 471,932	$ (26,256)	$ (71,837)
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009		26,219
Net income	50,304
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	7,501				7,501
Equity component of 3.00% Convertible Note issuance, net of deferred tax liability	24,487		24,487
Issuance of common and treasury shares to employee benefit plans, shares		(123)
Issuance of common and treasury shares to employee benefit plans	(202)	$ (1)	(17,856)			17,655
Issuance of restricted stock		$ 0	0
Issuance of restricted stock, shares		0
Forfeiture of restricted stock, shares		0
Tax effect from options exercised and the vesting of restricted shares	741		741
Purchases of treasury stock	(26,765)					(26,765)
Purchase of equity calls, net of deferred tax benefit	(28,712)		(28,712)
Stock-based compensation	9,942		9,942
Sale of equity warrants	29,309		29,309
Cash dividends	(2,393)			(2,393)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2010	784,368	$ 261	363,966	519,843	(18,755)	(80,947)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		26,096
Net income	82,394
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	(10,481)				(10,481)
Issuance of common and treasury shares to employee benefit plans, shares		(129)
Issuance of common and treasury shares to employee benefit plans	(709)	$ (1)	(14,096)			13,388
Issuance of restricted stock		$ 0	0
Issuance of restricted stock, shares		0
Forfeiture of restricted stock, shares		0
Forfeiture of restricted stock		$ 0	0
Tax effect from options exercised and the vesting of restricted shares	2,597		2,597
Purchases of treasury stock	(50,777)					(50,777)
Stock-based compensation	10,908		10,908
Cash dividends	(11,200)			(11,200)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011	807,100	$ 260	363,375	591,037	(29,236)	(118,336)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		25,967
Temporary Equity, Carrying Amount, Attributable to Parent	0
Net income	100,209
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	(3,821)				(3,821)
Issuance of common and treasury shares to employee benefit plans, shares		(131)
Issuance of common and treasury shares to employee benefit plans	915	$ (2)	(12,949)			12,036
Issuance of restricted stock		$ 0	0
Issuance of restricted stock, shares		0
Forfeiture of restricted stock, shares		0
Forfeiture of restricted stock		$ 0	0
Tax effect from options exercised and the vesting of restricted shares	3,035		3,035
Purchases of treasury stock	11,317					(11,317)
Stock-based compensation	11,880		11,880
Cash dividends	13,382			(13,382)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	860,284	$ 258	332,836	$ 677,864	$ (33,057)	$ (117,617)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012		25,836
Temporary Equity, Carrying Amount, Attributable to Parent	$ (32,505)		$ (32,505)

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)
Convertible senior notes stated rate	3.00%
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$ 23,274
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] \| Equity Component Convertible Note [Member]
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(14,692)
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] \| Equity Calls [Member]
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$ 17,227

- Definition

The component of income tax expense for the period representing the increase (decrease) in the entity's deferred tax assets and liabilities pertaining to continuing operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Article 4

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 289
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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+ Details

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 100,209	$ 82,394	$ 50,304
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	31,534	27,063	26,455
Deferred income taxes	13,282	24,824	23,274
Asset Impairments	7,276	4,805	10,840
Stock-based compensation	11,931	10,919	9,942
Amortization of debt discount and issue costs	12,990	11,990	10,322
(Gain) loss on redemption of long-term debt	0	0	3,872
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	(4,941)	(961)	848
Tax effect from excess stock-based compensation	(2,875)	(2,478)	(592)
Other	3,965	2,755	1,416
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	29,874	77,027	16,130
Accounts and notes receivable	(6,777)	(17,875)	(13,844)
Inventories	(278,232)	(7,410)	(174,249)
Contracts-in-transit and vehicle receivables	(29,091)	(53,821)	(27,218)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	2,448	(11,246)	6,922
Increase/DecreaseFloorPlanNotes	33,248	52,757	(10,580)
Deferred revenues	(163)	(1,427)	(2,308)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(75,322)	199,316	(68,466)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Cash paid in acquisitions, net of cash received	(177,956)	(159,597)	(34,693)
Proceeds from disposition of franchises, property and equipment	39,197	6,039	46,179
Purchases of property and equipment, including real estate	(88,491)	(60,558)	(69,116)
Other	2,792	1,343	2,843
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(224,458)	(212,773)	(54,787)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings on credit facility - Floorplan Line	5,700,108	4,825,956	4,994,980
Repayments on credit facility - Floorplan Line	(5,453,148)	(4,777,442)	(4,854,459)
Borrowings on mortgage facility	18,080	0	0
Principal payments on mortgage facility	(2,406)	(1,599)	(150,127)
Proceeds from issuance of 3.00% Convertible Notes	0	0	115,000
Debt issue costs	0	0	(3,959)
Purchase of equity calls	0	0	(45,939)
Sale of equity warrants	0	0	29,309
Redemption of other long-term debt	0	0	(77,011)
Borrowings of other long-term debt	275	308	5,114
Principal payments of long-term debt related to real estate loans	(15,197)	(7,775)	(3,806)
Borrowings of long term debt related to real estate loans	70,685	32,713	146,003
Principal payments of other long-term debt	(4,784)	(3,293)	(1,021)
Repurchases of common stock, amounts based on settlement date	(11,317)	(50,777)	(26,765)
Issuance of common stock to benefit plans, net of employee net share settlements	(915)	(709)	4,369
Debt extinguishment costs	0	0	(177)
Tax effect from excess stock-based compensation	2,875	2,478	592
Dividends paid	(13,433)	(11,211)	(2,393)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	290,823	8,649	129,710
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	(1,288)	(140)	165
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(10,245)	(4,948)	6,622
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	14,895	19,843	13,221
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	4,650	14,895	19,843
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Purchases of property and equipment, including real estate, accrued in accounts payable and accrued expenses	$ 6,045	$ 7,995	$ 1,786

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical)	Dec. 31, 2010
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Convertible senior notes stated rate	3.00%

Annual Financial Information	12 Months Ended
Annual Financial Information	Dec. 31, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
ANNUAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION	ANNUAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION Business Organization Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation, through its subsidiaries, is a leading operator in the automotive retailing industry with operations in 15 states in the U.S. and in ten towns in the U.K. Group 1 Automotive, Inc. and its subsidiaries are herein collectively referred to as the “Company.” The Company, through its regions, sells new and used cars and light trucks; arranges related vehicle financing; service and insurance contracts; provides automotive maintenance and repair services; and sells vehicle parts. As of December 31, 2012, the Company’s U.S. retail network consisted of the following two regions (with the number of dealerships they comprised): (a) the East (45 dealerships in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and South Carolina), and (b) the West (66 dealerships in California, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas). Each region is managed by a regional vice president who reports directly to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for the overall performance of their regions, as well as for overseeing the market directors and dealership general managers that report to them. Each region is also managed by a regional chief financial officer who reports directly to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. The Company’s ten dealerships in the U.K. are also managed locally with direct reporting responsibilities to the Company’s corporate management team.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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+ Details

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES Use of Estimates The preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date and the amounts of revenues and expenses recognized during the reporting period. Management analyzes the Company’s estimates based on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances; however, actual results could differ from such estimates. The significant estimates made by management in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements relate to inventory market adjustments, reserves for future chargebacks on finance and vehicle service contract fees, self-insured property/casualty insurance exposure, the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, the valuation of goodwill and intangible franchise rights, and reserves for potential litigation. Basis of Presentation All acquisitions of dealerships completed during the periods presented have been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting, and their results of operations are included from the effective dates of the closings of the acquisitions. The allocations of purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are assigned and recorded based on estimates of fair value. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Revenue Recognition Revenues from vehicle sales, parts sales and vehicle service are recognized upon completion of the sale or service and delivery to the customer. Conditions to completing a sale include having an agreement with the customer, including pricing, and the sales price must be reasonably expected to be collected. The Company includes revenues from its collision center operations in parts and services sales. The Company records the profit it receives for arranging vehicle fleet transactions, net, in other finance and insurance revenues. Since all sales of new vehicles must occur through franchised new vehicle dealerships, the dealerships effectively act as agents for the automobile manufacturers in completing sales of vehicles to fleet customers. As these customers typically order the vehicles, the Company has no significant general inventory risk. Additionally, fleet customers generally receive special purchase incentives from the automobile manufacturers and the Company receives only a nominal fee for facilitating the transactions. Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental agencies are not included in total revenues. The Company arranges financing for customers through various institutions and receives financing fees based on the difference between the loan rates charged to customers and wholesale financing rates set by the financing institution. In addition, the Company receives fees from the sale of insurance and vehicle service contracts to customers. Further, through agreements with certain vehicle service contract administrators, the Company earns volume incentive rebates and interest income on reserves, as well as participates in the underwriting profits of the products. The Company may be charged back for unearned financing, insurance contract or vehicle service contract fees in the event of early termination of the contracts by customers. Revenues from these fees are recorded at the time of the sale of the vehicles, and a reserve for future amounts which might be charged back is established based on the Company’s historical chargeback results and the termination provisions of the applicable contracts. While chargeback results vary depending on the type of contract sold, a 10% change in the historical chargeback results used in determining estimates of future amounts which might be charged back would have changed the reserve at December 31, 2012 by $2.2 million. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits and various other short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, cash and cash equivalents excluded $112.3 million and $109.2 million, respectively, of immediately available funds used to pay down the Floorplan Line of the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined in Note 11, “Credit Facilities”), which is the Company’s primary vehicle for the short-term investment of excess cash. These amounts are reflected in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets as the offset account related to Floorplan Notes Payable - Credit Facility. Contracts-in-Transit and Vehicle Receivables Contracts-in-transit and vehicle receivables consist primarily of amounts due from financing institutions on retail finance contracts from vehicle sales and dealer incentives due from manufacturers. Also included are amounts receivable from vehicle wholesale sales. Inventories New, used and demonstrator vehicle inventories are carried at the lower of specific cost or market and are removed from inventory using the specific identification method in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Parts and accessories inventories are valued at lower of cost (determined on a first-in, first-out basis) or market in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Vehicle inventory cost consists of the amount paid to acquire the inventory, plus the cost of reconditioning, cost of equipment added and transportation cost. Additionally, the Company receives interest assistance from some of the automobile manufacturers. This assistance is accounted for as a vehicle purchase price discount and is reflected as a reduction to the inventory cost on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and as a reduction to cost of sales in its Statements of Operations as the vehicles are sold. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, inventory cost had been reduced by $7.8 million and $5.5 million, respectively, for interest assistance received from manufacturers. New vehicle cost of sales was reduced by $33.9 million, $26.1 million and $24.0 million for interest assistance received related to vehicles sold for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The assistance over the past three years has ranged from approximately 69.2% of the Company’s quarterly floorplan interest expense in the first quarter of 2010 to 115.9% for the third quarter of 2012, and was 103.2% for the fourth quarter of 2012. As the market value of inventory typically declines over time, the Company establishes new and used vehicle reserves based on its historical loss experience and management’s considerations of current market trends. These reserves are charged to cost of sales and reduce the carrying value of inventory on hand. Used vehicles are complex to value as there is no standardized source for determining exact values and each vehicle and each market in which the Company operates is unique. As a result, the value of each used vehicle taken at trade-in, or purchased at auction, is determined based on industry data, primarily accessed via the Company’s used vehicle management software and the industry expertise of the responsible used vehicle manager. Valuation risk is partially mitigated by the speed at which the Company turns this inventory. At December 31, 2012, the Company’s used vehicle days’ supply was 38 days . The Company incurs shipping costs in regards to selling the parts inventory to customers. The cost of shipping these parts is included in cost of sales on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Property and Equipment Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are capitalized and amortized over the lesser of the estimated term of the lease or the estimated useful life of the asset. The amortization of assets recorded under capital leases is included with depreciation and amortization expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Expenditures for major additions or improvements, which extend the useful lives of assets, are capitalized. Minor replacements, maintenance and repairs, which do not improve or extend the lives of the assets, are expensed as incurred. Disposals are removed at cost less accumulated depreciation, and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in current operations. The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows whenever there is evidence that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable (i.e., triggering events). This review consists of comparing the carrying amount of the asset with its expected future undiscounted cash flows without interest costs. If the asset’s carrying amount is greater than such cash flow estimate, then it is required to be written down to its fair value. Estimates of expected future cash flows represent management’s best estimate based on currently available information and reasonable and supportable assumptions. See Note 15, “Asset Impairments,” for additional details regarding the Company’s impairment of long-lived assets. Goodwill Effective with the consolidation of the three U.S. regions into two as of July 1, 2011, the Company defines its reporting units as its two regions in the U.S. and its region in the U.K. Goodwill represents the excess, at the date of acquisition, of the purchase price of the business acquired over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired. Annually in the fourth quarter, based on the carrying values of the Company’s regions as of October 31^st, the Company performs a fair value and potential impairment assessment of its goodwill. An impairment analysis is done more frequently if certain events or circumstances arise that would indicate a change in the fair value of the non-financial asset has occurred (i.e., an impairment indicator). In evaluating its goodwill, the Company compares the carrying value of the net assets of each reporting unit to its respective fair value, which is calculated by using unobservable inputs based upon the Company’s internally developed assumptions. This represents the first step of the impairment test. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying value of its net assets, the Company must proceed to step two of the impairment test. Step two involves allocating the calculated fair value to all of the tangible and identifiable intangible assets of the reporting unit as if the calculated fair value was the purchase price in a business combination. The Company then compares the value of the implied goodwill resulting from this second step to the carrying value of the goodwill in the reporting unit. To the extent the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds its implied fair value under step two of the impairment test, a non-cash impairment charge equal to the difference is recorded. The Company uses a combination of the discounted cash flow, or income approach (80% weighted), and the market approach (20% weighted) to determine the fair value of the Company’s reporting units. Included in the discounted cash flow are assumptions regarding revenue growth rates, future gross margins, future SG&A expenses and an estimated WACC. The Company also must estimate residual values at the end of the forecast period and future capital expenditure requirements. Specifically, with regards to the valuation assumptions utilized in the income approach as of October 31, 2012, the Company based its analysis on a recovery back to an industry sales rate of 16.5 million units by 2017. For the market approach, the Company utilizes recent market multiples of guideline companies for both revenue (20% weighted) and pretax net income (80% weighted). Each of these assumptions requires the Company to use its knowledge of (1) the industry, (2) recent transactions and (3) reasonable performance expectations for its operations. If any one of the above assumptions change or fails to materialize, the resulting decline in the estimated fair value could result in a material, non-cash impairment charge to the goodwill associated with the reporting unit(s). At October 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the fair value of each of the Company’s reporting units exceeded the carrying value of its net assets (i.e., step one of the impairment test). As a result, the Company was not required to conduct the second step of the impairment test. However, if in future periods the Company determines that the carrying amount of the net assets of one or more of its reporting units exceeds the respective fair value as a result of step one, the Company believes that the application of step two of the impairment test could result in a material non-cash impairment charge to the goodwill associated with the reporting unit(s). See Note 16, “Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill”, for additional details regarding the Company’s goodwill. Intangible Franchise Rights The Company’s only significant identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill, are rights under franchise agreements with manufacturers, which are recorded at an individual dealership level. The Company expects these franchise agreements to continue for an indefinite period and, for agreements that do not have indefinite terms, based on the history with the manufacturer the Company believes that renewal of these agreements can be obtained without substantial cost. As such, the Company believes that its franchise agreements will contribute to cash flows for an indefinite period and, therefore, the carrying amounts of the franchise rights are not amortized. Franchise rights acquired in business acquisitions prior to July 1, 2001, were recorded and amortized as part of goodwill and remain as part of goodwill at December 31, 2012 and 2011 in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Since July 1, 2001, intangible franchise rights acquired in business combinations have been recorded as distinctly separate intangible assets. In accordance with guidance primarily codified within ASC 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other, the Company evaluates these franchise rights for impairment annually in the fourth quarter, based on the carrying values of the Company’s individual dealerships as of October 31^st, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate possible impairment has occurred. In performing its impairment assessments, the Company tests the carrying value of each individual franchise right that was recorded by using a direct value method discounted cash flow model, or income approach, specifically the excess earnings method. Included in this analysis are assumptions, at a dealership level, regarding the cash flows directly attributable to the franchise rights, revenue growth rates, future gross margins and future SG&A expenses. Using an estimated WACC, estimated residual values at the end of the forecast period and estimated future capital expenditure requirements, the Company calculates the fair value of each dealership’s franchise rights. As of October 31, 2012 the Company determined that the carrying value of certain of the intangible franchise rights was greater than the fair value and as such a $7.0 million pre-tax non-cash impairment was recognized. Further, as it relates to the Company’s annual impairment assessment for 2011 and 2010, the fair value of the Company’s intangible franchise rights was determined to exceed the carrying value of such assets as of the measurement date. See Note 16, “Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill”, for additional details regarding the Company’s intangible franchise rights. Income Taxes Currently, the Company operates in 15 different states in the U.S. and in the U.K., each of which has unique tax rates and payment calculations. As the amount of income generated in each jurisdiction varies from period to period, the Company’s estimated effective tax rate can vary based on the proportion of taxable income generated in each jurisdiction. The Company follows the liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recorded based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the underlying assets are realized or liabilities are settled. A valuation allowance reduces deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company has recognized deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances, that it believes will be realized, based primarily on the assumption of future taxable income. As it relates to net operating losses, a corresponding valuation allowance has been established to the extent that the Company has determined that net income attributable to certain states jurisdictions will not be sufficient to realize the benefit. Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, contracts-in-transit and vehicle receivables, accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable, credit facilities, long-term debt and interest rate swaps. The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, contracts-in-transit and vehicle receivables, accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable, and credit facilities approximate their carrying values due to the short-term nature of these instruments or the existence of variable interest rates. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the $115.0 million face value of the Company’s outstanding 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 (“3.00% Notes”) had a carrying value, net of applicable discount, of $80.7 million and $77.4 million, respectively, and a fair value, based on quoted market prices, of $203.5 million and $170.6 million, respectively. Also, as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the face value of the Company’s outstanding 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2036 (“2.25% Notes”) was $182.8 million. The 2.25% Notes had a carrying value, net of applicable discount, of $152.4 million and $145.0 million, respectively, and a fair value, based on quoted market prices, of $214.6 million and $192.3 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Company considers the quoted market prices for the 3.00% Notes and 2.25% Notes to constitute Level 2 inputs, since the market for these instruments is not active. Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed The fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations are estimated using various assumptions. The most significant assumptions, and those requiring the most judgment, involve the estimated fair values of property and equipment and intangible franchise rights, with the remaining amounts attributable to goodwill, if any. The Company utilizes third-party experts to determine the fair values of property and equipment purchased, including real estate and its fair value model as discussed under Intangible Franchise Rights. Derivative Financial Instruments One of the Company’s primary market risk exposures is increasing interest rates. Interest rate derivatives, designated as cash flow hedges, are used to adjust interest rate exposures when appropriate based on market conditions. The Company follows the requirements of guidance primarily codified within ASC 815 pertaining to the accounting for derivatives and hedging activities. ASC 815 requires the Company to recognize all cash flow hedges on its balance sheet at fair value. The related gains or losses on these interest rate derivatives are deferred in stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. These deferred gains and losses are recognized in interest expense in the period in which the related items being hedged are recognized in interest expense. However, to the extent that the change in value of a derivative contract does not perfectly offset the change in the value of the items being hedged, that ineffective portion is immediately recognized in other income or expense. Monthly contractual settlements of these swap positions are recognized as floorplan or other interest expense in the Company's accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. All of the Company’s interest rate hedges were designated as cash flow hedges and were deemed to be effective at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010. The Company measures its interest rate derivative instruments utilizing an income approach valuation technique, converting future amounts of cash flows to a single present value in order to obtain a transfer exit price within the bid and ask spread that is most representative of the fair value of its derivative instruments. In measuring fair value, the Company utilizes the option-pricing Black-Scholes present value technique for all of its derivative instruments. This option-pricing technique utilizes a one-month LIBOR forward yield curve, obtained from an independent external service provider, matched to the identical maturity term of the instrument being measured. Observable inputs utilized in the income approach valuation technique incorporate identical contractual notional amounts, fixed coupon rates, periodic terms for interest payments and contract maturity. The fair value estimate of the interest rate derivative instruments also considers the credit risk of the Company for instruments in a liability position or the counterparty for instruments in an asset position. The credit risk is calculated by using the spread between the one-month LIBOR yield curve and the relevant average 10 and 20-year retail rate according to Standard and Poor’s. The Company has determined the valuation measurement inputs of these derivative instruments to maximize the use of observable inputs that market participants would use in pricing similar or identical instruments and market data obtained from independent sources, which is readily observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the derivative instrument. Accordingly, the Company has classified the derivatives within Level 2 of the ASC 820 hierarchy framework in Note 13, “Fair Value Measurements.” The Company validates the outputs of its valuation technique by comparison to valuations from the respective counterparties. See Note 4, "Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities," and Note 13, "Fair Value Measurements," for further details regarding the Company's derivative financial instruments and fair value measurements. Foreign Currency Translation The functional currency for the Company’s U.K. subsidiaries is the Pound Sterling. The financial statements of all the Company’s foreign subsidiaries have been translated into U.S. Dollars. All assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into U.S. Dollars using period-end exchange rates and all revenues and expenses are translated at average rates during the respective period. The difference in the U.S. Dollar results that arise from the translation of all assets and liabilities are included in the cumulative currency translation adjustments in accumulated other comprehensive income/loss in stockholders’ equity and other income/expense, when applicable. Factory Incentives In addition to the interest assistance discussed above, the Company receives various dealer incentive payments from certain of the automobile manufacturers. These incentive payments are typically received on parts purchases from the automobile manufacturers and on new vehicle retail sales. These incentives are reflected as reductions of cost of sales in the statement of operations. Earnings Per Share The Company utilizes the two-class method for the computation of EPS. The two-class method requires a portion of net income to be allocated to participating securities, which are unvested awards of share-based payments with non-forfeitable rights to receive dividends or dividend equivalents. The Company’s restricted stock awards qualify as participating securities as each contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends. Income allocated to these participating securities is excluded from net earnings available to common shares. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income available to basic common shares by the weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income available to diluted common shares by the weighted average number of dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Advertising The Company expenses the costs of advertising as incurred. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, totaled $54.1 million, $46.7 million and $45.0 million, respectively. Additionally, the Company receives advertising assistance from some of the automobile manufacturers. The assistance is accounted for as an advertising expense reimbursement and is reflected as a reduction of advertising expense in the income statement as the vehicles are sold, and in accrued expenses on the balance sheet for amounts related to vehicles still in inventory on that date. Advertising expense has been reduced by $23.7 million, $17.6 million and $15.4 million for advertising assistance received related to vehicles sold for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the accrued expenses caption of the Consolidated Balance Sheets included $4.1 million and $3.0 million, respectively, related to deferrals of advertising assistance received from the manufacturers. Business and Credit Risk Concentrations The Company owns and operates franchised automotive dealerships in the U.S. and in the U.K. Automotive dealerships operate pursuant to franchise agreements with vehicle manufacturers. Franchise agreements generally provide the manufacturers or distributors with considerable influence over the operations of the dealership and generally provide for termination of the franchise agreement for a variety of causes. The success of any franchised automotive dealership is dependent, to a large extent, on the financial condition, management, marketing, production and distribution capabilities of the vehicle manufacturers or distributors of which the Company holds franchises. The Company purchases substantially all of its new vehicles from various manufacturers or distributors at the prevailing prices to all franchised dealers. The Company’s sales volume could be adversely impacted by the manufacturers’ or distributors’ inability to supply the dealerships with an adequate supply of vehicles. For the year ended December 31, 2012, Toyota (including Lexus, Scion and Toyota brands), Nissan (including Infiniti and Nissan brands), BMW (including MINI and BMW brands), Honda (including Acura and Honda brands), Ford (including Ford and Lincoln brands), Volkswagen (including Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen brands), General Motors (including Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac brands), Daimler (including Mercedes-Benz, smart, Sprinter and Maybach brands), Chrysler (including Chrysler, Dodge, RAM and Jeep brands) and Hyundai (including Hyundai and Kia brands) accounted for 30.3%, 11.4%, 11.3%, 11.1%, 9.3%, 6.6%, 5.6%, 5.1%, 4.4%, and 3.1% of the Company’s new vehicle sales volume, respectively. No other manufacturer accounted for more than 3.0% of the Company’s total new vehicle sales volume in 2012. Through the use of an open account, the Company purchases and returns parts and accessories from/to the manufacturers and receives reimbursement for rebates, incentives and other earned credits. As of December 31, 2012, the Company was due $64.0 million from various manufacturers (see Note 8, “Accounts and Notes Receivable”). Receivable balances from BMW, Daimler, Toyota, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Honda and Hyundai represented 12.4%, 17.2%, 19.6%, 14.6%, 11.1%, 7.9%, 2.4%, 5.7% , 3.9% and 2.4%, respectively, of this total balance due from manufacturers. Statements of Cash Flows With respect to all new vehicle floorplan borrowings, the manufacturers of the vehicles draft the Company’s credit facilities directly with no cash flow to or from the Company. With respect to borrowings for used vehicle financing, the Company finances up to 80% of the value of the used vehicle inventory, except in the U.K., and the funds flow directly to the Company from the lender. All borrowings from, and repayments to, lenders affiliated with the vehicle manufacturers (excluding the cash flows from or to manufacturer affiliated lenders participating in the Company’s syndicated lending group) are presented within Cash Flows from Operating Activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and all borrowings from, and repayments to, the syndicated lending group under the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined in Note 11, “Credit Facilities”) (including the cash flows from or to manufacturer affiliated lenders participating in the facility) are presented within Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Cash paid for interest was $55.8 million, $52.7 million and $54.8 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds, was $38.6 million and $28.6 million in 2012 and 2011, respectively, and cash refunded for income taxes was $1.8 million in 2010. Stock-Based Compensation Stock-based compensation represents the expense related to stock-based awards granted to employees and non-employee directors. The Company measures stock-based compensation expense at grant date based on the estimated fair value of the award and recognizes the cost on a straight-line basis, net of estimated forfeitures, over the employee requisite service period. The Company estimates the fair value of its employee stock purchase rights issued pursuant to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan using a Black-Scholes valuation model. The expense for stock-based awards is recognized as an SG&A expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations. Business Segment Information The Company, through its regions, operates in the automotive retailing industry. All of the operating companies sell new and used cars and light trucks, arrange related vehicle financing, service and insurance contracts, provide automotive maintenance and repair services and sell vehicle parts. The operating companies are similar in that they deliver the same products and services to a common customer group, their customers are generally individuals, they follow the same procedures and methods in managing their operations, and they operate in similar regulatory environments. Additionally, the Company’s management evaluates performance and allocates resources based on the operating results of the individual operating companies. For the reasons discussed above, all of the operating companies have been aggregated into one reportable segment under guidance issued by the FASB. Accordingly, the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements reflect the operating results of the Company’s reportable segment. By geographic area, the Company’s sales to external customers from its domestic operations for the year ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were $6,954.0 million, $5,760.2 million and $5,225.5 million respectively, and from its foreign operations were $522.1 million, $319.5 million and $283.6 million, respectively. The Company’s domestic long-lived assets other than goodwill, intangible assets and financial instruments as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were $642.8 million, $569.4 million and $484.5 million, respectively, and foreign long-lived assets other than financial instruments as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were $35.6 million, $28.0 million and $29.5 million, respectively. Self-Insured Medical, Property and Casualty Reserves The Company purchases insurance policies for worker’s compensation, liability, auto physical damage, property, pollution, employee medical benefits and other risks consisting of large deductibles and/or self-insured retentions. Annually, the Company engages a third-party actuary to conduct a study of the exposures under the self-insured portion of its worker’s compensation and general liability insurance programs for all open policy years. In the interim, the Company reviews the estimates within the study and monitors actual experience for unusual variances. The appropriate adjustments are made to the accrual, based upon these procedures. Actuarial estimates for the portion of claims not covered by insurance are based on historical claims experience adjusted for loss trending and loss development factors. Changes in the frequency or severity of claims from historical levels could influence the Company’s reserve for claims and its financial position, results of operations and cash flows. A 10% change in the actuarially determined estimate of aggregate future losses would have changed the reserve for these losses at December 31, 2012, by $2.7 million. The Company’s auto physical damage insurance coverage contains an annual aggregate retention (stop loss) limit. For policy years ended prior to October 31, 2005, the Company’s workers’ compensation and general liability insurance coverage included aggregate retention (stop loss) limits in addition to a per claim deductible limit (“Stop Loss Plans”). Due to historical experience in both claims frequency and severity, the likelihood of breaching the aggregate retention limits described above was deemed remote, and as such, the Company elected not to purchase this stop loss coverage for the policy year beginning November 1, 2005 and for each subsequent year (“No Stop Loss Plans”). The Company’s exposure per claim under the No Stop Loss Plans is limited to $1.0 million per occurrence, with unlimited exposure on the number of claims up to $1.0 million that may be incurred. The Company’s maximum potential exposure under all of the Stop Loss Plans totaled $40.4 million at December 31, 2012, before consideration of amounts previously paid or accruals recorded related to the Company’s loss projections. After consideration of the amounts paid or accrued, the remaining potential loss exposure under the Stop Loss Plans totaled $16.7 million at December 31, 2012. Accounting for Convertible Debt The Company separately accounts for the liability and equity components of its convertible debt instruments in a manner that reflects the issuer’s economic interest cost. Upon issuance of a convertible debt instrument, the Company estimated the fair value of the debt component. The resulting residual value is determined to be the fair value of the equity component of the Company’s convertible debt and, until convertible, is included in the paid-in-capital section of stockholder’s equity, net of applicable taxes, on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The value of the equity component is treated as an original issue discount for purposes of accounting for the debt component, which is amortized as non-cash interest expense through the date that the convertible debt is first able to be put to the Company. See Note 12, “Long-term Debt”, for further details on the impact of this convertible debt accounting to the Company’s financial statements. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-4, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. This update changes certain fair value measurement principles and enhances the disclosure requirements, particularly Level 3 fair value measurements. The Company adopted ASU 2011-04 as of March 31, 2012. It did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations. In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-5, Presentation of Comprehensive Income. This update requires entities to present the total of comprehensive income, the component of net income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This update removes the requirement to present reclassifications items out of the statement of comprehensive income statement as required y ASU 2011-5. All other requirements outlined in ASU 2011-5 remain applicable. These ASU's are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011 with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted the ASU's as of March 31, 2012. It affected the presentation of comprehensive income, but did not have an impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations. In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-8, Testing Goodwill for Impairment. This update permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (likelihood more than 50%) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The Company adopted ASU 2011-08 as of March 31, 2012 and it did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations. In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment. This update gives an entity the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (likelihood more than 50%) that the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets is impaired as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test. This ASU is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. The Company does not expect this update to have a material effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-10, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. This update requires additional disclosures related to offsetting either in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) or master netting arrangements. This ASU is effective for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2013 and will be adopted by the Company as of March 31, 2013, The Company expects that this ASU will have an impact on future disclosures in the Company's consolidated financial statements regarding its derivative financial instruments.

Acquisitions and Dispositions	12 Months Ended
Acquisitions and Dispositions	Dec. 31, 2012
Acquisitions and Dispositions [Abstract]
Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions Disclosures [Text Block]	ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS During 2012, the Company acquired 16 dealerships: six in the U.K., three in Florida, two in Texas, two in Kansas, one in South Carolina, one in Georgia and one in Oklahoma. Consideration paid for these dealerships totaled $178.0 million , including amounts paid for vehicle inventory, parts inventory, equipment, and furniture and fixtures, as well as the purchase of some of the associated real estate. The vehicle inventory acquired in the U.K. acquisitions was subsequently financed through borrowings under the Company's credit facility with Volkswagen Finance, while the vehicle inventory acquired in the U.S. acquisitions was subsequently financed through borrowings under the Company's FMCC Facility and the Floorplan Line, each as defined in Note 11, “Credit Facilities.” In addition, during 2012, the Company terminated one dealership franchise in Texas, sold three dealerships located in Massachusetts, and closed one dealership in the U.K. Gross consideration received for these dispositions was $33.7 million. The Company also terminated one franchise in California during 2012. See Note 10, “Property and Equipment,” for discussion of real estate purchased. During 2011, the Company acquired seven dealerships in Texas. Consideration paid for these dealerships totaled $159.6 million, including amounts paid for vehicle inventory, parts inventory, equipment, and furniture and fixtures, as well as the purchase of some of the associated real estate. The vehicle inventory was subsequently financed through borrowings under the FMCC Facility and the Floorplan Line. Further, the Company was awarded three franchises, one in California and two in Texas. In addition, during 2011, the Company sold one of its non-operational dealership facilities that qualified as held-for-sale as of December 31, 2010 for $4.1 million with no gain or loss recognized by the Company related to the sale. During 2010, the Company acquired two dealerships in the U.K., two dealerships in South Carolina, and one franchise in Texas. Consideration paid for these acquisitions totaled $34.7 million, including the amounts paid for vehicle inventory, parts inventory, equipment, and furniture and fixtures, as well as the purchase of associated real estate. The vehicle inventory acquired in the U.K. was subsequently financed through borrowings under the Company’s credit facility with BMW Financial Services, while the vehicle inventory from the U.S. acquisitions was subsequently financed through borrowings under the Company’s Floorplan Line. The Company was also awarded three franchises, one in Georgia, one in New York, and one in Texas. Also, during 2010, the Company disposed of one dealership in Florida along with the associated real estate, as well as two franchises in Oklahoma. In conjunction with the manufacturers’ election to discontinue the brands, the Company terminated six Pontiac and Mercury franchises. Gross consideration received for these dispositions was $37.2 million, including amounts used to repay the Company’s floorplan notes payable associated with the vehicle inventory sold and the respective Mortgage Facility financing balance. As a result, the Company recognized a $5.4 million pretax loss, which includes charges for asset impairments and lease terminations. In addition, the Company disposed of real estate holdings of non-operating facilities in Texas, Massachusetts, Florida, and Georgia during the year ended December 31, 2010. Gross consideration received from these transactions totaled $8.5 million.

Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

The periodic interest rates of the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined in Note 11, “Credit Facilities”), the Mortgage Facility (as defined in Note 12, “Long-term Debt”), and certain variable-rate real estate related borrowings are indexed to the one-month LIBOR plus an associated company credit risk rate. In order to minimize the earnings variability related to fluctuations in these rates, the Company employs an interest rate hedging strategy, whereby it enters into arrangements with various financial institutional counterparties with investment grade credit ratings, swapping its variable interest rate exposure for a fixed interest rate over terms not to exceed the related variable-rate debt.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company held interest rate swaps in effect of $450.0 million in notional value that fixed its underlying one-month LIBOR at a weighted average rate of 2.6%. During 2012, 15 swaps with an aggregate notional value of $400.0 million went into effect while nine swaps with an aggregate notional value of $250.0 million expired. These interest rate swaps expire as follows: $225.0 million in 2015, $150.0 million in 2016, and $75.0 million in 2017.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company held interest rate swaps of $300.0 million in notional value that fixed its underlying one-month LIBOR at a weighted average rate of 4.3%. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, the impact of the Company’s interest rate hedges in effect increased floorplan interest expense by $10.1 million, $12.4 million, and $21.1 million. Total floorplan interest expense was $31.8 million, $27.7 million, and $34.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

In addition to the $450.0 million of swaps in effect as of December 31, 2012, the Company has entered into ten additional interest rate swaps with forward start dates between December 2014 and December 2016 and expiration dates between December 2017 and December 2019. The aggregate notional value of these ten forward-starting swaps is $525.0 million, and the weighted average interest rate is 2.7%. The combination of these swaps is structured such that the notional value in effect at any given time through December 2019 does not exceed $600.0 million which is less than the Company's expectation for variable rate debt outstanding during such period.

As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company reflected liabilities from interest rate risk management activities of $43.1 million and $34.0 million, respectively, in its Consolidated Balance Sheets. Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, were accumulated unrealized losses, net of income taxes, totaling $26.9 million, $21.3 million, and $11.0 million, respectively, related to these interest rate swaps. At 2012 and 2011, all of the Company’s derivative contracts that were in effect were determined to be effective. The Company had no gains or losses related to ineffectiveness or amounts excluded from effectiveness testing recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, or 2010, respectively. The following table presents the impact during the current and comparative prior year period for the Company’s derivative financial instruments on its Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Balance Sheets.



	Amount of Unrealized Gain (Loss), Net of Tax, Recognized in OCI
	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
	(In thousands)
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationship
Interest rate swap contracts	$	(12,724	)	$	(18,705	)	$	(6,922	)

	Amount of Loss Reclassified from OCI into Statement of Operations
	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
	(In thousands)
Location of Loss Reclassified from OCI into Statements of Operations
Floorplan interest expense	$	(10,144	)	$	(12,398	)	$	(21,126	)
Other interest expense	(1,165		)	(1,014		)	(2,988		)

The amount expected to be reclassified out of other comprehensive loss into earnings (through floorplan interest expense or other interest expense) in the next twelve months is $10.6 million.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the entity's entire derivative instruments and hedging activities. Describes an entity's risk management strategies, derivatives in hedging activities and non-hedging derivative instruments, the assets, obligations, liabilities, revenues and expenses arising therefrom, and the amounts of and methodologies and assumptions used in determining the amounts of such items.

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+ Details

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

The Company provides stock-based compensation benefits to employees and non-employee directors pursuant to its 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended, as well as to employees pursuant to its Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.

2007 Long Term Incentive Plan

The Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan (“Incentive Plan”) was amended and restated in May 2010 to increase the number of shares available for issuance under the plan to 7.5 million, for grants to non-employee directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries of: (a) options (including options qualified as incentive stock options under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and options that are non-qualified), the exercise price of which may not be less than the fair market value of the common stock on the date of the grant; and (b) stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance awards, and bonus stock, each granted at the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. The Incentive Plan expires on March 8, 2017. The terms of the awards (including vesting schedules) are established by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. As of December 31, 2012, there were 1,036,040 shares available for issuance under the Incentive Plan.

Stock Option Awards

No stock option awards have been granted since November 2005. During the year ended December 31, 2012 the remaining outstanding options were exercised.

Restricted Stock Awards

In 2005, the Company began granting to non-employee directors and certain employees, at no cost to the recipient, restricted stock awards or, at their election, restricted stock units, pursuant to the Incentive Plan. In 2006, the Company began granting to certain employees, at no cost to the recipient, performance awards pursuant to the Incentive Plan. Restricted stock awards qualify as participating securities as each contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends. As such, the two-class method is required for the computation of earnings per share. See Note 6, “Earnings Per Share” for further details. Restricted stock awards are considered outstanding at the date of grant, but are subject to vesting periods ranging from six months to five years. Vested restricted stock units, which are not considered outstanding at the grant date, will settle in shares of common stock upon the termination of the grantees’ employment or directorship. In the event an employee or non-employee director terminates his or her employment or directorship with the Company prior to the lapse of the restrictions, the shares, in most cases, will be forfeited to the Company. Compensation expense for these awards is calculated based on the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant and recognized over the requisite service period. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of valuation and reduce expense ratably over the vesting period. This estimate is adjusted annually based on the extent to which actual or expected forfeitures differ from the previous estimate. A summary of these awards as of December 31, 2012, along with the changes during the year then ended, is as follows:



	Awards		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2011	1,154,004		$	28.30
Granted	336,524		55.05
Vested	(366,756	)	24.25
Forfeited	(100,422	)	31.97
Nonvested at December 31, 2012	1,023,350		$	38.19

The total fair value of shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, was $8.9 million, $9.0 million and $8.5 million, respectively.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In 1997, the Company adopted the "Group 1 Automotive, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan as amended" (the “Purchase Plan”). The Purchase Plan authorizes the issuance of up to 3.5 million shares of common stock and provides that no options to purchase shares may be granted under the Purchase Plan after March 6, 2016. The Purchase Plan is available to all employees of the Company and its participating subsidiaries and is a qualified plan as defined by Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code. At the end of each fiscal quarter (the “Option Period”) during the term of the Purchase Plan, the participating employee acquires shares of common stock from the Company at 85% of the fair market value of the common stock on the first or the last day of the Option Period, whichever is lower. As of December 31, 2012, there were 724,259 shares available for future issuance under the Purchase Plan. During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company issued 106,782, 109,601, and 141,659 shares, respectively, of common stock to employees participating in the Purchase Plan.

The weighted average fair value of employee stock purchase rights issued pursuant to the Purchase Plan was $11.90, $9.74, and $8.74 during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The fair value of stock purchase rights is calculated using the grant date stock price, the value of the embedded call option and the value of the embedded put option.

Stock-Based Compensation

Total stock-based compensation cost was $11.9 million, $10.9 million, and $9.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Total income tax benefit recognized for stock-based compensation arrangements was $3.2 million, $2.9 million, and $2.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

As of December 31, 2012, there was $31.7 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock-based compensation arrangements which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.6 years.

Cash received from option exercises and Purchase Plan purchases was $5.7 million, $4.2 million, and $4.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The tax benefit realized for the tax deductions from options exercised and vesting of restricted shares totaled $3.0 million, $2.6 million and $0.7 million and increased additional paid in capital for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Tax benefits relating to excess stock-based compensation deductions are presented as a financing cash inflow, so the Company classified $2.9 million, $2.5 million and $0.6 million of excess tax benefits as an increase in financing activities and a corresponding decrease in operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The Company issues new shares or treasury shares, if available, when options are exercised or restricted stock vests. With respect to shares issued under the Purchase Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors has authorized specific share repurchases to fund the shares issuable under the Purchase Plan

- Definition

The entire disclosure for compensation-related costs for equity-based compensation, which may include disclosure of policies, compensation plan details, allocation of equity compensation, incentive distributions, equity-based arrangements to obtain goods and services, deferred compensation arrangements, employee stock ownership plan details and employee stock purchase plan details.

+ References

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

Earnings Per Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

EARNINGS PER SHARE

The two-class method is utilized for the computation of EPS. The two-class method requires a portion of net income to be allocated to participating securities, which are unvested awards of share-based payments with non-forfeitable rights to receive dividends or dividend equivalents. The Company’s restricted stock awards qualify as participating securities as each contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends. Income allocated to these participating securities is excluded from net earnings available to common shares, as shown in the table below. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income available to basic common shares by the weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income available to diluted common shares by the weighted average number of dilutive common shares outstanding during the period.

The following table sets forth the calculation of EPS for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2010
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding	21,620		22,157		22,767
Dilutive effect of contingently convertible notes and warrants	1,058		238		—
Dilutive effect of stock options, net of assumed repurchase of treasury stock	4		8		12
Dilutive effect of employee stock purchases, net of assumed repurchase of treasury stock	6		6		9
Weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding	22,688		22,409		22,788
Basic:
Net income	$	100,209	$	82,394	$	50,304
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities	5,269		4,765		2,675
Earnings available to basic common shares	$	94,940	$	77,629	$	47,629
Basic earnings per common share	$	4.39	$	3.50	$	2.09
Diluted:
Net income	$	100,209	$	82,394	$	50,304
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities	5,062		4,721		2,673
Earnings available to diluted common shares	$	95,147	$	77,673	$	47,631
Diluted earnings per common share	$	4.19	$	3.47	$	2.09

Any options with exercise prices in excess of the average market price of the Company’s common stock, during each of the quarterly periods in the years presented, are not considered when calculating the dilutive effect of stock options for the diluted EPS calculations. The weighted average number of stock-based awards not included in the calculation of the dilutive effect of stock-based awards was immaterial for each of the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010.

As discussed in Note 12, “Long-Term Debt,” the Company is required to include the dilutive effect, if applicable, of the net shares issuable under the 2.25% Notes and the 2.25% Warrants (as defined in Note 12) sold in connection with the 2.25% Notes in its diluted common shares outstanding for the diluted earnings calculation. Although the 2.25% Purchased Options (as defined in Note 12) have the economic benefit of decreasing the dilutive effect of the 2.25% Notes, the Company cannot factor this benefit into the diluted common shares outstanding for the diluted earnings calculation since the impact would be anti-dilutive. The average price of the Company's common stock for the fourth quarter of 2012 was more than the conversion price in effect at the end of the period, therefore, the dilutive effect of the 2.25% Notes was included in the computation of diluted EPS for such period. Since the average price of the Company's common stock for the first three quarters of the year ended December 31, 2012 and for each of the quarterly periods in the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, was less than the conversion price in effect at the end of the respective periods, no net shares were included in the computation of diluted EPS for such periods, as the impact would have been anti-dilutive.

In addition, the Company is required to include the dilutive effect, if applicable, of the net shares issuable under the 3.00% Notes and the 3.00% Warrants (as defined in Note 12). Although the 3.00% Purchased Options (as defined in Note 12) have the economic benefit of decreasing the dilutive effect of the 3.00% Notes, the Company cannot factor this benefit into the diluted common shares outstanding for the diluted earnings calculation since the impact would be anti-dilutive. The average price of the Company's common stock, for each of the quarterly periods in the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, was more than the conversion price in effect at the end of such periods, therefore, the dilutive effect of the 3.00% Notes was included in the computation of diluted EPS respectively. In addition. the dilutive effect of the 3.00% Warrants was included in the computation of diluted EPS for the fourth quarter of 2012. Since the average price of the Company’s common stock for each of the quarterly periods in the year ended December 31, 2010 was less than the conversion price in effect at the end of the respective periods, no net shares were included in the computation of diluted EPS for such periods, as the impact would have been anti-dilutive.

Refer to Note 12, “Long-Term Debt,” for a description of the changes to the conversion price of both the 2.25% Notes and the 3.00% Notes as a result of the Company's decision to pay cash dividends, as well as the change in convertibility of the 3.00% Notes as of December 31, 2012.

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

Income before income taxes by geographic area was as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2010
	(In thousands)
Domestic	$	153,347	$	128,041	$	78,218
Foreign	7,388		4,053		2,686
Total income before income taxes	$	160,735	$	132,094	$	80,904

Federal, state and foreign income taxes were as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011		2010
	(In thousands)
Federal:
Current	$	38,129		$	21,013	$	4,920
Deferred	14,926			22,913		21,271
State:
Current	3,956			2,934		1,397
Deferred	1,783			1,854		2,339
Foreign:
Current	1,947			928		883
Deferred	(215		)	58		(210		)
Provision for income taxes	$	60,526		$	49,700	$	30,600

Actual income tax expense differed from income tax expense computed by applying the U.S. federal statutory corporate tax rate of 35% to income before income taxes in 2012, 2011 and 2010 as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
	(In thousands)
Provision at the U.S. federal statutory rate	$	56,257		$	46,233		$	28,316
Increase (decrease) resulting from:
State income tax, net of benefit for federal deduction	3,455			3,492			2,502
Foreign income tax rate differential	(854		)	(433		)	(267		)
Employment credits	(291		)	(717		)	(252		)
Changes in valuation allowances	183			(213		)	213
Stock-based compensation	201			79			71
Other	1,575			1,259			17
Provision for income taxes	$	60,526		$	49,700		$	30,600

During 2012, the Company recorded a tax provision of $60.5 million. Certain expenses for stock-based compensation recorded in 2012 in accordance with FASB guidance were non-deductible for income tax purposes. In addition, the impact of the changes in the mix of the Company’s pretax income from taxable state jurisdictions affected state tax expenses. The Company provided valuation allowances with respect to certain state net operating losses based on expectations concerning their realizability. As a result of these items, and the impact of the items occurring in 2011 discussed below, the effective tax rate for the period ended December 31, 2012 increased to 37.7%, as compared to 37.6% for the period ended December 31, 2011.

During 2011, the Company recorded a tax provision of $49.7 million. Certain expenses for stock-based compensation recorded in 2011 in accordance with FASB guidance were non-deductible for income tax purposes. In addition, the impact of the changes in the mix of the Company’s pretax income from taxable state jurisdictions affected state tax expenses. The Company also recognized a tax benefit on tax deductible goodwill related to a franchise termination. The Company provided valuation allowances with respect to certain state net operating losses based on expectations concerning their realizability. As a result of these items, and the impact of the items occurring in 2010 discussed below, the effective tax rate for the period ended December 31, 2011 decreased to 37.6%, as compared to 37.8% for the period ended December 31, 2010.

During 2010, the Company recorded a tax provision of $30.6 million. Certain expenses for stock-based compensation recorded in 2010 in accordance with FASB guidance were non-deductible for income tax purposes. In addition, the impact of the changes in the mix of the Company’s pretax income from taxable state jurisdictions affected state tax expenses. The Company also recognized a benefit based on a tax election made during 2010. The Company provided valuation allowances with respect to the state net operating losses based on expectations concerning their realizability. As a result of these items, and the impact of certain items occurring in 2009, the effective tax rate for the period ended December 31, 2010 increased to 37.8%, as compared to 36.5% for the period ended December 31, 2009.

Deferred income tax provisions resulted from temporary differences in the recognition of income and expenses for financial reporting purposes and for tax purposes. The tax effects of these temporary differences representing deferred tax assets/liabilities resulted principally from the following:



	December 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Loss reserves and accruals	$	34,208		$	27,908
Interest rate swaps	16,158			12,765
Convertible note hedge on 3.00% Notes	13,961			15,250
Convertible note hedge on 2.25% Notes	9,808			12,722
State net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards	13,720			13,557
Deferred tax assets	87,855			82,202
Valuation allowance on state NOL	(11,393		)	(11,156		)
Net deferred tax assets	$	76,462		$	71,046
Deferred tax liabilities:
Goodwill and intangible franchise rights	(92,900		)	(79,100		)
Depreciation expense	(33,371		)	(26,447		)
Discount on 3.00% Notes	(11,728		)	(12,876		)
Discount on 2.25% Notes	(10,647		)	(13,247		)
Other	(1,374		)	(1,788		)
Deferred tax liabilities	(150,020		)	(133,458		)
Net deferred tax liability	$	(73,558	)	$	(62,412	)

As of December 31, 2012, the Company had state net operating loss carryforwards of $203.2 million that will expire between 2013 and 2032; to the extent that the Company expects that net income will not be sufficient to realize these net operating losses in certain state jurisdictions, a valuation allowance has been established.

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had long-term deferred tax assets of $79.8 million and $76.8 million, respectively, including an immaterial amount related to long-term foreign deferred tax assets for both years. The Company believes it is more likely than not, that its deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances provided, will be realized, based primarily on the assumption of future taxable income.

The Company acquired six franchises located at three dealerships in the U.K. in March 2007 and added nine more franchises at seven additional dealerships in 2010 and 2012. The Company has not provided for U.S. deferred taxes on $12.7 million of undistributed earnings and associated withholding taxes of its foreign subsidiaries, as the Company has taken the position that its foreign earnings will be permanently reinvested outside the U.S. If a distribution of those earnings were to be made, the Company might be subject to both foreign withholding taxes and U.S. income taxes, net of any allowable foreign tax credits or deductions. However, the amount of these taxes is currently not material.

The Company is subject to income tax in U.S. federal and numerous state jurisdictions, as well as in the U.K. Based on applicable statutes of limitations, the Company is generally no longer subject to examinations by tax authorities in years prior to 2007.

The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2012 and 2011.

The Company did not incur any interest and penalties nor accrue any interest for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011. When applicable, consistent with prior practices, the Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32639-109319

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 136, 172
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph h
-Article 4

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Accounts and Notes Receivable

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Receivables [Abstract]

ACCOUNTS AND NOTES RECEIVABLE

The Company’s accounts and notes receivable consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Amounts due from manufacturers	$	64,039	$	48,912
Parts and service receivables	17,879		16,956
Finance and insurance receivables, net	16,060		16,755
Other	14,895		11,395
Total accounts and notes receivable	112,873		94,018
Less allowance for doubtful accounts	1,645		1,243
Accounts and notes receivable	$	111,228	$	92,775

- Definition

The entire disclosure for claims held for amounts due a entity, excluding financing receivables. Examples include, but are not limited to, trade accounts receivables, notes receivables, loans receivables. Includes disclosure for allowance for credit losses.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5066-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3,4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5162-111524

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5074-111524

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Number 01-6
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph d
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 3, 4
-Article 5

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 7
-Article 9

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph k
-Article 4

+ Details

Inventories

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

INVENTORIES

The Company’s inventories consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
New vehicles	$	895,484		$	611,931
Used vehicles	184,775			154,420
Rental vehicles	68,014			59,096
Parts, accessories and other	50,370			44,445
Lower of cost or market reserves	(4,355		)	(2,422		)
Inventories	$	1,194,288		$	867,470

Property and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

The Company’s property and equipment consisted of the following:



	Estimated Useful Lives in Years	December 31,
	Estimated Useful Lives in Years	2012		2011
		(In thousands)
Land	—	$	232,944	$	211,754
Buildings	30 to 40	331,526		284,638
Leasehold improvements	varies	97,651		86,084
Machinery and equipment	7 to 20	69,630		59,316
Furniture and fixtures	3 to 10	61,627		54,406
Company vehicles	3 to 5	9,239		9,877
Construction in progress	—	28,188		16,719
Total		830,805		722,794
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		163,037		137,161
Property and equipment, net		$	667,768	$	585,633

During 2012, the Company acquired $45.9 million of fixed assets associated with dealership acquisitions, including $17.3 million for land and $27.1 million for buildings. In addition to these acquisitions, the Company incurred $62.0 million of capital expenditures, primarily including the purchase of furniture, fixtures, and equipment and construction or renovation of facilities, and $25.3 million of purchases of land or existing buildings.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company determined that a certain real estate investment qualified as held-for-sale. And, as a result, the Company classified the carrying value of such real estate investment totaling $8.5 million in prepaid and other current assets in its Consolidated Balance Sheet.

During 2011, the Company acquired $41.7 million of fixed assets associated with dealership acquisitions, including $17.3 million for land and $22.1 million for buildings. In addition to these acquisitions, the Company incurred $40.1 million of capital expenditures, primarily including the purchase of furniture, fixtures, and equipment and construction or renovation of facilities, and $26.7 million of purchases of land or existing buildings. During 2011, the Company determined that certain of its real estate investments, which qualified as held-for-sale assets at December 31, 2010, no longer met the held-for-sale criteria. These assets were reclassified at their current book value to property and equipment. Also in 2011, the Company determined that a certain real estate investment qualified as held-for-sale. The Company adjusted the carrying values of the assets to their estimated fair market values, as determined by third-party appraisals and brokers’ opinions of values and recorded $3.2 million of pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charges. Subsequently, in 2011, the plan to dispose of the real estate investment was terminated due to non-performance on the buyer’s part. As a result, the real estate investment no longer qualified as held-for-sale and the assets were reclassified at their current book value to property and equipment in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2011. Further, during 2011, the Company sold one non-operational dealership facility that qualified for held-for-sale as of December 31, 2010 for $4.1 million. Refer to Note 15, "Asset Impairment" for further discussion.

Depreciation and amortization expense, including amortization of capital leases, totaled $31.5 million, $27.1 million, and $26.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, $46.5 million, and $45.6 million of buildings were recorded under capital leases included in property, plant and equipment, before accumulated depreciation, respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software. This disclosure may include property plant and equipment accounting policies and methodology, a schedule of property, plant and equipment gross, additions, deletions, transfers and other changes, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, net, accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and useful lives, income statement disclosures, assets held for sale and public utility disclosures.

+ References + Details

Credit Facilities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Credit Facilities [Abstract]

CREDIT FACILITIES

The Company has a $1.35 billion revolving syndicated credit arrangement with 22 financial institutions, including five manufacturer-affiliated finance companies ("Revolving Credit Facility"). The Company also has a $150.0 million floorplan financing arrangement with Ford Motor Credit Company (“FMCC Facility”), as well as arrangements with BMW Financial Services and Volkswagen Finance for financing of its new and used vehicles in the U.K. and with several other automobile manufacturers for financing of a portion of its rental vehicle inventory. Within the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, Floorplan Notes Payable — Credit Facility reflects amounts payable for the purchase of specific new, used and rental vehicle inventory (with the exception of new and rental vehicle purchases financed through lenders affiliated with the respective manufacturer) whereby financing is provided by the Revolving Credit Facility. Floorplan Notes Payable — Manufacturer Affiliates reflects amounts payable for the purchase of specific new vehicles whereby financing is provided by the FMCC Facility, the financing of new, used, and rental vehicles in the U.K. with BMW Financial Services and Volkswagen Finance and the financing of rental vehicle inventory with several other manufacturers in the U.S. Payments on the floorplan notes payable are generally due as the vehicles are sold. As a result, these obligations are reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as current liabilities. The outstanding balances under these financing arrangements were as follows:



	December 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Floorplan notes payable — credit facility
New vehicles	$	837,436		$	603,313
Used vehicles	112,261			98,587
Rental vehicles	19,262			17,045
Floorplan offset	(112,261		)	(109,207		)
Total	$	856,698		$	609,738
Floorplan notes payable — manufacturer affiliates
FMCC Facility	$	143,028		$	107,587
Other and rental vehicles	68,937			48,393
Total	$	211,965		$	155,980

Revolving Credit Facility

The Revolving Credit Facility expires on June 1, 2016 and consists of two tranches: $1.1 billion for vehicle inventory floorplan financing (“Floorplan Line”) and $250.0 million for working capital, including acquisitions (“Acquisition Line”). Up to half of the Acquisition Line can be borrowed in either Euros or Pound Sterling. The capacity under these two tranches can be re-designated within the overall $1.35 billion commitment, subject to the original limits of a minimum of $1.1 billion for the Floorplan Line and maximum of $250.0 million for the Acquisition Line. The Revolving Credit Facility can be expanded to its maximum commitment of $1.6 billion, subject to participating lender approval. The Floorplan Line bears interest at rates equal to the one-month LIBOR plus 150 basis points for new vehicle inventory and the one-month LIBOR plus 175 basis points for used vehicle inventory. The Acquisition Line bears interest at the one-month LIBOR plus a margin that ranges from 150 to 250 basis points, depending on the Company’s leverage ratio. The Floorplan Line also requires a commitment fee of 0.20% per annum on the unused portion. The Acquisition Line requires a commitment fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.45% per annum, depending on the Company’s leverage ratio, based on a minimum commitment of $100.0 million less outstanding borrowings. In conjunction with the Revolving Credit Facility, the Company has $5.2 million of related unamortized costs as of December 31, 2012 that are being amortized over the term of the facility.

After considering outstanding balances of $856.7 million at December 31, 2012, the Company had $243.3 million of available floorplan borrowing capacity under the Floorplan Line. Included in the $243.3 million available borrowings under the Floorplan Line was $112.3 million of immediately available funds. The weighted average interest rate on the Floorplan Line was 1.7% as of December 31, 2012, excluding the impact of the Company’s interest rate swaps. Amounts borrowed by the Company under the Floorplan Line of the Revolving Credit Facility for specific vehicle inventory are to be repaid upon the sale of the vehicle financed, and in no case is a borrowing for a vehicle to remain outstanding for greater than one year. With regards to the Acquisition Line, no borrowings were outstanding as of December 31, 2012. The amount of available borrowing capacity under the Acquisition Line is limited from time to time based upon certain debt covenants. After considering $29.3 million of outstanding letters of credit and other factors included in the Company’s available borrowing base calculation, there was $220.7 million of available borrowing capacity under the Acquisition Line as of December 31, 2012.

All of the Company’s domestic dealership-owning subsidiaries are co-borrowers under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Company's obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are secured by essentially all of the Company's domestic personal property (other than equity interests in dealership-owning subsidiaries) including all motor vehicle inventory and proceeds from the disposition of dealership-owning subsidiaries. The Revolving Credit Facility contains a number of significant covenants that, among other things, restrict the Company’s ability to make disbursements outside of the ordinary course of business, dispose of assets, incur additional indebtedness, create liens on assets, make investments and engage in mergers or consolidations. The Company is also required to comply with specified financial tests and ratios defined in the Revolving Credit Facility, such as fixed charge coverage, total adjusted leverage, and senior secured adjusted leverage. Further, the Revolving Credit Facility restricts the Company’s ability to make certain payments, such as dividends or other distributions of assets, properties, cash, rights, obligations or securities, ("Restricted Payments"). The Restricted Payments shall not exceed the sum of $100.0 million plus (or minus if negative) (a) one-half of the aggregate consolidated net income of the Company for the period beginning on January 1, 2011 and ending on the date of determination and (b) the amount of net cash proceeds received from the sale of capital stock on or after January 1, 2011 and ending on the date of determination (“Restricted Payment Basket”). For purposes of the calculation of the Restricted Payment Basket, net income represents such amounts per the consolidated financial statements adjusted to exclude the Company’s foreign operations, non-cash interest expense, non-cash asset impairment charges, and non-cash stock-based compensation. As of December 31, 2012, the Restricted Payment Basket totaled $115.6 million.

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants and ratios under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Ford Motor Credit Company Facility

The FMCC Facility provides for the financing of, and is collateralized by, the Company’s Ford new vehicle inventory, including affiliated brands. This arrangement provides for $150.0 million of floorplan financing and is an evergreen arrangement that may be canceled with 30 days notice by either party. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had an outstanding balance of $143.0 million under the FMCC Facility with an available floorplan borrowing capacity of $7.0 million. This facility bears interest at a rate of Prime plus 150 basis points minus certain incentives; however, the prime rate is defined to be a minimum of 3.75%. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the interest rate on the FMCC Facility was 5.25% before considering the applicable incentives.

Other Credit Facilities

The Company has credit facilities with BMW Financial Services and Volkswagen Finance for the financing of new, used and rental vehicle inventories related to its U.K. operations. These facilities are evergreen arrangements that may be canceled with notice by either party and bears interest of a base rate, plus a surcharge that varies based upon the type of vehicle being financed. Dependent upon the type of inventory financed, the interest rates charged on borrowings outstanding under these facilities ranged from 1.3% to 3.5%, as of December 31, 2012.

Excluding rental vehicles financed through the Revolving Credit Facility, financing for rental vehicles is typically obtained directly from the automobile manufacturers. These financing arrangements generally require small monthly payments and mature in varying amounts over the next two years. As of December 31, 2012, the interest rate charged on borrowings related to the Company’s rental vehicle fleet varied up to 5.0%. Rental vehicles are typically transferred to used vehicle inventory when they are removed from rental service and repayment of the borrowing is required at that time.

Long-Term Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

LONG-TERM DEBT

The Company carries its long-term debt at face value, net of applicable discounts. Long-term debt consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2012		2011
	(In thousands)
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2036 (principal of $182,753 at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	$	152,363	$	144,985
3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 (principal of $115,000 at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	80,706		77,401
Mortgage Facility	56,677		41,003
Other Real Estate Related and Long-Term Debt	249,710		194,580
Capital Lease Obligations Related to Real Estate, maturing in varying amounts through November 2032 with a weighted average interest rate of 11.9%	38,232		39,295
	577,688		497,264
Less current maturities of mortgage facility and other long-term debt	22,672		14,663
	$	555,016	$	482,601

Included in current maturities of long-term debt and short-term financing in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2012 was $8.7 million of short-term financing that is due within one year.

2.25% Convertible Senior Notes

The Company’s outstanding 2.25% Notes bear interest at a rate of 2.25% per year until June 15, 2016, and at a rate of 2.00% per year thereafter. Interest on the 2.25% Notes are payable semiannually, in arrears, in cash on June 15th and December 15th of each year. The 2.25% Notes mature on June 15, 2036, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased.

The Company may redeem all or part of the 2.25% Notes if the last reported sale price of the Company's common stock is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading date ending on the trading day prior to the date on which the Company mails the redemption notice. On or after June 15, 2016, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2.25% Notes at any time. Any redemption of the 2.25% Notes will be for cash at 100% of the principal amount of the 2.25% Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. Holders of the 2.25% Notes may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the 2.25% Notes on each of June 15, 2016, and June 15, 2026. In addition, if the Company experiences specified types of fundamental changes, holders of the 2.25% Notes may require the Company to repurchase the 2.25% Notes. Any repurchase of the 2.25% Notes pursuant to these provisions will be for cash at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2.25% Notes to be repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the purchase date.

The holders of the 2.25% Notes who convert their notes in connection with a change in control, or in the event that the Company’s common stock ceases to be listed, as defined in the 2.25% Notes Indenture, may be entitled to a make-whole premium in the form of an increase in the conversion rate. Additionally, if one of these events were to occur, the holders of the 2.25% Notes may require the Company to purchase all or a portion of their notes at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2.25% Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

The initial conversion rate for the 2.25% Notes was 16.827 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2.25% Notes, which was equivalent to an initial conversion price of $59.43 per share. As of December 31, 2012, the conversion rate was 16.836 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2.25% Notes, equivalent to a per share stock price of $59.40, which was adjusted as the result of the Company's decision to pay cash dividends in excess of $0.14 per share in 2012. If any cash dividend or distribution in excess of $0.14 per share is made to all, or substantially all, holders of the Company's common stock in the future, the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the formula defined in the 2.25% Notes Indenture.

The 2.25% Notes are convertible into cash and, if applicable, common stock based on the conversion rate, subject to adjustment, including a quarterly cash dividend in excess of $0.14 per share, under the following circumstances: (a) during any calendar quarter (and only during such calendar quarter) beginning after September 30, 2006, if the closing price of the Company’s common stock for at least 20 trading days in the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter is equal to or more than 130% of the applicable conversion price per share (or $77.22 as of December 31, 2012); (b) during the five business day period after any ten consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount for each day of the ten day trading period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale/bid price of the Company’s common stock and the conversion rate on that day; and (c) upon the occurrence of specified corporate transactions set forth in the 2.25% Notes Indenture. Upon conversion, a holder will receive an amount in cash and common shares of the Company’s common stock, determined in the manner set forth in the 2.25% Notes Indenture. Upon any conversion of the 2.25% Notes, the Company will deliver to converting holders a settlement amount comprised of cash and, if applicable, shares of the Company’s common stock, based on a conversion value determined by multiplying the then applicable conversion rate by a volume weighted price of the Company’s common stock on each trading day in a specified 25 trading day observation period. In general, as described more fully in the 2.25% Notes Indenture, converting holders will receive, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of notes being converted, the conversion value in cash up to $1,000 and the excess, if any, of the conversion value over $1,000 in shares of the Company’s common stock. The if-converted value of the 2.25% Notes exceeded the principal amount of the 2.25% Notes by $4.0 million at December 31, 2012. None of the conversion features of the Company’s 2.25% Notes were triggered in 2012.

Underwriter’s fees, originally recorded as a reduction of the 2.25% Notes balance, totaled $6.4 million and are being amortized over a period of ten years (the point at which the holders can first require the Company to redeem the 2.25% Notes). The amount to be amortized each period is calculated using the effective interest method. Debt issuance costs, originally recorded in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, totaled $0.3 million and are also being amortized over a period of ten years using the effective interest method.

The 2.25% Notes rank equal in right of payment to all of the Company’s other existing and future senior indebtedness. The 2.25% Notes are not guaranteed by any of the Company’s subsidiaries and, accordingly, are structurally subordinated to all of the indebtedness and other liabilities of the Company’s subsidiaries.

In connection with the issuance of the 2.25% Notes, the Company purchased ten-year call options on its common stock (“2.25% Purchased Options”). Under the terms of the 2.25% Purchased Options, which become exercisable upon conversion of the 2.25% Notes, the Company has the right to receive a total of 3.1 million shares of its common stock at a conversion price of $59.40 per share as of December 31, 2012, subject to adjustment for quarterly dividends in excess of $0.14 per common share. The total cost of the 2.25% Purchased Options was $116.3 million, which was recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in capital. The cost of the 2.25% Purchased Options will be deductible as original issue discount for income tax purposes over the expected life of the 2.25% Notes (ten years); therefore, the Company established a deferred tax asset, with a corresponding increase to additional paid-in capital in 2006.

In addition to the purchase of the Purchased Options, the Company sold warrants in separate transactions (“2.25% Warrants”). These 2.25% Warrants have a ten year term and enable the holders to acquire shares of the Company’s common stock from the Company. The 2.25% Warrants are exercisable for a total of 3.1 million shares of the Company’s common stock at the current adjusted price, which is adjusted for quarterly dividends in excess of $0.14 per quarter, liquidation, bankruptcy, or a change in control of the Company and other conditions, including the failure by the Company to deliver registered securities to the purchasers upon exercise. Subject to these adjustments, the maximum amount of shares of the Company’s common stock that could be required to be issued under the 2.25% Warrants is 6.2 million shares. Upon exercise of the 2.25% Warrants, the Company will settle the difference between the then market price and the strike price of the 2.25% Warrants in shares of its Common Stock. The proceeds from the sale of the 2.25% Warrants were $80.6 million, which were recorded as an increase to additional paid-in. As a result of the Company’s decision to pay cash dividends in excess of $0.14 during the year, the exercise price was $80.27 as of December 31, 2012. If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all, or substantially all, holders of the Company’s common stock in the future, the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the formula defined in the 2.25% Notes Indenture.

Future changes in the Company’s share price will have no effect on the carrying value of the 2.25% Purchased Options or the 2.25% Warrants. The 2.25% Purchased Options and the 2.25% Warrants are subject to early expiration upon the occurrence of certain events that may or may not be within the Company’s control. Should there be an early termination of the 2.25% Purchased Options or the 2.25% Warrants prior to the conversion of the 2.25% Notes from an event outside of the Company’s control, the amount of shares potentially due to or due from the Company under the 2.25% Purchased Options or the 2.25% Warrants will be based solely on the Company’s common stock price, and the amount of time remaining on the 2.25% Purchased Options or the 2.25% Warrants and will be settled in shares of the Company’s common stock. The 2.25% Purchased Option and 2.25% Warrant transactions were designed to increase the conversion price per share of the Company’s common stock and, therefore, mitigate carrying the potential dilution of the Company’s common stock upon conversion of the 2.25% Notes, if any.

During 2012, 2011, and 2010 the Company did not repurchase any of its 2.25% Notes. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, the carrying value of the 2.25% Notes, related discount and equity component consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Carrying amount of equity component	$	65,270		$	65,270
Allocated underwriter fees, net of taxes	(1,475		)	(1,475		)
Allocated debt issuance cost, net of taxes	(58		)	(58		)
Total net equity component	$	63,737		$	63,737
Deferred income tax component	$	10,846		$	13,452
Principal amount of 2.25% Notes	$	182,753		$	182,753
Unamortized discount	(29,244		)	(36,344		)
Unamortized underwriter fees	(1,146		)	(1,424		)
Net carrying amount of liability component	$	152,363		$	144,985
Unamortized debt issuance cost	$	45		$	56

For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, the contractual interest expense and the discount amortization, which is recorded as interest expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations, were as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
	(Dollars in thousands)
Year-to-date contractual interest expense	$	4,112		$	4,119		$	4,119
Year-to-date discount amortization⁽¹⁾	$	6,948		$	6,409		$	5,819
Effective interest rate of liability component	7.7		%	7.7		%	7.7		%

⁽¹⁾ Represents the incremental impact of the accounting for convertible debt as primarily codified in ASC 470. As of December 31, 2012, the Company anticipates that the average annual impact over the remaining term of the 2.25% Notes will increase by approximately $0.6 million.

3.00% Convertible Senior Notes

The Company’s outstanding 3.00% Notes bear interest at a rate of 3.00% per annum until maturity. Interest is payable semiannually, in arrears, in cash on March 15th and September 15th of each year. If and when the 3.00% Notes are converted, the Company will pay cash for the principal amount of each Note and, if applicable, shares of its common stock based on a daily conversion value calculated on a proportionate basis for each volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) trading day (as defined in the indenture governing the 3.00% Notes) in the relevant 25 VWAP trading day observation period. In general, as described more fully in the indenture, converting holders will receive, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of notes being converted, the conversion value in cash up to $1,000 and the excess, if any, of the conversion value over $1,000 in shares of the Company’s common stock. The 3.00% Notes mature on March 15, 2020, unless earlier repurchased or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date.

The Company may not redeem the 3.00% Notes prior to the maturity date. Holders of the 3.00% Notes may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the 3.00% Notes on or after September 15, 2019. If the Company experiences specified types of fundamental changes, as defined in the 3.00% Notes Indenture, holders of 3.00% Notes may require the Company to repurchase the 3.00% Notes. Any repurchase of the 3.00% Notes pursuant to this provision will be for cash at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 3.00% Notes to be repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the purchase date.

The holders of the 3.00% Notes who convert their notes in connection with a change in control, or in the event that the Company's common stock ceases to be listed, as defined in the 3.00% Notes Indenture, may be entitled to a make-whole premium in the form of an increase in the conversion rate. Additionally, if one of these events were to occur, the holders of the 3.00% Notes may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of their notes at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 3.00% Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

The initial conversion rate for the 3.00% Notes was 25.899 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 3.00% Notes, which was equivalent to an initial conversion price of $38.61 per share. As of December 31, 2012, the conversion rate was 26.546 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 3.00% Notes, equivalent to a per share stock price of $37.67, which was adjusted as the result of the Company’s decision to pay cash dividends in 2012. If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all, or substantially all, holders of the Company’s common stock in the future, the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the formula defined in the 3.00% Notes Indenture.

The 3.00% Notes are convertible into cash and, if applicable, common stock based on the conversion rate, subject to adjustment, on the business day preceding September 15, 2019, under the following circumstances: (a) during any fiscal quarter (and only during such fiscal quarter) beginning after June 30, 2010, if the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock for at least 20 trading days in the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter is equal to or more than 130% of the applicable conversion price per share (or $48.97 as of December 31, 2012) ("Stock Price Trigger"); (b) during the five business day period after any ten consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of 3.00% Notes for each day of the ten day trading period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale/bid price of the Company’s common stock and the conversion rate on that day; and (c) upon the occurrence of specified corporate transactions set forth in the 3.00% Notes Indenture. Upon conversion, a holder will receive an amount in cash and common shares of the Company’s common stock, determined in the manner set forth in the 3.00% Notes Indenture.

As a result of the Stock Price Trigger on December 31, 2012, the 3.00% Notes are convertible at the option of the holders during the three months ending March 31, 2013. As such, the Company reclassified the redeemable equity portion of the 3.00% Notes to temporary equity from the additional paid-in capital component of permanent equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December, 31, 2012. The combination of the debt portion and temporary equity portion represents the aggregate principal obligation of the 3.00% Notes redeemable at the option of the holders as of December 31, 2012. Based on the Company's intent and ability to refinance any conversion with existing capacity under other long-term debt arrangements, the aggregate principal obligation of the 3.00% Notes was classified outside of current liabilities in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet. The if-converted value of the 3.00% Notes exceeded the principal amount of the 3.00% Notes by $70.3 million at December 31, 2012.

Underwriters’ fees totaled $3.5 million, a portion of which were recorded as a reduction of the 3.00% Notes balance, and are being amortized over a period of ten years. The remainder was recognized as a reduction of Additional Paid-In Capital in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The amount to be amortized each period is calculated using the effective interest method. Debt issuance costs totaled $0.5 million, a portion of which were recorded in Other Assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, and are also being amortized over a period of ten years using the effective interest method. The remainder was recognized as a reduction of Additional Paid-In Capital in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The 3.00% Notes rank equal in right of payment to all of the Company’s other existing and future senior indebtedness. The 3.00% Notes are not guaranteed by any of the Company’s subsidiaries and, accordingly, are structurally subordinated to all of the indebtedness and other liabilities of the Company’s subsidiaries. The 3.00% Notes will also be effectively subordinated to all of the Company’s secured indebtedness.

In connection with the issuance of the 3.00% Notes, the Company purchased ten-year call options on its common stock (“3.00% Purchased Options”). Under the terms of the 3.00% Purchased Options, which become exercisable upon conversion of the 3.00% Notes, the Company has the right to receive a total of 3.1 million shares of its common stock at the conversion price then in effect. The exercise price is subject to certain adjustments that mirror the adjustments to the conversion price of the 3.00% Notes (including payment of cash dividends). The total cost of the 3.00% Purchased Options was $45.9 million, which was recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in-capital in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. The cost of the 3.00% Purchased Options will be deductible as original issue discount for income tax purposes over the life of the 3.00% Notes (ten years); therefore, the Company has established a deferred tax asset, with a corresponding increase to additional paid-in capital, in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.

In addition to the purchase of the 3.00% Purchased Options, the Company sold warrants in separate transactions. The 3.00% Warrants have a ten-year term and enable the holders to acquire shares of the Company’s common stock from the Company. The 3.00% Warrants are exercisable for a total of 3.1 million shares of the Company’s common stock at the current adjusted price, which is an 80% premium to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date that the 3.00% Notes were priced to investors. The exercise price is subject to adjustment for quarterly dividends, liquidation, bankruptcy, or a change in control of the Company and other conditions, including a failure by the Company to deliver registered securities to the purchasers upon exercise. Subject to these adjustments, the maximum amount of shares of the Company’s common stock that could be required to be issued under the 3.00% Warrants is 5.5 million shares. On exercise of the 3.00% Warrants, the Company will settle the difference between the then market price and the strike price of the 3.00% Warrants in shares of the Company’s common stock. The proceeds from the sale of the 3.00% Warrants were $29.3 million. As a result of the Company’s decision to pay cash dividends in 2012, the exercise price was $55.35 as of December 31, 2012. If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all, or substantially all, holders of the Company’s common stock in the future, the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the formula defined in the 3.00% Notes Indenture.

The 3.00% Purchased Options and 3.00% Warrant transactions were designed to increase the conversion price per share of the Company's common stock, and therefore, mitigate the potential dilution of its common stock upon conversion of the 3.00% Notes, if any. As of December 31, 2012, the impact of the 3.00% Purchased Options and 3.00% Warrants increased the conversion price of the Company’s common stock from $37.67 to $55.35.

The Company determined the discount applicable to its 3.00% Notes using the estimated effective interest rate for similar debt with no convertible features. The effective interest rate may change in the future as a result of future repurchases of the 3.00% Notes. The Company utilized a ten year term for the assessment of the fair value of its 3.00% Notes. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the carrying value of the 3.00% Notes, related discount and equity component consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Carrying amount of equity component	$	25,359		$	25,359
Allocated underwriter fees, net of taxes	(760		)	(760		)
Allocated debt issuance cost, net of taxes	(112		)	(112		)
Total net equity component	$	24,487		$	24,487
Deferred income tax component	$	11,844		$	12,956
Principal amount of 3.00% Notes	$	115,000		$	115,000
Unamortized discount	(32,505		)	(35,638		)
Unamortized underwriter fees	(1,789		)	(1,961		)
Net carrying amount of liability component	$	80,706		$	77,401
Unamortized debt issuance cost	$	264		$	289

For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the contractual interest expense and the discount amortization, which is recorded as interest expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations, were as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011
	(Dollars in thousands)
Year-to-date contractual interest expense	$	3,450		$	3,461
Year-to-date discount amortization⁽¹⁾	$	2,966		$	2,706
Effective interest rate of liability component	8.6		%	8.6		%

⁽¹⁾ Represents the incremental impact of the accounting for convertible debt as primarily codified in ASC 470. As of December 31, 2012, the Company anticipates that the average annual impact over the remaining term of the 3.00% Notes will increase by approximately $0.4 million.

Real Estate Credit Facility

As amended and restated, the Company's real estate credit facility with Bank of America, N.A. and Comerica Bank (“Mortgage Facility”) provides the right to expand up to $83.4 million of term loans, of which $60.7 million has been used as of December 31, 2012. The term loans can be expanded provided that (a) no default or event of default exists under the Mortgage Facility; (b) the Company obtains commitments from the lenders who would qualify as assignees for such increased amounts; and (c) certain other agreed upon terms and conditions have been satisfied. This facility is guaranteed by the Company and substantially all of the domestic subsidiaries of the Company and is secured by the relevant real property owned by the Company that is mortgaged under the Mortgage Facility. The Company capitalized $0.9 million of debt issuance costs related to the Mortgage Facility that are being amortized over the term of the facility, $0.6 million of which were still unamortized as of December 31, 2012.

The interest rate is equal to (a) the per annum rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.50% per annum, determined on the first day of each month, or (b) 1.45% per annum in excess of the higher of (i) the Bank of America prime rate (adjusted daily on the day specified in the public announcement of such price rate), (ii) the Federal Funds Rate adjusted daily, plus 0.5%, or (iii) the per annum rate equal to the one-month LIBOR plus 1.05% per annum. The Federal Funds Rate is the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the business day succeeding such day.

The Company is required to make quarterly principal payments equal to 1.25% of the principal amount outstanding and is required to repay the aggregate amount outstanding on the maturity dates, from December 29, 2015 through February 27, 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company borrowed an additional $18.1 million to finance the acquisition and/or improvement of dealership facilities and made principal payments of $2.4 million on outstanding borrowings from the Mortgage Facility. As of December 31, 2012, borrowings outstanding under the Mortgage Facility totaled $56.7 million, with $3.0 million recorded as a current maturity of long-term debt in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Mortgage Facility also contains usual and customary provisions limiting the Company’s ability to engage in certain transactions, including limitations on the Company’s ability to incur additional debt, additional liens, make investments, and pay distributions to its stockholders. In addition, the Mortgage Facility requires certain financial covenants that are identical to those contained in the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2012, the Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants and ratios under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Real Estate Related Debt

The Company has entered into separate term mortgage loans in the U.S. with four of its manufacturer-affiliated finance partners — Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (“TMCC”), Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA, LLC (“MBFS”), BMW Financial Services NA, LLC (“BMWFS”), Ford Motor Credit Company LLC ("FMCC") and several third-party financial institutions (collectively, “Real Estate Notes”). The Real Estate Notes are on specific buildings and/or properties and are guaranteed by the Company. Each loan was made in connection with, and is secured by mortgage liens on, the relevant real property owned by the Company that is mortgaged under the Real Estate Notes. The Real Estate Notes bear interest at fixed rates between 3.67% and 9.0%, and at variable indexed rates plus a spread between 2.25% and 3.35% per annum. The Company capitalized $1.3 million of related debt issuance costs related to the Real Estate Notes that are being amortized over the terms of the notes, $1.0 million of which were still unamortized as of December 31, 2012.

The loan agreements with TMCC consist of seven term loans, two of which were added during 2012 for $11.6 million. As of December 31, 2012, $48.0 million was outstanding under the TMCC term loans with $5.3 million classified as current as compared to $37.7 million outstanding with $1.1 million classified as current as of December 31, 2011. The maturity dates vary from three to seven years and provide for monthly payments based on a 20-year amortization schedule. These seven loans are cross-collateralized and cross-defaulted with each other and are cross-defaulted with the Revolving Credit Facility.

The loan agreements with MBFS consist of three term loans. As of December 31, 2012, $47.1 million was outstanding with $1.6 million classified as current as compared to $48.6 million outstanding under the MBFS term loans with $1.5 million classified as current as of December 31, 2011. The agreements provide for monthly payments based on a 20-year amortization schedule and have a maturity date of five years. These three loans are cross-collateralized and cross-defaulted with each other and are also cross-defaulted with the Revolving Credit Facility.

The loan agreements with BMWFS consist of 14 term loans, two of which were added for $14.4 million to finance the acquisition of dealership facilities and one was terminated for $5.5 million at the time of disposition of a dealership facility during 2012. As of December 31, 2012, $76.3 million was outstanding under the BMWFS term loans with $4.1 million classified as current as compared to $70.5 million outstanding with $3.4 million classified as current as of December 31, 2011. The agreements provide for monthly payments based on a 15-year amortization schedule and have a maturity date of seven years. In the case of three properties owned by subsidiaries, the applicable loan is also guaranteed by the subsidiary real property owner. These 14 loans are cross-collateralized with each other. In addition, they are cross-defaulted with each other, the Revolving Credit Facility, and certain dealership franchising agreements with BMW of North America, LLC.

In addition, agreements with third-party financial institutions consist of 14 term loans for an aggregate principal amount of $63.0 million, to finance real estate associated with seven of the Company’s dealerships. Seven of these 14 loans were added in 2012. These loans are inclusive of the Company's one term loan with FMCC with $5.6 million outstanding and $0.2 million classified as current. The loans are being repaid in monthly installments that began in July 1998 and will mature by November 2022. As of December 31, 2012, borrowings under these notes totaled $54.8 million, with $3.2 million classified as a current as compared to $20.0 million outstanding with $1.6 million classified as current as of December 31, 2011. These 14 loans are cross-defaulted with the Revolving Credit Facility.

The Company has also entered into separate term mortgage loans in the U.K. with another third-party financial institution which are secured by the Company’s foreign subsidiary properties. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company borrowed £4.9 million to partially finance the April 2012 acquisition of six U.K. dealerships. These mortgage loans (collectively, "Foreign Notes") are being repaid in monthly installments that began in March 2010 and mature by August 2027. As of December 31, 2012, borrowings under the Foreign Notes totaled $18.5 million, with $2.4 million classified as a current.

All Long-Term Debt

Total interest expense on the 3.00% Notes, the 2.25% Notes, and the 8.25% Notes for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $7.6 million, $7.6 million and $8.3 million, excluding amortization cost of $10.2 million, $9.4 million and $8.0 million, respectively.

Total interest expense on the Mortgage Facility, real estate related debt, and Acquisition Line for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, was $12.7 million, $11.2 million and $4.7 million, excluding amortization cost of $0.5 million for each year, respectively. Also excluded is the impact of the interest rate derivative instruments related to the Mortgage Facility of $1.2 million, $1.0 million and $3.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010 respectively.

In addition, the Company incurred $5.3 million, $4.0 million and $2.7 million of total interest expense related to capital leases and various other notes payable, net of interest income, for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.

The Company capitalized $0.7 million, $0.6 million, and $0.1 million of interest on construction projects in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt for the next five years are as follows:



	Total
	(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
2013	$	22,672
2014	24,774
2015	29,018
2016	96,020
2017	96,784
Thereafter	308,420
Total	$	577,688

Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received in the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date; requires disclosure of the extent to which fair value is used to measure financial and non-financial assets and liabilities, the inputs utilized in calculating valuation measurements, and the effect of the measurement of significant unobservable inputs on earnings, or changes in net assets, as of the measurement date; establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy based upon the transparency of inputs utilized in the measurement and valuation of financial assets or liabilities as of the measurement date:


•	Level 1 — unadjusted, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets;


•	Level 2 — quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, and inputs other than quoted market prices that are observable or that can be corroborated by observable market data by correlation; and


•	Level 3 — unobservable inputs based upon the reporting entity’s internally developed assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

The Company periodically invests in unsecured, corporate demand obligations with manufacturer-affiliated finance companies, which bear interest at a variable rate and are redeemable on demand by the Company. Therefore, the Company has classified these demand obligations as cash and cash equivalents in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company determined that the valuation measurement inputs of these instruments include inputs other than quoted market prices, that are observable or that can be corroborated by observable data by correlation. Accordingly, the Company has classified these instruments within Level 2 of the hierarchy framework.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company maintained multiple trust accounts comprised of money market funds with short-term investments in marketable securities, such as U.S. government securities, commercial paper and bankers’ acceptances, that have maturities of less than three months. The Company designated its investments in marketable securities and debt instruments as available-for-sale, measured them at fair value, and classified them as either cash and cash equivalents or other assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets based upon maturity terms and certain contractual restrictions. The Company determined that the valuation measurement inputs of these marketable securities represented unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and, accordingly, classified such investments within Level 1 of the hierarchy framework.

As of December 31, 2011 the Company also held investments in debt instruments, such as government obligations and other fixed income securities. The debt securities were measured based upon quoted market prices utilizing public information, independent external valuations from pricing services or third-party advisors. Accordingly, the Company concluded the valuation measurement inputs of these debt securities to represent, at their lowest level, quoted market prices for identical or similar assets in markets where there are few transactions for the assets and has categorized such investments within Level 2 of the hierarchy framework.

Refer to Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates,” for more information on fair value measurements of interest rate derivative instruments.

Asset and liabilities recorded at fair value in the accompanying balance sheets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were as follows:



	As of December 31, 2012
	Level 1		Level 2		Total
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Debt securities:
Demand obligations	$	—	$	616	$	616
Total	$	—	$	616	$	616
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivative financial instruments	$	—	$	43,089	$	43,089
Total	$	—	$	43,089	$	43,089



	As of December 31, 2011
	Level 1		Level 2		Total
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Marketable securities — money market	$	1,571	$	—	$	1,571
Debt securities:
Demand obligations	—		271		271
Collateralized mortgage obligations	—		19		19
Corporate bonds	—		338		338
Municipal obligations	—		683		683
Mortgage backed	—		632		632
Total debt securities	—		1,943		1,943
Total	$	1,571	$	1,943	$	3,514
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivative financial instruments	$	—	$	34,040	$	34,040
Total	$	—	$	34,040	$	34,040

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 30
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14172-108612

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13537-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 28
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 16
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13504-108611

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 15B
-Subparagraph a, b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 44A, 44B
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 159
-Paragraph 17-22, 27, 28
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 15A
-Subparagraph a-d
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 157
-Paragraph 32, 33, 34
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 3, 10, 14, 15
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies	Dec. 31, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES From time to time, the Company’s dealerships are named in various types of litigation involving customer claims, employment matters, class action claims, purported class action claims, as well as claims involving the manufacturer of automobiles, contractual disputes and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business. Due to the nature of the automotive retailing business, the Company may be involved in legal proceedings or suffer losses that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. In the normal course of business, the Company is required to respond to customer, employee and other third-party complaints. Amounts that have been accrued or paid related to the settlement of litigation are included in SG&A expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, the manufacturers of the vehicles that the Company sells and services have audit rights allowing them to review the validity of amounts claimed for incentive, rebate or warranty-related items and charge the Company back for amounts determined to be invalid payments under the manufacturers’ programs, subject to the Company’s right to appeal any such decision. Amounts that have been accrued or paid related to the settlement of manufacturer chargebacks of recognized incentives and rebates are included in cost of sales in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations, while such amounts for manufacturer chargebacks of recognized warranty-related items are included as a reduction of revenues in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Legal Proceedings Currently, the Company is not party to any legal proceedings that, individually or in the aggregate, are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows, including class action lawsuits. However, the results of current, or future, matters cannot be predicted with certainty, and an unfavorable resolution of one or more of such matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows. Other Matters The Company, acting through its subsidiaries, is the lessee under many real estate leases that provide for the use by the Company’s subsidiaries of their respective dealership premises. Pursuant to these leases, the Company’s subsidiaries generally agree to indemnify the lessor and other parties from certain liabilities arising as a result of the use of the leased premises, including environmental liabilities, or a breach of the lease by the lessee. Additionally, from time to time, the Company enters into agreements in connection with the sale of assets or businesses in which it agrees to indemnify the purchaser, or other parties, from certain liabilities or costs arising in connection with the assets or business. Also, in the ordinary course of business in connection with purchases or sales of goods and services, the Company enters into agreements that may contain indemnification provisions. In the event that an indemnification claim is asserted, liability would be limited by the terms of the applicable agreement. From time to time, primarily in connection with dealership dispositions, the Company’s subsidiaries assign or sublet to the dealership purchaser the subsidiaries’ interests in any real property leases associated with such dealerships. In general, the Company’s subsidiaries retain responsibility for the performance of certain obligations under such leases to the extent that the assignee or sublessee does not perform, whether such performance is required prior to or following the assignment or subletting of the lease. Additionally, the Company and its subsidiaries generally remain subject to the terms of any guarantees made by the Company and its subsidiaries in connection with such leases. Although the Company generally has indemnification rights against the assignee or sublessee in the event of non-performance under these leases, as well as certain defenses, and the Company presently has no reason to believe that it or its subsidiaries will be called on to perform under any such assigned leases or subleases, the Company estimates that lessee rental payment obligations during the remaining terms of these leases were $7.3 million as of December 31, 2012. The Company’s exposure under these leases is difficult to estimate and there can be no assurance that any performance of the Company or its subsidiaries required under these leases would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, or cash flows. The Company and its subsidiaries also may be called on to perform other obligations under these leases, such as environmental remediation of the leased premises or repair of the leased premises upon termination of the lease. However, the Company does not have any known material environmental commitments or contingencies and presently has no reason to believe that it or its subsidiaries will be called on to so perform. In the ordinary course of business, the Company is subject to numerous laws and regulations, including automotive, environmental, health and safety, and other laws and regulations. The Company does not anticipate that the costs of such compliance will have a material adverse effect on its business, consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows, although such outcome is possible given the nature of its operations and the extensive legal and regulatory framework applicable to its business. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was signed into law on July 21, 2010, established a new consumer financial protection agency with broad regulatory powers. Although automotive dealers are generally excluded, the Dodd-Frank Act could lead to additional, indirect regulation of automotive dealers through its regulation of automotive finance companies and other financial institutions. In addition, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law on March 23, 2010, has the potential to increase the Company’s future annual employee health care costs. Further, new laws and regulations, particularly at the federal level, may be enacted, which could also have a materially adverse impact on its business.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6449706&loc=d3e16207-108621

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6398077&loc=d3e12565-110249

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 14
-Paragraph 3
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 5
-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Asset Impairments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

ASSET IMPAIRMENTS

During the fourth quarters of 2012, 2011, and 2010, the Company performed its annual impairment assessment of the carrying value of its goodwill and intangible franchise rights. In such assessment, the fair value of each of the Company’s reporting units exceeded the carrying value of its net assets (step one of the goodwill impairment test). As a result, the Company was not required to conduct the second step of the impairment test. During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company determined that the carrying value of certain of its intangible franchise rights was greater than the fair value and as such a $7.0 million pre-tax non-cash impairment was recognized. No corresponding impairments were identified as a result of the Company’s annual impairment assessments for intangible franchise rights in 2011 and 2010.

If in future periods, the Company determines that the carrying amount of its net assets exceeds the respective fair value as a result of step one of its goodwill impairment test for any or all of its reporting units, the application of the second step of the impairment test could result in a material non-cash impairment charge to the goodwill associated with the reporting unit(s). If any of the Company's assumptions change, or fail to materialize, the resulting decline in its estimated fair market value of intangible franchise rights could result in a material non-cash impairment charge. For example, if the Company's assumptions regarding the risk-free rate and cost of debt differed such that the estimated WACC used in its 2012 assessment increased by 200 basis points, and all other assumptions remained constant, an additional $15.0 million of non-cash franchise rights impairment charges would have resulted. However, none of the Company's reporting units would have failed the step one impairment test for goodwill. Further, if the Company forecasted no SAAR growth beyond 2014 in the 2012 impairment assessment, and all other assumptions remained constant, an additional $10.0 million of non-cash franchise rights impairment charges would have resulted. And, again, none of the Company’s reporting units would have failed the step one impairment test for goodwill.

During 2011, the Company recorded the following non-cash impairment charges, all of which are reflected in asset impairments in the accompanying statement of operations:

•

The Company determined that a certain real estate investment qualified as held-for-sale during the third quarter. As a result, the Company adjusted the respective carrying values of the assets to their estimated fair market values, as determined by third-party appraisals and brokers’ opinions of values. The Company recorded $3.2 million of non-cash asset impairment charges. Subsequently, in the fourth quarter, the plan to dispose of the real estate investment was terminated due to non-performance on the buyer's part. As a result, the real estate investment no longer qualified as held-for-sale and the assets were subsequently reclassified as held-for-use prior to December 31, 2011.


•	The Company also determined that the carrying value of various other long-lived assets was no longer recoverable, and recognized $1.6 million in pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charges.

During 2010, the Company recorded the following non-cash impairment charges, all of which are reflected in asset impairments in the accompanying statement of operations:


•	The Company entered into contracts to purchase the real estate associated with two of its existing dealership locations and, in conjunction therewith, recognized the impairment of its associated leasehold improvements. In total, the Company recognized $5.8 million in pre-tax charges related to these asset impairments.


•	The Company adjusted the respective carrying values of its assets held-for-sale to their estimated fair market values, as determined by third-party appraisals and brokers’ opinions of value. As a result, the Company recorded $3.2 million of pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charges.


•	The Company also determined that the carrying value of various other long-term assets was no longer recoverable, and recognized $1.8 million in pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charges.

Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

INTANGIBLE FRANCHISE RIGHTS AND GOODWILL

The following is a roll-forward of the Company’s intangible franchise rights and goodwill accounts:



	Intangible Franchise Rights			Goodwill
	(In thousands)
BALANCE, December 31, 2010	$	158,694		$	507,962		(1)
Additions through acquisitions	11,994			23,636
Disposals	—			—
Currency Translation	(1		)	(6		)
Tax adjustments	—			(134		)
BALANCE, December 31, 2011	170,687			531,458			(1)
Additions through acquisitions	33,703			51,699
Disposals	(1,661		)	(1,309		)
Impairments	(6,988		)	—
Currency Translation	317			670
Tax adjustments	—			(134		)
BALANCE, December 31, 2012	$	196,058		$	582,384		(1)

⁽¹⁾Net of accumulated impairment of $40.3 million

The increase in the Company’s goodwill in 2012 is primarily related to the goodwill associated with the purchase of six franchises in the U.K., three franchises in Florida, two franchises in both in Texas and Kansas and one franchise in each of Oklahoma, Georgia and South Carolina.

The increase in the Company’s goodwill in 2011 is primarily related to the goodwill associated with the purchase of eleven franchises at seven dealership locations in Texas. The Company was also awarded three franchises during 2011 in Texas and California.

The increase in the Company’s intangible franchise rights in 2012 is primarily related to the acquisitions described above in the U.K., Florida, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, and South Carolina.

The increase in the Company’s intangible franchise rights in 2011 is primarily related to the acquisitions described above in Texas and California.

Employee Savings Plans	12 Months Ended
Employee Savings Plans	Dec. 31, 2012
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLANS	EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLANS The Company has a deferred compensation plan to provide select employees and members of the Company’s Board of Directors with the opportunity to accumulate additional savings for retirement on a tax-deferred basis (“Deferred Compensation Plan”). Participants in the Deferred Compensation Plan are allowed to defer receipt of a portion of their salary and/or bonus compensation, or in the case of the Company’s non-employee directors, annual retainer and meeting fees, earned. The participants can choose from various defined investment options to determine their earnings crediting rate; however, the Company has complete discretion over how the funds are utilized. Participants in the Deferred Compensation Plan are unsecured creditors of the Company. The balances due to participants of the Deferred Compensation Plan as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 were $26.2 million and $22.1 million, respectively, and are included in other liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company offers a 401(k) plan to all of its employees. For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the matching contributions paid by the Company totaled $3.7 million and $3.2 million, respectively.

Operating Leases

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Leases [Abstract]

OPERATING LEASES

The Company leases various facilities and equipment under long-term operating lease agreements. The facility leases typically have a minimum term of 15 years with options that extend the term up to an additional 15 years.

Future minimum lease payments for non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2012, are as follows:




	Total
	(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
2013	$	45,886
2014	41,141
2015	36,497
2016	33,910
2017	29,473
Thereafter	76,030
Total ⁽¹⁾	$	262,937

⁽¹⁾ Includes $4.0 million of future, non-cancelable sublease payments to be received.

Total rent expense under all operating leases was $50.4 million, $48.3 million, and $51.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of a lessee's leasing arrangements including: (1) the basis on which contingent rental payments are determined, (2) the existence and terms of renewal or purchase options and escalation clauses, (3) restrictions imposed by lease arrangements, such as those concerning dividends, additional debt, and further leasing, (4) rent holidays, rent concessions, or leasehold improvement incentives and unusual provisions or conditions. Disclosure may also include the specific period used to amortize material leasehold improvements made at the inception of the lease or during the lease term. Additionally, for operating leases having initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year: (a) future minimum rental payments required as of the date of the latest balance sheet presented, in the aggregate and for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) the total of minimum rentals to be received in the future under noncancelable subleases as of the date of the latest balance sheet presented, and (c) for all operating leases, rental expense for each period for which an income statement is presented, with separate amounts for minimum rentals, contingent rentals, and sublease rentals. Rental payments under leases with terms of a month or less that were not renewed need not be included.

+ References + Details

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Equity [Abstract]

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:



	Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Translation			Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities			Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Swaps			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	(In thousands)
BALANCE, December 31, 2009	$	(7,258	)	$	104		$	(19,102	)	$	(26,256	)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(594		)	(54		)	8,149			7,501
BALANCE, December 31, 2010	(7,852		)	50			(10,953		)	(18,755		)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(117		)	(42		)	(10,322		)	(10,481		)
BALANCE, December 31, 2011	(7,969		)	8			(21,275		)	(29,236		)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,843			(8		)	(5,656		)	(3,821		)
BALANCE, December 31, 2012	$	(6,126	)	$	—		$	(26,931	)	$	(33,057	)

- Definition

The entire disclosure for comprehensive income, which includes, but is not limited to, 1) the amount of income tax expense or benefit allocated to each component of other comprehensive income, including reclassification adjustments, 2) the reclassification adjustments for each classification of other comprehensive income and 3) the ending accumulated balances for each component of comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=d3e689-108580

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=SL7669619-108580

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=d3e716-108580

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
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-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Reclassification Adjustments
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6522872

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 14-26
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block]

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)



	Quarter
	First		Second		Third		Fourth		Full Year
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
2012
Total revenues	$	1,664,745	$	1,895,826	$	1,976,572	$	1,938,957	$	7,476,100
Gross profit	260,424		285,344		291,231		280,253		1,117,252
Net income	23,117		28,625		31,335		17,132		100,209
Basic earnings per share⁽¹⁾	1.01		1.25		1.38		0.75		4.39
Diluted earnings per share⁽¹⁾	0.97		1.20		1.32		0.70		4.19
2011
Total revenues	$	1,409,302	$	1,474,145	$	1,570,389	$	1,625,929	$	6,079,765
Gross profit	221,775		244,211		248,753		245,861		960,600
Net income	15,362		24,683		21,494		20,855		82,394
Basic earnings per share⁽¹⁾	0.64		1.03		0.92		0.92		3.50
Diluted earnings per share⁽¹⁾	0.64		1.03		0.91		0.90		3.47

(1) The sum of the quarterly income per share amounts may not equal the annual amount reported, as per share amounts are computed independently for each quarter and for the full year based on the respective weighted average common shares outstanding.

During 2012, the Company incurred charges of $7.3 million related to the impairment of assets, of which $7.0 million was incurred during the fourth quarter, primarily related to the Company’s intangible assets other than goodwill.

During 2011, the Company incurred charges of $4.8 million related to the impairment of assets, of which $0.8 million was incurred during the fourth quarter, primarily related to the impairment of certain leasehold improvements.

For more information on non-cash impairment charges, refer to Note 15, “Asset Impairments.”

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the quarterly financial data in the annual financial statements. The disclosure may include a tabular presentation of financial information for each fiscal quarter for the current and previous year, including revenues, gross profit, income or loss before extraordinary items and earnings per share data. It also includes an indication if the information in the note is unaudited, comments on the aggregate effect of year-end adjustments, and an explanation of matters or transactions that affect comparability or are pertinent to an understanding of the information furnished.

+ References + Details

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Subsequent Events	Dec. 31, 2012
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	SUBSEQUENT EVENTS On January 24, 2013, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire all of the outstanding stock of UAB Motors Particpações S.A. ("UAB Motors"), an automotive retailing operator in Brazil, which is a growing retail automotive market. As of the targeted closing date, UAB Motors will operate 18 dealerships and 21 franchises, including two Toyota, three Renault, four Nissan, four BMW, two MINI, three Peugeot, two Land Rover, and one Jaguar, as well as five collision centers, and one motorcycle dealership.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date and the amounts of revenues and expenses recognized during the reporting period. Management analyzes the Company’s estimates based on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances; however, actual results could differ from such estimates. The significant estimates made by management in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements relate to inventory market adjustments, reserves for future chargebacks on finance and vehicle service contract fees, self-insured property/casualty insurance exposure, the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, the valuation of goodwill and intangible franchise rights, and reserves for potential litigation.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation All acquisitions of dealerships completed during the periods presented have been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting, and their results of operations are included from the effective dates of the closings of the acquisitions. The allocations of purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are assigned and recorded based on estimates of fair value. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition Revenues from vehicle sales, parts sales and vehicle service are recognized upon completion of the sale or service and delivery to the customer. Conditions to completing a sale include having an agreement with the customer, including pricing, and the sales price must be reasonably expected to be collected. The Company includes revenues from its collision center operations in parts and services sales. The Company records the profit it receives for arranging vehicle fleet transactions, net, in other finance and insurance revenues. Since all sales of new vehicles must occur through franchised new vehicle dealerships, the dealerships effectively act as agents for the automobile manufacturers in completing sales of vehicles to fleet customers. As these customers typically order the vehicles, the Company has no significant general inventory risk. Additionally, fleet customers generally receive special purchase incentives from the automobile manufacturers and the Company receives only a nominal fee for facilitating the transactions. Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental agencies are not included in total revenues. The Company arranges financing for customers through various institutions and receives financing fees based on the difference between the loan rates charged to customers and wholesale financing rates set by the financing institution. In addition, the Company receives fees from the sale of insurance and vehicle service contracts to customers. Further, through agreements with certain vehicle service contract administrators, the Company earns volume incentive rebates and interest income on reserves, as well as participates in the underwriting profits of the products. The Company may be charged back for unearned financing, insurance contract or vehicle service contract fees in the event of early termination of the contracts by customers. Revenues from these fees are recorded at the time of the sale of the vehicles, and a reserve for future amounts which might be charged back is established based on the Company’s historical chargeback results and the termination provisions of the applicable contracts. While chargeback results vary depending on the type of contract sold, a 10% change in the historical chargeback results used in determining estimates of future amounts which might be charged back would have changed the reserve at December 31, 2012 by $2.2 million.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits and various other short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, cash and cash equivalents excluded $112.3 million and $109.2 million, respectively, of immediately available funds used to pay down the Floorplan Line of the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined in Note 11, “Credit Facilities”), which is the Company’s primary vehicle for the short-term investment of excess cash.
Contracts-in-Transit and Vehicle Receivables	Contracts-in-Transit and Vehicle Receivables Contracts-in-transit and vehicle receivables consist primarily of amounts due from financing institutions on retail finance contracts from vehicle sales and dealer incentives due from manufacturers. Also included are amounts receivable from vehicle wholesale sales.
Inventories	Inventories New, used and demonstrator vehicle inventories are carried at the lower of specific cost or market and are removed from inventory using the specific identification method in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Parts and accessories inventories are valued at lower of cost (determined on a first-in, first-out basis) or market in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Vehicle inventory cost consists of the amount paid to acquire the inventory, plus the cost of reconditioning, cost of equipment added and transportation cost. Additionally, the Company receives interest assistance from some of the automobile manufacturers. This assistance is accounted for as a vehicle purchase price discount and is reflected as a reduction to the inventory cost on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and as a reduction to cost of sales in its Statements of Operations as the vehicles are sold. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, inventory cost had been reduced by $7.8 million and $5.5 million, respectively, for interest assistance received from manufacturers. New vehicle cost of sales was reduced by $33.9 million, $26.1 million and $24.0 million for interest assistance received related to vehicles sold for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The assistance over the past three years has ranged from approximately 69.2% of the Company’s quarterly floorplan interest expense in the first quarter of 2010 to 115.9% for the third quarter of 2012, and was 103.2% for the fourth quarter of 2012. As the market value of inventory typically declines over time, the Company establishes new and used vehicle reserves based on its historical loss experience and management’s considerations of current market trends. These reserves are charged to cost of sales and reduce the carrying value of inventory on hand. Used vehicles are complex to value as there is no standardized source for determining exact values and each vehicle and each market in which the Company operates is unique. As a result, the value of each used vehicle taken at trade-in, or purchased at auction, is determined based on industry data, primarily accessed via the Company’s used vehicle management software and the industry expertise of the responsible used vehicle manager. Valuation risk is partially mitigated by the speed at which the Company turns this inventory. At December 31, 2012, the Company’s used vehicle days’ supply was 38 days . The Company incurs shipping costs in regards to selling the parts inventory to customers. The cost of shipping these parts is included in cost of sales on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Property and Equipment	Property and Equipment Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are capitalized and amortized over the lesser of the estimated term of the lease or the estimated useful life of the asset. The amortization of assets recorded under capital leases is included with depreciation and amortization expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Expenditures for major additions or improvements, which extend the useful lives of assets, are capitalized. Minor replacements, maintenance and repairs, which do not improve or extend the lives of the assets, are expensed as incurred. Disposals are removed at cost less accumulated depreciation, and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in current operations. The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows whenever there is evidence that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable (i.e., triggering events). This review consists of comparing the carrying amount of the asset with its expected future undiscounted cash flows without interest costs. If the asset’s carrying amount is greater than such cash flow estimate, then it is required to be written down to its fair value. Estimates of expected future cash flows represent management’s best estimate based on currently available information and reasonable and supportable assumptions. See Note 15, “Asset Impairments,” for additional details regarding the Company’s impairment of long-lived assets.
Goodwill	Goodwill Effective with the consolidation of the three U.S. regions into two as of July 1, 2011, the Company defines its reporting units as its two regions in the U.S. and its region in the U.K. Goodwill represents the excess, at the date of acquisition, of the purchase price of the business acquired over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired. Annually in the fourth quarter, based on the carrying values of the Company’s regions as of October 31^st, the Company performs a fair value and potential impairment assessment of its goodwill. An impairment analysis is done more frequently if certain events or circumstances arise that would indicate a change in the fair value of the non-financial asset has occurred (i.e., an impairment indicator). In evaluating its goodwill, the Company compares the carrying value of the net assets of each reporting unit to its respective fair value, which is calculated by using unobservable inputs based upon the Company’s internally developed assumptions. This represents the first step of the impairment test. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying value of its net assets, the Company must proceed to step two of the impairment test. Step two involves allocating the calculated fair value to all of the tangible and identifiable intangible assets of the reporting unit as if the calculated fair value was the purchase price in a business combination. The Company then compares the value of the implied goodwill resulting from this second step to the carrying value of the goodwill in the reporting unit. To the extent the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds its implied fair value under step two of the impairment test, a non-cash impairment charge equal to the difference is recorded. The Company uses a combination of the discounted cash flow, or income approach (80% weighted), and the market approach (20% weighted) to determine the fair value of the Company’s reporting units. Included in the discounted cash flow are assumptions regarding revenue growth rates, future gross margins, future SG&A expenses and an estimated WACC. The Company also must estimate residual values at the end of the forecast period and future capital expenditure requirements. Specifically, with regards to the valuation assumptions utilized in the income approach as of October 31, 2012, the Company based its analysis on a recovery back to an industry sales rate of 16.5 million units by 2017. For the market approach, the Company utilizes recent market multiples of guideline companies for both revenue (20% weighted) and pretax net income (80% weighted). Each of these assumptions requires the Company to use its knowledge of (1) the industry, (2) recent transactions and (3) reasonable performance expectations for its operations. If any one of the above assumptions change or fails to materialize, the resulting decline in the estimated fair value could result in a material, non-cash impairment charge to the goodwill associated with the reporting unit(s). At October 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the fair value of each of the Company’s reporting units exceeded the carrying value of its net assets (i.e., step one of the impairment test). As a result, the Company was not required to conduct the second step of the impairment test. However, if in future periods the Company determines that the carrying amount of the net assets of one or more of its reporting units exceeds the respective fair value as a result of step one, the Company believes that the application of step two of the impairment test could result in a material non-cash impairment charge to the goodwill associated with the reporting unit(s). See Note 16, “Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill”, for additional details regarding the Company’s goodwill.
Intangible Franchise Rights	Intangible Franchise Rights The Company’s only significant identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill, are rights under franchise agreements with manufacturers, which are recorded at an individual dealership level. The Company expects these franchise agreements to continue for an indefinite period and, for agreements that do not have indefinite terms, based on the history with the manufacturer the Company believes that renewal of these agreements can be obtained without substantial cost. As such, the Company believes that its franchise agreements will contribute to cash flows for an indefinite period and, therefore, the carrying amounts of the franchise rights are not amortized. Franchise rights acquired in business acquisitions prior to July 1, 2001, were recorded and amortized as part of goodwill and remain as part of goodwill at December 31, 2012 and 2011 in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Since July 1, 2001, intangible franchise rights acquired in business combinations have been recorded as distinctly separate intangible assets. In accordance with guidance primarily codified within ASC 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other, the Company evaluates these franchise rights for impairment annually in the fourth quarter, based on the carrying values of the Company’s individual dealerships as of October 31^st, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate possible impairment has occurred. In performing its impairment assessments, the Company tests the carrying value of each individual franchise right that was recorded by using a direct value method discounted cash flow model, or income approach, specifically the excess earnings method. Included in this analysis are assumptions, at a dealership level, regarding the cash flows directly attributable to the franchise rights, revenue growth rates, future gross margins and future SG&A expenses. Using an estimated WACC, estimated residual values at the end of the forecast period and estimated future capital expenditure requirements, the Company calculates the fair value of each dealership’s franchise rights. As of October 31, 2012 the Company determined that the carrying value of certain of the intangible franchise rights was greater than the fair value and as such a $7.0 million pre-tax non-cash impairment was recognized. Further, as it relates to the Company’s annual impairment assessment for 2011 and 2010, the fair value of the Company’s intangible franchise rights was determined to exceed the carrying value of such assets as of the measurement date. See Note 16, “Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill”, for additional details regarding the Company’s intangible franchise rights.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Currently, the Company operates in 15 different states in the U.S. and in the U.K., each of which has unique tax rates and payment calculations. As the amount of income generated in each jurisdiction varies from period to period, the Company’s estimated effective tax rate can vary based on the proportion of taxable income generated in each jurisdiction. The Company follows the liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recorded based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the underlying assets are realized or liabilities are settled. A valuation allowance reduces deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company has recognized deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances, that it believes will be realized, based primarily on the assumption of future taxable income. As it relates to net operating losses, a corresponding valuation allowance has been established to the extent that the Company has determined that net income attributable to certain states jurisdictions will not be sufficient to realize the benefit.
Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities	Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, contracts-in-transit and vehicle receivables, accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable, credit facilities, long-term debt and interest rate swaps. The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, contracts-in-transit and vehicle receivables, accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable, and credit facilities approximate their carrying values due to the short-term nature of these instruments or the existence of variable interest rates. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the $115.0 million face value of the Company’s outstanding 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 (“3.00% Notes”) had a carrying value, net of applicable discount, of $80.7 million and $77.4 million, respectively, and a fair value, based on quoted market prices, of $203.5 million and $170.6 million, respectively. Also, as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the face value of the Company’s outstanding 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2036 (“2.25% Notes”) was $182.8 million. The 2.25% Notes had a carrying value, net of applicable discount, of $152.4 million and $145.0 million, respectively, and a fair value, based on quoted market prices, of $214.6 million and $192.3 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Company considers the quoted market prices for the 3.00% Notes and 2.25% Notes to constitute Level 2 inputs, since the market for these instruments is not active.
Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed	Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed The fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations are estimated using various assumptions. The most significant assumptions, and those requiring the most judgment, involve the estimated fair values of property and equipment and intangible franchise rights, with the remaining amounts attributable to goodwill, if any. The Company utilizes third-party experts to determine the fair values of property and equipment purchased, including real estate and its fair value model as discussed under Intangible Franchise Rights.
Foreign Currency Translation	Foreign Currency Translation The functional currency for the Company’s U.K. subsidiaries is the Pound Sterling. The financial statements of all the Company’s foreign subsidiaries have been translated into U.S. Dollars. All assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into U.S. Dollars using period-end exchange rates and all revenues and expenses are translated at average rates during the respective period. The difference in the U.S. Dollar results that arise from the translation of all assets and liabilities are included in the cumulative currency translation adjustments in accumulated other comprehensive income/loss in stockholders’ equity and other income/expense, when applicable.
Derivative Financial Instruments	Derivative Financial Instruments One of the Company’s primary market risk exposures is increasing interest rates. Interest rate derivatives, designated as cash flow hedges, are used to adjust interest rate exposures when appropriate based on market conditions. The Company follows the requirements of guidance primarily codified within ASC 815 pertaining to the accounting for derivatives and hedging activities. ASC 815 requires the Company to recognize all cash flow hedges on its balance sheet at fair value. The related gains or losses on these interest rate derivatives are deferred in stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. These deferred gains and losses are recognized in interest expense in the period in which the related items being hedged are recognized in interest expense. However, to the extent that the change in value of a derivative contract does not perfectly offset the change in the value of the items being hedged, that ineffective portion is immediately recognized in other income or expense. Monthly contractual settlements of these swap positions are recognized as floorplan or other interest expense in the Company's accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. All of the Company’s interest rate hedges were designated as cash flow hedges and were deemed to be effective at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010. The Company measures its interest rate derivative instruments utilizing an income approach valuation technique, converting future amounts of cash flows to a single present value in order to obtain a transfer exit price within the bid and ask spread that is most representative of the fair value of its derivative instruments. In measuring fair value, the Company utilizes the option-pricing Black-Scholes present value technique for all of its derivative instruments. This option-pricing technique utilizes a one-month LIBOR forward yield curve, obtained from an independent external service provider, matched to the identical maturity term of the instrument being measured. Observable inputs utilized in the income approach valuation technique incorporate identical contractual notional amounts, fixed coupon rates, periodic terms for interest payments and contract maturity. The fair value estimate of the interest rate derivative instruments also considers the credit risk of the Company for instruments in a liability position or the counterparty for instruments in an asset position. The credit risk is calculated by using the spread between the one-month LIBOR yield curve and the relevant average 10 and 20-year retail rate according to Standard and Poor’s. The Company has determined the valuation measurement inputs of these derivative instruments to maximize the use of observable inputs that market participants would use in pricing similar or identical instruments and market data obtained from independent sources, which is readily observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the derivative instrument. Accordingly, the Company has classified the derivatives within Level 2 of the ASC 820 hierarchy framework in Note 13, “Fair Value Measurements.” The Company validates the outputs of its valuation technique by comparison to valuations from the respective counterparties. See Note 4, "Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities," and Note 13, "Fair Value Measurements," for further details regarding the Company's derivative financial instruments and fair value measurements.
Factory Incentives	Factory Incentives In addition to the interest assistance discussed above, the Company receives various dealer incentive payments from certain of the automobile manufacturers. These incentive payments are typically received on parts purchases from the automobile manufacturers and on new vehicle retail sales. These incentives are reflected as reductions of cost of sales in the statement of operations.
Earnings Per Share	Earnings Per Share The Company utilizes the two-class method for the computation of EPS. The two-class method requires a portion of net income to be allocated to participating securities, which are unvested awards of share-based payments with non-forfeitable rights to receive dividends or dividend equivalents. The Company’s restricted stock awards qualify as participating securities as each contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends. Income allocated to these participating securities is excluded from net earnings available to common shares. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income available to basic common shares by the weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income available to diluted common shares by the weighted average number of dilutive common shares outstanding during the period.
Advertising	Advertising The Company expenses the costs of advertising as incurred. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, totaled $54.1 million, $46.7 million and $45.0 million, respectively. Additionally, the Company receives advertising assistance from some of the automobile manufacturers. The assistance is accounted for as an advertising expense reimbursement and is reflected as a reduction of advertising expense in the income statement as the vehicles are sold, and in accrued expenses on the balance sheet for amounts related to vehicles still in inventory on that date. Advertising expense has been reduced by $23.7 million, $17.6 million and $15.4 million for advertising assistance received related to vehicles sold for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the accrued expenses caption of the Consolidated Balance Sheets included $4.1 million and $3.0 million, respectively, related to deferrals of advertising assistance received from the manufacturers.
Business and Credit Risk Concentrations	Business and Credit Risk Concentrations The Company owns and operates franchised automotive dealerships in the U.S. and in the U.K. Automotive dealerships operate pursuant to franchise agreements with vehicle manufacturers. Franchise agreements generally provide the manufacturers or distributors with considerable influence over the operations of the dealership and generally provide for termination of the franchise agreement for a variety of causes. The success of any franchised automotive dealership is dependent, to a large extent, on the financial condition, management, marketing, production and distribution capabilities of the vehicle manufacturers or distributors of which the Company holds franchises. The Company purchases substantially all of its new vehicles from various manufacturers or distributors at the prevailing prices to all franchised dealers. The Company’s sales volume could be adversely impacted by the manufacturers’ or distributors’ inability to supply the dealerships with an adequate supply of vehicles. For the year ended December 31, 2012, Toyota (including Lexus, Scion and Toyota brands), Nissan (including Infiniti and Nissan brands), BMW (including MINI and BMW brands), Honda (including Acura and Honda brands), Ford (including Ford and Lincoln brands), Volkswagen (including Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen brands), General Motors (including Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac brands), Daimler (including Mercedes-Benz, smart, Sprinter and Maybach brands), Chrysler (including Chrysler, Dodge, RAM and Jeep brands) and Hyundai (including Hyundai and Kia brands) accounted for 30.3%, 11.4%, 11.3%, 11.1%, 9.3%, 6.6%, 5.6%, 5.1%, 4.4%, and 3.1% of the Company’s new vehicle sales volume, respectively. No other manufacturer accounted for more than 3.0% of the Company’s total new vehicle sales volume in 2012. Through the use of an open account, the Company purchases and returns parts and accessories from/to the manufacturers and receives reimbursement for rebates, incentives and other earned credits. As of December 31, 2012, the Company was due $64.0 million from various manufacturers (see Note 8, “Accounts and Notes Receivable”). Receivable balances from BMW, Daimler, Toyota, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Honda and Hyundai represented 12.4%, 17.2%, 19.6%, 14.6%, 11.1%, 7.9%, 2.4%, 5.7% , 3.9% and 2.4%, respectively, of this total balance due from manufacturers.
Statements of Cash Flows	Statements of Cash Flows With respect to all new vehicle floorplan borrowings, the manufacturers of the vehicles draft the Company’s credit facilities directly with no cash flow to or from the Company. With respect to borrowings for used vehicle financing, the Company finances up to 80% of the value of the used vehicle inventory, except in the U.K., and the funds flow directly to the Company from the lender. All borrowings from, and repayments to, lenders affiliated with the vehicle manufacturers (excluding the cash flows from or to manufacturer affiliated lenders participating in the Company’s syndicated lending group) are presented within Cash Flows from Operating Activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and all borrowings from, and repayments to, the syndicated lending group under the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined in Note 11, “Credit Facilities”) (including the cash flows from or to manufacturer affiliated lenders participating in the facility) are presented within Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Cash paid for interest was $55.8 million, $52.7 million and $54.8 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds, was $38.6 million and $28.6 million in 2012 and 2011, respectively, and cash refunded for income taxes was $1.8 million in 2010
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation Stock-based compensation represents the expense related to stock-based awards granted to employees and non-employee directors. The Company measures stock-based compensation expense at grant date based on the estimated fair value of the award and recognizes the cost on a straight-line basis, net of estimated forfeitures, over the employee requisite service period. The Company estimates the fair value of its employee stock purchase rights issued pursuant to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan using a Black-Scholes valuation model. The expense for stock-based awards is recognized as an SG&A expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Business Segment Information	Business Segment Information The Company, through its regions, operates in the automotive retailing industry. All of the operating companies sell new and used cars and light trucks, arrange related vehicle financing, service and insurance contracts, provide automotive maintenance and repair services and sell vehicle parts. The operating companies are similar in that they deliver the same products and services to a common customer group, their customers are generally individuals, they follow the same procedures and methods in managing their operations, and they operate in similar regulatory environments. Additionally, the Company’s management evaluates performance and allocates resources based on the operating results of the individual operating companies. For the reasons discussed above, all of the operating companies have been aggregated into one reportable segment under guidance issued by the FASB. Accordingly, the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements reflect the operating results of the Company’s reportable segment. By geographic area, the Company’s sales to external customers from its domestic operations for the year ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were $6,954.0 million, $5,760.2 million and $5,225.5 million respectively, and from its foreign operations were $522.1 million, $319.5 million and $283.6 million, respectively. The Company’s domestic long-lived assets other than goodwill, intangible assets and financial instruments as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were $642.8 million, $569.4 million and $484.5 million, respectively, and foreign long-lived assets other than financial instruments as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were $35.6 million, $28.0 million and $29.5 million, respectively.
Self-Insured Medical, Property and Casualty Reserves	Self-Insured Medical, Property and Casualty Reserves The Company purchases insurance policies for worker’s compensation, liability, auto physical damage, property, pollution, employee medical benefits and other risks consisting of large deductibles and/or self-insured retentions. Annually, the Company engages a third-party actuary to conduct a study of the exposures under the self-insured portion of its worker’s compensation and general liability insurance programs for all open policy years. In the interim, the Company reviews the estimates within the study and monitors actual experience for unusual variances. The appropriate adjustments are made to the accrual, based upon these procedures. Actuarial estimates for the portion of claims not covered by insurance are based on historical claims experience adjusted for loss trending and loss development factors. Changes in the frequency or severity of claims from historical levels could influence the Company’s reserve for claims and its financial position, results of operations and cash flows. A 10% change in the actuarially determined estimate of aggregate future losses would have changed the reserve for these losses at December 31, 2012, by $2.7 million. The Company’s auto physical damage insurance coverage contains an annual aggregate retention (stop loss) limit. For policy years ended prior to October 31, 2005, the Company’s workers’ compensation and general liability insurance coverage included aggregate retention (stop loss) limits in addition to a per claim deductible limit (“Stop Loss Plans”). Due to historical experience in both claims frequency and severity, the likelihood of breaching the aggregate retention limits described above was deemed remote, and as such, the Company elected not to purchase this stop loss coverage for the policy year beginning November 1, 2005 and for each subsequent year (“No Stop Loss Plans”). The Company’s exposure per claim under the No Stop Loss Plans is limited to $1.0 million per occurrence, with unlimited exposure on the number of claims up to $1.0 million that may be incurred. The Company’s maximum potential exposure under all of the Stop Loss Plans totaled $40.4 million at December 31, 2012, before consideration of amounts previously paid or accruals recorded related to the Company’s loss projections. After consideration of the amounts paid or accrued, the remaining potential loss exposure under the Stop Loss Plans totaled $16.7 million at December 31, 2012.
Accounting for Convertible Debt	Accounting for Convertible Debt The Company separately accounts for the liability and equity components of its convertible debt instruments in a manner that reflects the issuer’s economic interest cost. Upon issuance of a convertible debt instrument, the Company estimated the fair value of the debt component. The resulting residual value is determined to be the fair value of the equity component of the Company’s convertible debt and, until convertible, is included in the paid-in-capital section of stockholder’s equity, net of applicable taxes, on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The value of the equity component is treated as an original issue discount for purposes of accounting for the debt component, which is amortized as non-cash interest expense through the date that the convertible debt is first able to be put to the Company. See Note 12, “Long-term Debt”, for further details on the impact of this convertible debt accounting to the Company’s financial statements.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-4, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. This update changes certain fair value measurement principles and enhances the disclosure requirements, particularly Level 3 fair value measurements. The Company adopted ASU 2011-04 as of March 31, 2012. It did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations. In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-5, Presentation of Comprehensive Income. This update requires entities to present the total of comprehensive income, the component of net income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This update removes the requirement to present reclassifications items out of the statement of comprehensive income statement as required y ASU 2011-5. All other requirements outlined in ASU 2011-5 remain applicable. These ASU's are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011 with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted the ASU's as of March 31, 2012. It affected the presentation of comprehensive income, but did not have an impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations. In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-8, Testing Goodwill for Impairment. This update permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (likelihood more than 50%) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The Company adopted ASU 2011-08 as of March 31, 2012 and it did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations. In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment. This update gives an entity the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (likelihood more than 50%) that the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets is impaired as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test. This ASU is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. The Company does not expect this update to have a material effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-10, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. This update requires additional disclosures related to offsetting either in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) or master netting arrangements. This ASU is effective for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2013 and will be adopted by the Company as of March 31, 2013, The Company expects that this ASU will have an impact on future disclosures in the Company's consolidated financial statements regarding its derivative financial instruments.

Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Amount of Unrealized Gain, Net of Tax, Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income



	Amount of Unrealized Gain (Loss), Net of Tax, Recognized in OCI
	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
	(In thousands)
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationship
Interest rate swap contracts	$	(12,724	)	$	(18,705	)	$	(6,922	)

	Amount of Loss Reclassified from OCI into Statement of Operations
	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
	(In thousands)
Location of Loss Reclassified from OCI into Statements of Operations
Floorplan interest expense	$	(10,144	)	$	(12,398	)	$	(21,126	)
Other interest expense	(1,165		)	(1,014		)	(2,988		)

Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Restricted Stock Awards



	Awards		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2011	1,154,004		$	28.30
Granted	336,524		55.05
Vested	(366,756	)	24.25
Forfeited	(100,422	)	31.97
Nonvested at December 31, 2012	1,023,350		$	38.19

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Basic and Diluted Earnings per share

The following table sets forth the calculation of EPS for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2010
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding	21,620		22,157		22,767
Dilutive effect of contingently convertible notes and warrants	1,058		238		—
Dilutive effect of stock options, net of assumed repurchase of treasury stock	4		8		12
Dilutive effect of employee stock purchases, net of assumed repurchase of treasury stock	6		6		9
Weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding	22,688		22,409		22,788
Basic:
Net income	$	100,209	$	82,394	$	50,304
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities	5,269		4,765		2,675
Earnings available to basic common shares	$	94,940	$	77,629	$	47,629
Basic earnings per common share	$	4.39	$	3.50	$	2.09
Diluted:
Net income	$	100,209	$	82,394	$	50,304
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities	5,062		4,721		2,673
Earnings available to diluted common shares	$	95,147	$	77,673	$	47,631
Diluted earnings per common share	$	4.19	$	3.47	$	2.09

Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income before income taxes by geographic area

Income before income taxes by geographic area was as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2010
	(In thousands)
Domestic	$	153,347	$	128,041	$	78,218
Foreign	7,388		4,053		2,686
Total income before income taxes	$	160,735	$	132,094	$	80,904

Federal, state and foreign income taxes

Federal, state and foreign income taxes were as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011		2010
	(In thousands)
Federal:
Current	$	38,129		$	21,013	$	4,920
Deferred	14,926			22,913		21,271
State:
Current	3,956			2,934		1,397
Deferred	1,783			1,854		2,339
Foreign:
Current	1,947			928		883
Deferred	(215		)	58		(210		)
Provision for income taxes	$	60,526		$	49,700	$	30,600

Difference between the income tax computation by the company and the statutory body

Actual income tax expense differed from income tax expense computed by applying the U.S. federal statutory corporate tax rate of 35% to income before income taxes in 2012, 2011 and 2010 as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
	(In thousands)
Provision at the U.S. federal statutory rate	$	56,257		$	46,233		$	28,316
Increase (decrease) resulting from:
State income tax, net of benefit for federal deduction	3,455			3,492			2,502
Foreign income tax rate differential	(854		)	(433		)	(267		)
Employment credits	(291		)	(717		)	(252		)
Changes in valuation allowances	183			(213		)	213
Stock-based compensation	201			79			71
Other	1,575			1,259			17
Provision for income taxes	$	60,526		$	49,700		$	30,600

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]

The tax effects of these temporary differences representing deferred tax assets/liabilities resulted principally from the following:



	December 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Loss reserves and accruals	$	34,208		$	27,908
Interest rate swaps	16,158			12,765
Convertible note hedge on 3.00% Notes	13,961			15,250
Convertible note hedge on 2.25% Notes	9,808			12,722
State net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards	13,720			13,557
Deferred tax assets	87,855			82,202
Valuation allowance on state NOL	(11,393		)	(11,156		)
Net deferred tax assets	$	76,462		$	71,046
Deferred tax liabilities:
Goodwill and intangible franchise rights	(92,900		)	(79,100		)
Depreciation expense	(33,371		)	(26,447		)
Discount on 3.00% Notes	(11,728		)	(12,876		)
Discount on 2.25% Notes	(10,647		)	(13,247		)
Other	(1,374		)	(1,788		)
Deferred tax liabilities	(150,020		)	(133,458		)
Net deferred tax liability	$	(73,558	)	$	(62,412	)

Accounts and Notes Receivable (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Receivables [Abstract]

Accounts and notes receivable

The Company’s accounts and notes receivable consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Amounts due from manufacturers	$	64,039	$	48,912
Parts and service receivables	17,879		16,956
Finance and insurance receivables, net	16,060		16,755
Other	14,895		11,395
Total accounts and notes receivable	112,873		94,018
Less allowance for doubtful accounts	1,645		1,243
Accounts and notes receivable	$	111,228	$	92,775

Inventories (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of inventories

The Company’s inventories consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
New vehicles	$	895,484		$	611,931
Used vehicles	184,775			154,420
Rental vehicles	68,014			59,096
Parts, accessories and other	50,370			44,445
Lower of cost or market reserves	(4,355		)	(2,422		)
Inventories	$	1,194,288		$	867,470

Property and Equipment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property and equipment

The Company’s property and equipment consisted of the following:



	Estimated Useful Lives in Years	December 31,
	Estimated Useful Lives in Years	2012		2011
		(In thousands)
Land	—	$	232,944	$	211,754
Buildings	30 to 40	331,526		284,638
Leasehold improvements	varies	97,651		86,084
Machinery and equipment	7 to 20	69,630		59,316
Furniture and fixtures	3 to 10	61,627		54,406
Company vehicles	3 to 5	9,239		9,877
Construction in progress	—	28,188		16,719
Total		830,805		722,794
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		163,037		137,161
Property and equipment, net		$	667,768	$	585,633

Credit Facilities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Credit Facilities [Abstract]

Outstanding balances under financing arrangements

The outstanding balances under these financing arrangements were as follows:



	December 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Floorplan notes payable — credit facility
New vehicles	$	837,436		$	603,313
Used vehicles	112,261			98,587
Rental vehicles	19,262			17,045
Floorplan offset	(112,261		)	(109,207		)
Total	$	856,698		$	609,738
Floorplan notes payable — manufacturer affiliates
FMCC Facility	$	143,028		$	107,587
Other and rental vehicles	68,937			48,393
Total	$	211,965		$	155,980

Long-Term Debt (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Summary of long-term debt

The Company carries its long-term debt at face value, net of applicable discounts. Long-term debt consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2012		2011
	(In thousands)
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2036 (principal of $182,753 at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	$	152,363	$	144,985
3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 (principal of $115,000 at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	80,706		77,401
Mortgage Facility	56,677		41,003
Other Real Estate Related and Long-Term Debt	249,710		194,580
Capital Lease Obligations Related to Real Estate, maturing in varying amounts through November 2032 with a weighted average interest rate of 11.9%	38,232		39,295
	577,688		497,264
Less current maturities of mortgage facility and other long-term debt	22,672		14,663
	$	555,016	$	482,601

Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt [Table Text Block]

The aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt for the next five years are as follows:



	Total
	(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
2013	$	22,672
2014	24,774
2015	29,018
2016	96,020
2017	96,784
Thereafter	308,420
Total	$	577,688

Convertible Senior Notes Due Two Zero Two Zero [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Carrying Value Of Notes Related Discount And Equity Component Table [Text Block]

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the carrying value of the 3.00% Notes, related discount and equity component consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Carrying amount of equity component	$	25,359		$	25,359
Allocated underwriter fees, net of taxes	(760		)	(760		)
Allocated debt issuance cost, net of taxes	(112		)	(112		)
Total net equity component	$	24,487		$	24,487
Deferred income tax component	$	11,844		$	12,956
Principal amount of 3.00% Notes	$	115,000		$	115,000
Unamortized discount	(32,505		)	(35,638		)
Unamortized underwriter fees	(1,789		)	(1,961		)
Net carrying amount of liability component	$	80,706		$	77,401
Unamortized debt issuance cost	$	264		$	289

Contractual Interest Expense And Discount Amortization Table [Text Block]



	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011
	(Dollars in thousands)
Year-to-date contractual interest expense	$	3,450		$	3,461
Year-to-date discount amortization⁽¹⁾	$	2,966		$	2,706
Effective interest rate of liability component	8.6		%	8.6		%

⁽¹⁾ Represents the incremental impact of the accounting for convertible debt as primarily codified in ASC 470. As of December 31, 2012, the Company anticipates that the average annual impact over the remaining term of the 3.00% Notes will increase by approximately $0.4 million.

Convertible Senior Notes Due Two Zero Three Six [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Carrying Value Of Notes Related Discount And Equity Component Table [Text Block]

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, the carrying value of the 2.25% Notes, related discount and equity component consisted of the following:



	December 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Carrying amount of equity component	$	65,270		$	65,270
Allocated underwriter fees, net of taxes	(1,475		)	(1,475		)
Allocated debt issuance cost, net of taxes	(58		)	(58		)
Total net equity component	$	63,737		$	63,737
Deferred income tax component	$	10,846		$	13,452
Principal amount of 2.25% Notes	$	182,753		$	182,753
Unamortized discount	(29,244		)	(36,344		)
Unamortized underwriter fees	(1,146		)	(1,424		)
Net carrying amount of liability component	$	152,363		$	144,985
Unamortized debt issuance cost	$	45		$	56

Contractual Interest Expense And Discount Amortization Table [Text Block]



	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
	(Dollars in thousands)
Year-to-date contractual interest expense	$	4,112		$	4,119		$	4,119
Year-to-date discount amortization⁽¹⁾	$	6,948		$	6,409		$	5,819
Effective interest rate of liability component	7.7		%	7.7		%	7.7		%

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of long-debt instruments or arrangements, including identification, terms, features, collateral requirements and other information necessary to a fair presentation. These are debt arrangements that originally required repayment more than twelve months after issuance or greater than the normal operating cycle of the entity, if longer.

+ 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 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(e),(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21538-112644

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21506-112644

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21521-112644

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

+ Details

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Asset and liabilities recorded at fair value

Asset and liabilities recorded at fair value in the accompanying balance sheets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were as follows:



	As of December 31, 2012
	Level 1		Level 2		Total
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Debt securities:
Demand obligations	$	—	$	616	$	616
Total	$	—	$	616	$	616
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivative financial instruments	$	—	$	43,089	$	43,089
Total	$	—	$	43,089	$	43,089



	As of December 31, 2011
	Level 1		Level 2		Total
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Marketable securities — money market	$	1,571	$	—	$	1,571
Debt securities:
Demand obligations	—		271		271
Collateralized mortgage obligations	—		19		19
Corporate bonds	—		338		338
Municipal obligations	—		683		683
Mortgage backed	—		632		632
Total debt securities	—		1,943		1,943
Total	$	1,571	$	1,943	$	3,514
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivative financial instruments	$	—	$	34,040	$	34,040
Total	$	—	$	34,040	$	34,040

Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Roll-forward of intangible franchise rights and goodwill accounts

The following is a roll-forward of the Company’s intangible franchise rights and goodwill accounts:



	Intangible Franchise Rights			Goodwill
	(In thousands)
BALANCE, December 31, 2010	$	158,694		$	507,962		(1)
Additions through acquisitions	11,994			23,636
Disposals	—			—
Currency Translation	(1		)	(6		)
Tax adjustments	—			(134		)
BALANCE, December 31, 2011	170,687			531,458			(1)
Additions through acquisitions	33,703			51,699
Disposals	(1,661		)	(1,309		)
Impairments	(6,988		)	—
Currency Translation	317			670
Tax adjustments	—			(134		)
BALANCE, December 31, 2012	$	196,058		$	582,384		(1)

⁽¹⁾Net of accumulated impairment of $40.3 million

Operating Leases (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Operating Leases [Abstract]

Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases [Table Text Block]

Future minimum lease payments for non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2012, are as follows:




	Total
	(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
2013	$	45,886
2014	41,141
2015	36,497
2016	33,910
2017	29,473
Thereafter	76,030
Total ⁽¹⁾	$	262,937

⁽¹⁾ Includes $4.0 million of future, non-cancelable sublease payments to be received.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Equity [Abstract]

Changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income

Changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:



	Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Translation			Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities			Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Swaps			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	(In thousands)
BALANCE, December 31, 2009	$	(7,258	)	$	104		$	(19,102	)	$	(26,256	)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(594		)	(54		)	8,149			7,501
BALANCE, December 31, 2010	(7,852		)	50			(10,953		)	(18,755		)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(117		)	(42		)	(10,322		)	(10,481		)
BALANCE, December 31, 2011	(7,969		)	8			(21,275		)	(29,236		)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,843			(8		)	(5,656		)	(3,821		)
BALANCE, December 31, 2012	$	(6,126	)	$	—		$	(26,931	)	$	(33,057	)

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information [Table Text Block]



	Quarter
	First		Second		Third		Fourth		Full Year
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
2012
Total revenues	$	1,664,745	$	1,895,826	$	1,976,572	$	1,938,957	$	7,476,100
Gross profit	260,424		285,344		291,231		280,253		1,117,252
Net income	23,117		28,625		31,335		17,132		100,209
Basic earnings per share⁽¹⁾	1.01		1.25		1.38		0.75		4.39
Diluted earnings per share⁽¹⁾	0.97		1.20		1.32		0.70		4.19
2011
Total revenues	$	1,409,302	$	1,474,145	$	1,570,389	$	1,625,929	$	6,079,765
Gross profit	221,775		244,211		248,753		245,861		960,600
Net income	15,362		24,683		21,494		20,855		82,394
Basic earnings per share⁽¹⁾	0.64		1.03		0.92		0.92		3.50
Diluted earnings per share⁽¹⁾	0.64		1.03		0.91		0.90		3.47

Annual Financial Information (Details Textual)	Dec. 31, 2012
East [Member]
Business and Organization [Line Items]
Number of dealerships	45
West [Member]
Business and Organization [Line Items]
Number of dealerships	66
UNITED STATES
Business and Organization [Line Items]
Number of States in which Entity Operates	15
UNITED KINGDOM
Business and Organization [Line Items]
Number of Towns in which Entity Operates	10
Number of dealerships	10

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)				$ 7,000
Interest assistance received related to vehicles sold	103.20%
Change in the historical chargeback results used in determining estimates of future amounts	10.00%			10.00%
Changed in the reserve of future amounts	$ 2,200			$ 2,200
Restricted cash and short term investments	112,300			112,300	$ 109,200
Inventory cost reduced for interest assistance received from manufacturers	7,800			7,800	5,500
Reduction in new vehicle cost of sales	$ 33,900			$ 33,900	26,100	$ 24,000
Used vehicle days supply	38 days			38 days
Weighted Income approach to determine the fair value of the Company's reporting units	80.00%			80.00%
Weighted Market approach to determine the fair value of the Company's reporting units	20.00%			20.00%
Recovery back to normalized levels by 2016	16,500,000			16,500,000
Weighted revenue for the market approach	20.00%			20.00%
Weighted Pretax net income for the market approach	80.00%			80.00%
Company's credit risk included in the fair value calculation				The credit risk is calculated by using the spread between the one-month LIBOR yield curve and the relevant average 10 and 20-year retail rate according to Standard and Poor’s
Advertising expenses				$ 54,100	46,700	45,000
Reduction in advertising expenses				23,700	17,600	15,400
Deferred advertising assistance included in accrued advertising expense	$ 4,100			$ 4,100	3,000
Percentage of Company's new vehicle sales volume more then which no other manufacturer accounted for				3.00%
Amounts due from manufacturers	64,000			$ 64,000
Interest paid				55,800	52,700	54,800
Income taxes refundable				38,600	28,600	1,800
Sales from domestic operations				6,954,000	5,760,200	5,225,500
Sale to external customers from foreign operations				522,100	319,500	283,600
Domestic and foreign long lived assets	642,800			642,800	569,400	484,500
Foreign long lived assets	$ 35,600			$ 35,600	28,000	$ 29,500
Percentage of change in loss reserve due to change in actuarial loss rate per employee	10.00%			10.00%
Change in loss reserve due to change in actuarial loss rate per employee	$ 2,700			$ 2,700
Limited exposure in no stop loss plan per occurrence				1,000
Maximum potential loss exposure under all of the Stop Loss Plans before consideration of amounts previously paid or accruals recorded	40,400			40,400
Remaining potential loss exposure in Stop Loss Plan	$ 16,700			$ 16,700
Toyota [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Share in company sales volume				30.30%
Share in company receivable balance	19.60%			19.60%
BMW [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Share in company sales volume				11.30%
Share in company receivable balance	12.40%			12.40%
Ford [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Share in company sales volume				9.30%
Share in company receivable balance	14.60%			14.60%
Daimler [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Share in company sales volume				5.10%
Share in company receivable balance	17.20%			17.20%
General Motors [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Share in company sales volume				5.60%
Share in company receivable balance	11.10%			11.10%
Nissan [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Share in company sales volume				11.40%
Share in company receivable balance	7.90%			7.90%
Honda [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Share in company sales volume				11.10%
Share in company receivable balance	3.90%			3.90%
Chrysler [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Share in company sales volume				4.40%
Share in company receivable balance	2.40%			2.40%
Hyundai [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Share in company sales volume				3.10%
Share in company receivable balance	2.40%			2.40%
Volkswagen [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Share in company sales volume				6.60%
Share in company receivable balance	5.70%			5.70%
3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Principal amount of Notes	$ 115,000			$ 115,000	115,000
Carrying value of notes, net of applicable discount	80,700			80,700	77,400
Fair value of notes, based on quoted market prices	203,500			203,500	170,600
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2036 [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Principal amount of Notes	182,753			182,753	182,753
Carrying value of notes, net of applicable discount	152,400			152,400	145,000
Fair value of notes, based on quoted market prices	$ 214,600			$ 214,600	$ 192,300
Maximum [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Interest assistance received related to vehicles sold		115.90%
Minimum [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Interest assistance received related to vehicles sold			69.20%
UNITED STATES
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates [Line Items]
Company operates in different states	15			15

Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended				36 Months Ended
Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2007	Dec. 31, 2012
Acquisitions and Dispositions (Textual) [Abstract]
Consideration received for franchise dispositions	$ 33,700		$ 37,200
Pre tax loss on disposition of business group			(5,400)
Proceeds from Sale of Real Estate			8,500
Proceeds from sale of property held for sale		$ 4,100
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	16
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	$ 177,956	$ 159,597	$ 34,693
Number of dealerships disposed		1
Number of franchises awarded		3	3
Pontiac and Mercury [Member]
Acquisitions and Dispositions (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of franchises disposed			6
TEXAS
Acquisitions and Dispositions (Textual) [Abstract]
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	2	7
Number of franchises acquired	2	11	1
Number of dealerships disposed	1
Number of franchises awarded		2	1
South Carolina [Member]
Acquisitions and Dispositions (Textual) [Abstract]
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	1		2
Number of franchises acquired	1
OKLAHOMA
Acquisitions and Dispositions (Textual) [Abstract]
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	1
Number of franchises acquired	1
Number of franchises disposed			2
NEW YORK
Acquisitions and Dispositions (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of franchises awarded			1
FLORIDA
Acquisitions and Dispositions (Textual) [Abstract]
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	3
Number of franchises acquired	3
Number of dealerships disposed			1
GEORGIA
Acquisitions and Dispositions (Textual) [Abstract]
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	1
Number of franchises acquired	1
Number of franchises awarded			1
KANSAS
Acquisitions and Dispositions (Textual) [Abstract]
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	2
Number of franchises acquired	2
UNITED KINGDOM
Acquisitions and Dispositions (Textual) [Abstract]
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	6		2	3	7
Number of franchises acquired	6			6	9
Number of dealerships disposed	1
MASSACHUSETTS
Acquisitions and Dispositions (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of dealerships disposed	3
CALIFORNIA
Acquisitions and Dispositions (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of franchises disposed	1
Number of franchises awarded		1

Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationship
Interest rate swap contracts	$ (12,724)	$ (18,705)	$ (6,922)
Location of Loss Reclassified from OCI into Statements of Operations
Income (Loss) Reclassified from OCI into Statements of Operations	(7,068)	(8,383)	(15,071)
Floorplan Interest Expense [Member]
Location of Loss Reclassified from OCI into Statements of Operations
Income (Loss) Reclassified from OCI into Statements of Operations	(10,144)	(12,398)	(21,126)
Other Interest Expense [Member]
Location of Loss Reclassified from OCI into Statements of Operations
Income (Loss) Reclassified from OCI into Statements of Operations	$ (1,165)	$ (1,014)	$ (2,988)

- Definition

Net of tax amount of the income statement impact of the reclassification adjustment of accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges realized in net income. Also includes reclassification adjustments of an entity's share of an equity investee's deferred hedging gain (loss) realized in net income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Reclassification Adjustments
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6522872

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=d3e689-108580

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 24
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 18, 19
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph c(3)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 31, 46
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

- Definition

Net of tax amount, before reclassification adjustments, of the change in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges. Also includes an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=SL7669646-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6441202&loc=d3e80720-113993

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 17, 20
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 121
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 46
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 24
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph c(3)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)
Additional Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Notional Value of interest rate swaps	$ 450,000	$ 300,000
Maximum Notional Amount Of Derivatives In Effect At Any Time	$ 600,000
Interest rate hedges weighted average rate	2.60%	4.30%
Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Increase in floor plan interest expense due to impact of interest rate hedges	$ 10,100	$ 12,400	$ 21,100
Floorplan interest expense	31,796	27,687	34,110
Fair value of derivative financial instruments included in balance sheet as liabilities from interest risk management activities	43,089	34,040
Unrealized gain (loss) related to hedges, net of income taxes included in other comprehensive loss	(26,931)	$ (21,275)	$ (10,953)	$ (19,102)
Amount expected to be reclassified from other comprehensive loss into earnings	$ 10,600
Number of additional forward interest rate swaps	10
Aggregate notional value of nineteen additional forward interest rate swaps	$ 525,000
Interest Rate Swap One [ Member]
Additional Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Notional Value of interest rate swaps	400,000
Interest Rate Swap Other [Member]
Additional Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Notional Value of interest rate swaps	250,000
Interest rate swap 2015 [Member]
Additional Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Notional value of expiring interest rate swap	225,000
Interest Rate Swaps 2016 [Member] [Domain]
Additional Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Notional value of expiring interest rate swap	150,000
Interest Rate Swap 2017 [Member] [Domain]
Additional Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Notional value of expiring interest rate swap	$ 75,000
Interest Rate Swaps Forward Starting [Member]
Additional Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate hedges weighted average rate	2.70%

Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Details 1)	12 Months Ended
Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Details 1)	Dec. 31, 2012 $ / shares shares
Restricted Stock Awards
Awards, Nonvested at December 31, 2011 \| shares	1,154,004
Awards, Granted \| shares	336,524
Awards, Vested \| shares	(366,756)
Awards, Forfeited \| shares	(100,422)
Awards, Nonvested at December 31, 2012 \| shares	1,023,350
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Nonvested, December 31, 2011 \| $ / shares	$ 28.30
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted \| $ / shares	55.05
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Vested \| $ / shares	24.25
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited \| $ / shares	31.97
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Nonvested, December 31, 2012 \| $ / shares	$ 38.19

- Definition

The weighted average fair value of nonvested awards on equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan) for which the employer is contingently obligated to issue equity instruments or transfer assets to an employee who has not yet satisfied service or performance criteria necessary to gain title to proceeds from the sale of the award or underlying shares or units.

+ References + Details

Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Stock-based Compensation Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Unrecognized compensation cost related to stock based compensation arrangements	$ 31,700
Weighted average period for recognition of cost	3 years 7 months 6 days
Additional Stock-based Compensation Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation cost	$ 11,931	$ 10,919	$ 9,942
Income tax benefit for stock based compensation arrangements	3,200	2,900	2,800
Cash received from option exercises and employee stock purchase plan purchases	5,700	4,200	4,400
Tax benefit realized for the tax deductions	3,000	2,600	700
Increase in financing activities and decrease in operating activities due to tax benefit relating to excess stock based compensation deductions	$ 2,875	$ 2,478	$ 592
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Stock-based Compensation Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Expiry date for stock options grant	Mar. 06, 2016
Shares authorized under Employee stock option plan	3,500,000
Employee stock purchase price in percentage of fair market value	85.00%
Shares remaining in reserve for future issuance	724,259
Shares issued to employee under purchase plan	106,782	109,601	141,659
Weighted average fair value of employee stock purchase rights issued	$ 11.90	$ 9.74	$ 8.74
Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Stock-based Compensation Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Maximum number of shares available for issuance under the plan	7,500,000
Expiry date for stock options grant	Mar. 08, 2017
Shares available for granted under the incentive plan	1,036,040
Restricted Stock [Member]
Stock-based Compensation Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Fair value of shares vested	$ 8,900	$ 9,000	$ 8,500
Restricted Stock [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Stock-based Compensation Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Range of forfeiture provisions	5 years
Restricted Stock [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Stock-based Compensation Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Range of forfeiture provisions	6 months

Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Basic and Diluted Earnings per share
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding									21,620	22,157	22,767
Dilutive effect of contingently convertible notes and warrants									1,058	238	0
Dilutive effect of stock options, net of assumed repurchase of treasury stock									4	8	12
Dilutive effect of employee stock purchases, net of assumed repurchase of treasury stock									6	6	9
Weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding									22,688	22,409	22,788
Basic:
Net income									$ 100,209	$ 82,394	$ 50,304
Less: Earning allocated to participating securities									5,269	4,765	2,675
Earnings available to basic common shares									$ 94,940	$ 77,629	$ 47,629
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.75	$ 1.38	$ 1.25	$ 1.01	$ 0.92	$ 0.92	$ 1.03	$ 0.64	$ 4.39	$ 3.50	$ 2.09
Diluted:
Net income									$ 100,209	$ 82,394	$ 50,304
Less: Earning allocated to participating securities									5,062	4,721	2,673
Earnings available to diluted common shares									$ 95,147	$ 77,673	$ 47,631
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.70	$ 1.32	$ 1.20	$ 0.97	$ 0.90	$ 0.91	$ 1.03	$ 0.64	$ 4.19	$ 3.47	$ 2.09

Earnings Per Share (Details Textual)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2010
Earnings Per Share (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt interest rate		3.00%
2.25% Purchased Options [Member]
Earnings Per Share (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt interest rate	2.25%
2.25% Notes [Member]
Earnings Per Share (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt interest rate	2.25%
2.25% Warrants [Member]
Earnings Per Share (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt interest rate	2.25%
3.00% Notes [Member]
Earnings Per Share (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt interest rate	3.00%
3.00% Warrants [Member]
Earnings Per Share (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt interest rate	3.00%
3.00% Purchased Options [Member]
Earnings Per Share (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt interest rate	3.00%

Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income before income taxes by geographic area
Domestic	$ 153,347	$ 128,041	$ 78,218
Foreign	7,388	4,053	2,686
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	$ 160,735	$ 132,094	$ 80,904

Income Taxes (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Federal:
Current	$ 38,129	$ 21,013	$ 4,920
Deferred	14,926	22,913	21,271
State:
Current	3,956	2,934	1,397
Deferred	1,783	1,854	2,339
Foreign:
Current	1,947	928	883
Deferred	(215)	58	(210)
Provision for income taxes	$ 60,526	$ 49,700	$ 30,600

Income Taxes (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Difference between the income tax computation by the company and the statutory body
Provision at the U.S. federal statutory rate	$ 56,257	$ 46,233	$ 28,316
Increase (decrease) resulting from:
State income tax, net of benefit for federal deduction	3,455	3,492	2,502
Foreign income tax rate differential	(854)	(433)	(267)
Employment credits	(291)	(717)	(252)
Changes in valuation allowances	183	(213)	213
Stock-based compensation	201	79	71
Other	1,575	1,259	17
Provision for income taxes	$ 60,526	$ 49,700	$ 30,600

Income Taxes (Detail 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net deferred tax liabilities comprised
Loss reserves and accruals	$ 34,208	$ 27,908
Interest rate swaps	16,158	12,765
State net operating loss ("NOL") carryforwards	13,720	13,557
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross	87,855	82,202
Valuation allowance on state NOL	(11,393)	(11,156)
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance	76,462	71,046
Goodwill and intangible franchise rights	(92,900)	(79,100)
Depreciation expense	(33,371)	(26,447)
Other	(1,374)	(1,788)
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross	(150,020)	(133,458)
Net deferred tax liability	(73,558)	(62,412)
2.25% Notes [Member]
Net deferred tax liabilities comprised
Convertible Debt	9,808	12,722
Discount on deferred tax assets	(10,647)	(13,247)
3.00% Notes [Member]
Net deferred tax liabilities comprised
Convertible Debt	13,961	15,250
Discount on deferred tax assets	$ (11,728)	$ (12,876)

Income Taxes (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended					36 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2007	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
State net operating loss carryforwards	$ 203,200
Debt interest rate			3.00%
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Dates	2013 and 2032
Income Taxes (Textual) [Abstract]
U.S. federal statutory corporate tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Provision for income taxes	$ 60,526	$ 49,700	$ 30,600
Effective tax rate	37.70%	37.60%	37.80%	36.50%
Long-term deferred tax assets	$ 79,807	$ 76,815				$ 79,807
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	16
Provision for deferred taxes on undistributed earnings	$ 12,700
No unrecognized tax benefits	$ 0	$ 0				$ 0
2.25% Notes [Member]
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	2.25%					2.25%
3.00% Notes [Member]
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Debt interest rate	3.00%					3.00%
UNITED KINGDOM
Income Taxes (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of franchises acquired	6				6	9
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	6		2		3	7

Accounts and Notes Receivable (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accounts and notes receivable
Total accounts and notes receivable	$ 112,873	$ 94,018
Less allowance for doubtful accounts	1,645	1,243
Accounts and notes receivable, net	111,228	92,775
Amounts due from manufacturers [Member]
Accounts and notes receivable
Total accounts and notes receivable	64,039	48,912
Parts and service receivables [Member]
Accounts and notes receivable
Total accounts and notes receivable	17,879	16,956
Finance and insurance receivables, net [Member]
Accounts and notes receivable
Total accounts and notes receivable	16,060	16,755
Other [Member]
Accounts and notes receivable
Total accounts and notes receivable	$ 14,895	$ 11,395

Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of inventories
Inventories	$ 1,194,288	$ 867,470
Lower of cost or market reserves	(4,355)	(2,422)
New vehicles [Member]
Summary of inventories
Inventories	895,484	611,931
Used vehicles [Member]
Summary of inventories
Inventories	184,775	154,420
Rental vehicles [Member]
Summary of inventories
Inventories	68,014	59,096
Parts, accessories and other [Member]
Summary of inventories
Inventories	$ 50,370	$ 44,445

- Definition

The amount of the valuation account as of the balance sheet date which reduces the carrying amount of inventory to net realizable value; takes into consideration such factors as market value, excessive quantities based on expected sales, technological obsolescence, and shrinkage. May also provide for estimated product returns or price concessions pertaining to product cost.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 330
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.BB)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6386940&loc=d3e100047-122729

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-09)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e24092-122690

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 330
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6386567&loc=d3e3927-108312

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 43
-Paragraph 14
-Chapter 4
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 43
-Paragraph 8, 9, 14
-Chapter 4
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 43
-Section A
-Paragraph 9
-Chapter 3
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 09
-Article 12

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph a
-Article 5

+ Details

Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Property and Equipment
Total	$ 830,805	$ 722,794
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	163,037	137,161
Property and equipment, net	667,768	585,633
Land [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total	232,944	211,754
Buildings [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total	$ 331,526	284,638
Buildings [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	30
Buildings [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	40
Leasehold improvements [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total	$ 97,651	86,084
Machinery and equipment [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total	$ 69,630	59,316
Machinery and equipment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	7
Machinery and equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	20
Furniture and fixtures [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total	$ 61,627	54,406
Furniture and fixtures [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	3
Furniture and fixtures [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	10
Company vehicles [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total	$ 9,239	9,877
Company vehicles [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	3
Company vehicles [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	5
Construction in progress [Member]
Property and Equipment
Total	$ 28,188	$ 16,719

Property and Equipment (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Property and Equipment (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)
Property Plant and Equipment (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of non-operational dealership facility sold		1
Proceeds from sale of property held for sale		$ 4,100
Depreciation and amortization	$ 31,500	27,100	$ 26,500
Building recorded under capital lease included in property plant equipment before accumulated depreciation	46,500	45,600
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Capital expenditures incurred for purchase and construction of assets	62,000	40,100
Assets Held-for-sale, Long Lived	8,500
Asset Impairments		3,200	$ 3,200
Land and Building [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Acquisition of fixed assets	25,300	26,700
Dealership Acquisitions [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Acquisition of fixed assets	45,900	41,700
Asset Impairments		3,200
Dealership Acquisitions [Member] \| Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Acquisition of fixed assets	17,300	17,300
Dealership Acquisitions [Member] \| Buildings [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Acquisition of fixed assets	$ 27,100	$ 22,100

Credit Facilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Outstanding balances under financing arrangements
Floorplan notes payable - credit facility	$ 856,698	$ 609,738
Floorplan Offset	(112,261)	(109,207)
Floorplan notes payable - manufacturer affiliates	211,965	155,980
New Vehicle [Member]
Outstanding balances under financing arrangements
Floorplan notes payable - credit facility	837,436	603,313
Used Vehicle [Member]
Outstanding balances under financing arrangements
Floorplan notes payable - credit facility	112,261	98,587
Rental Vehicle [Member]
Outstanding balances under financing arrangements
Floorplan notes payable - credit facility	19,262	17,045
FMCC Facility [Member]
Outstanding balances under financing arrangements
Floorplan notes payable - manufacturer affiliates	143,028	107,587
Other and Rental Vehicles [Member]
Outstanding balances under financing arrangements
Floorplan notes payable - manufacturer affiliates	$ 68,937	$ 48,393

Credit Facilities (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Credit Facilities (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) $ / warrant_shares	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Outstanding balance, borrowing capacity	$ 856,698
Available amount under borrowing capacity	243,300
Floorplan Offset	(112,261)	$ (109,207)
Acquisition Line [Member]
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Outstanding balance, borrowing capacity	0
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity under line of credit facility	$ 1,350,000
Number of financial institution	22
Number of Manufacturer-affiliated finance companies \| $ / warrant_shares	5
Expiry date of Revolving Credit Facility	Jun. 01, 2016
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity can be extended, amount	$ 1,600,000
Line of credit facility, unamortized cost	5,200
Letters of credit outstanding	29,288
Restricted payment	$ 115,600
Maximum Limit of Restricted Payment	$100.0 million plus (or minus if negative) (a) one-half of the aggregate consolidated net income of the Company for the period beginning on January 1, 2011 and ending on the date of determination and (b) the amount of net cash proceeds received from the sale of capital stock on or after January 1, 2011 and ending on the date of determination
FMCC Facility [Member]
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity under line of credit facility	$ 150,000
Basis spread on interest rate	1.50%
Outstanding balance, borrowing capacity	$ 143,028
Available amount under borrowing capacity	$ 7,000
Cancellation of agreement	30 days
Prime interest rate, minimum	3.75%
Debt interest rate	5.25%
Rental Vehicle [Member]
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate, maximum	5.00%
Floorplan Line [Member]
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity under line of credit facility	$ 1,100,000
Commitment fees, Percentage	0.20%
Weighted average interest rate	1.70%
Maximum period for outstanding borrowing	1 year
Floorplan Line [Member] \| New Vehicle [Member]
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on interest rate	1.50%
Floorplan Line [Member] \| Used Vehicle [Member]
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on interest rate	1.75%
Acquisition Line [Member]
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity under line of credit facility	$ 250,000
Restricted payment maximum	100,000
Available amount under borrowing capacity	$ 220,700
Maximum [Member]
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest rate, maximum	3.50%
Maximum [Member] \| Acquisition Line [Member]
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on interest rate	2.50%
Commitment fees, Percentage	0.45%
Minimum [Member]
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	1.30%
Minimum [Member] \| Acquisition Line [Member]
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on interest rate	1.50%
Commitment fees, Percentage	0.25%

Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Excluding Short Term Financing Current	$ 22,672	$ 14,663
Capital Lease Obligations, Noncurrent	46,500	45,600
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	555,016	482,601
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	577,688	497,264
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	152,363	144,985
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	152,363	144,985
3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Secured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent	80,706	77,401
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	80,706	77,401
Mortgages [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other Long-term Debt	56,677	41,003
Other Real Estate Related Long-Term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other Long-term Debt	249,710	194,580
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capital Lease Obligations, Noncurrent	$ 38,232	$ 39,295

Long-Term Debt (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Carrying value of Notes related discount and equity component
Total	$ 577,688	$ 497,264
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2036 [Member]
Carrying value of Notes related discount and equity component
Carrying amount of equity component	65,270	65,270
Allocated underwriter fees, net of taxes	(1,475)	(1,475)
Allocated debt issuance cost, net of taxes	(58)	(58)
Total net equity component	63,737	63,737
Deferred income tax component	10,846	13,452
Principal amount of Notes	182,753	182,753
Unamortized discount	(29,244)	(36,344)
Unamortized underwriter fees	(1,146)	(1,424)
Total	152,363	144,985
Unamortized debt issuance cost	45	56
3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 [Member]
Carrying value of Notes related discount and equity component
Carrying amount of equity component	25,359	25,359
Allocated underwriter fees, net of taxes	(760)	(760)
Allocated debt issuance cost, net of taxes	(112)	(112)
Total net equity component	24,487	24,487
Deferred income tax component	11,844	12,956
Principal amount of Notes	115,000	115,000
Unamortized discount	(32,505)	(35,638)
Unamortized underwriter fees	(1,789)	(1,961)
Total	80,706	77,401
Unamortized debt issuance cost	$ 264	$ 289

Long-Term Debt (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2036 [Member]
Contractual interest expense and the discount amortization
Year-to-date contractual interest expense	$ 4,112	$ 4,119	$ 4,119
Year-to-date discount amortization	$ 6,948	$ 6,409	$ 5,819
Effective interest rate of liability component	7.70%	7.70%	7.70%
3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 [Member]
Contractual interest expense and the discount amortization
Year-to-date contractual interest expense	$ 3,450	$ 3,461
Year-to-date discount amortization	$ 2,966	$ 2,706
Effective interest rate of liability component	8.60%	8.60%

Long-Term Debt (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt
2012	$ 22,672
2013	24,774
2014	29,018
2015	96,020
2016	96,784
Thereafter	308,420
Total	$ 577,688	$ 497,264

Long-Term Debt (Details Textual) $ / shares in Units, £ in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 GBP (£) shares	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) $ / shares $ / warrant_shares shares	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate				3.00%
Sale of equity warrants		$ 0	$ 0	$ 29,309
Assessment period for fair value	10 years	10 years
Amortization Cost of Mortgage Facility, Real Estate Related Debt and Acquisition Line		$ 12,990	11,990	10,322
Current maturities of long-term debt		31,358	14,663
Treasury stock value acquired cost method		(11,317)	50,777	26,765
Long Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Total interest expense related to capital leases, net of interest income		$ 5,300	4,000	2,700
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest on real estate notes, minimum	1.30%	1.30%
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest on real estate notes, maximum	3.50%	3.50%
Toyota Motor Credit Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity dates of long term debt	three to seven years	three to seven years
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total borrowings		$ 47,100
BMW Financial Services [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total borrowings		$ 76,300
3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate		3.00%
Debt Instrument, Convertible, If-converted Value in Excess of Principal		$ 70,300
Conversion of Stock, Shares Converted \| shares	25.899	25.899
Maturity date of of notes	Mar. 15, 2020	Mar. 15, 2020
Minimum percentage of conversion price to be considered to redeem all or part of the notes	130.00%	130.00%
Minimum trading days for conversion price	20 days	20 days
Maximum trading days for conversion price under redemption condition	30 days	30 days
Percentage of principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding redemption date	100.00%	100.00%
Number of common shares to be issued for per $ 1,000 principal amount of note \| shares	26.546	26.546
Principal amount of note to be considered under conversion rate		$ 1
Initial conversion price per share \| $ / shares		$ 38.61
Threshold closing price under redemption condition one \| $ / shares		$ 48.97
Maximum closing sale price under condition two	98.00%	98.00%
Number of trading days as observation period for determined weighted price of company's common stock	25 days	25 days
Amortization period for underwriters fees	10 years	10 years
Deferred Finance Costs, Gross		$ 500
Amortization Period For Debt Issuance Cost	10 years	10 years
Amortized Underwriter's fees		$ 3,500
Average annual impact of accounting for convertible debt		400
Note agreement with a third party financial institution		115,000	115,000
Unamortized debt issuance cost		264	289
Total interest expense excluding amortization cost		3,450	3,461
Amortization cost of the 3.00% notes, 2.25% Notes and 8.25% Notes		$ 2,966	2,706
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2036 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate		2.25%
Underwriters Fees Recorded as Reduction of Senior Notes Balance		$ 6,400
Debt Instrument, Convertible, If-converted Value in Excess of Principal		$ 4,000
Conversion of Stock, Shares Converted \| shares	0	0
Interest rate thereafter		2.00%
Debt instrument call date latest	Jun. 15, 2026	Jun. 15, 2026
Debt instrument call date earliest	Jun. 15, 2016	Jun. 15, 2016
Maturity date of of notes	Jun. 15, 2036	Jun. 15, 2036
Minimum percentage of conversion price to be considered to redeem all or part of the notes	130.00%	130.00%
Minimum trading days for conversion price	20 days	20 days
Maximum trading days for conversion price under redemption condition	30 days	30 days
Percentage of principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding redemption date	100.00%	100.00%
Initial Conversion rate of common stock	16.8357	16.8357
Conversion price per share \| $ / shares		$ 59.40
Initial conversion price per share \| $ / shares		59.43
Threshold closing price under redemption condition one \| $ / shares		$ 77.22
Maximum closing sale price under condition two	98.00%	98.00%
Each principal amount of notes converted		$ 1
Number of trading days as observation period for determined weighted price of company's common stock	25 days	25 days
Conversion value in cash		$ 1
Amortization period for underwriters fees	10 years	10 years
Amortization Period For Debt Issuance Cost	10 years	10 years
Average annual impact of accounting for convertible debt		$ 600
Note agreement with a third party financial institution		182,753	182,753
Debt extinguishment cost		300
Unamortized debt issuance cost		45	56
Total interest expense excluding amortization cost		4,112	4,119	4,119
Amortization cost of the 3.00% notes, 2.25% Notes and 8.25% Notes		6,948	6,409	5,819
Interest costs capitalized on construction projects		$ 700
2.25% Purchased Options [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate		2.25%
Conversion price per share \| $ / shares		$ 59.40
Cost of options recorded as reduction to additional paid-in capital		$ 116,300
Right to purchase common stock \| shares	3,100,000	3,100,000
8.25% Senior Subordinated Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate		8.25%
2.25% Warrants [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Warrant exercisable \| shares		3,100,000
Dividend threshold for adjustment to conversion price \| $ / shares		$ 0.14
Period for warrants sold	10 years	10 years
Maximum number of shares of common stock required to be issued under warrants \| shares	6,200,000	6,200,000
Sale of equity warrants		$ 80,600
Exercise price per common stock under warrants \| $ / warrant_shares		80.27
3.00% Warrants [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate		3.00%
Conversion price per share \| $ / shares		$ 37.67
Warrant exercisable \| shares		3,100,000
Premium to closing price		80.00%
Maximum number of shares of common stock required to be issued under warrants \| shares	5,500,000	5,500,000
Sale of equity warrants		$ 29,309
Exercise price per common stock under warrants \| $ / warrant_shares		55.35
3.00% Purchased Options [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt interest rate		3.00%
Cost of options recorded as reduction to additional paid-in capital		$ 45,900
Right to purchase common stock \| shares	3,100,000	3,100,000
Real Estate Related Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capitalization of debt issuance costs		$ 1,300
Unamortized debt issuance cost		$ 1,000
Number of loans as per loan agreements	14	14
Real Estate Related Debt [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable Interest Rate		2.25%
Real Estate Related Debt [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable Interest Rate		3.35%
Real Estate Related Debt [Member] \| Toyota Motor Credit Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amortization schedule	20 years	20 years
Total borrowings		$ 48,000	37,700
Number of loans as per loan agreements	7	7
Additional Borrowings		$ 11,600
Current maturities of long-term debt			1,100		$ 5,300
Real Estate Related Debt [Member] \| Toyota Motor Credit Corporation [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest on real estate notes, minimum	3.67%	3.67%
Real Estate Related Debt [Member] \| Toyota Motor Credit Corporation [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest on real estate notes, maximum	9.00%	9.00%
Real Estate Related Debt [Member] \| Mercedes-Benz Financial Services [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity dates of long term debt	five years	five years
Amortization schedule	20 years	20 years
Total borrowings			48,600
Number of loans as per loan agreements	3	3
Current maturities of long-term debt			1,500		1,600
Real Estate Related Debt [Member] \| BMW Financial Services [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt extinguishment cost		$ 5,500
Maturity dates of long term debt	seven years	seven years
Amortization schedule	15 years	15 years
Total borrowings			70,500
Additional Borrowings		$ 14,400
Current maturities of long-term debt			3,400		$ 4,100
Real Estate Related Debt [Member] \| Ford Motor Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of loans as per loan agreements	1	1
Additional Borrowings		$ 5,600
Current maturities of long-term debt		200
Foreign Note [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total borrowings		18,500
Additional Borrowings \| £	£ 4,900
Current maturities of long-term debt		2,400
Third-party financial institution [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Note agreement with a third party financial institution		63,000
Amortization Cost of Mortgage Facility, Real Estate Related Debt and Acquisition Line		500
Impact of interest rate derivative instruments related to Mortgage Facility		1,200	1,000	3,000
Total interest expense excluding amortization cost		7,600	7,600	8,300
Total borrowings		$ 54,800	20,000
Number of loans as per loan agreements	14	14
Current maturities of long-term debt		$ 3,200	1,600
Interest costs capitalized on construction projects			600	100
3.00%, 2.25% and 8.25% Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amortization cost of the 3.00% notes, 2.25% Notes and 8.25% Notes		10,200	9,400	8,000
Mortgage Facility, Real Estate Related Debt and Acquisition Line [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption premium		3,000
Term loans provided under credit facility		60,700
Amount available to be expanded		83,400
Capitalization of debt issuance costs		900
Unamortized debt issuance cost		$ 600
Interest rate under condition second	1.45%	1.45%
Interest rate under sub-condition two of condition second	0.50%	0.50%
Interest rate under sub-condition three of condition second	1.05%	1.05%
Percentage of principal payments to make its quarterly payment	1.25%	1.25%
Principal payments on outstanding borrowings		$ 2,400
Borrowings under amended and restated mortgage facility		56,700
Total interest expense excluding amortization cost		$ 12,700	$ 11,200	$ 4,700
Variable Interest Rate		2.50%
Additional Borrowings		$ 18,100
New Term Loan [Member] \| Real Estate Related Debt [Member] \| Toyota Motor Credit Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of loans as per loan agreements	2	2
New Term Loan [Member] \| Real Estate Related Debt [Member] \| BMW Financial Services [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of loans as per loan agreements	2	2
Terminated Term Loan [Member] \| Real Estate Related Debt [Member] \| BMW Financial Services [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of loans as per loan agreements	1	1

Fair Value Measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets:
Total	$ 616	$ 3,514
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivative financial instruments	43,089	34,040
Total	43,089	34,040
Money Market [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale Securities		1,571
Demand Obligation [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale Securities		271
Total	616
Collateralized mortgage obligations [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale Securities		19
Corporate bonds [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale Securities		338
Municipal Obligations [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale Securities		683
Mortgage backed [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale Securities		632
Total Debt Securities [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale Securities		1,943
Level 1[Member]
Assets:
Total		1,571
Level 1[Member] \| Money Market [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale Securities		1,571
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Total	616	1,943
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivative financial instruments	43,089	34,040
Total	43,089	34,040
Level 2 [Member] \| Demand Obligation [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale Securities		271
Total	$ 616
Level 2 [Member] \| Collateralized mortgage obligations [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale Securities		19
Level 2 [Member] \| Corporate bonds [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale Securities		338
Level 2 [Member] \| Municipal Obligations [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale Securities		683
Level 2 [Member] \| Mortgage backed [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale Securities		632
Level 2 [Member] \| Total Debt Securities [Member]
Assets:
Available-for-sale Securities		$ 1,943

Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual)	12 Months Ended
Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual)	Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Short term investments maturity	less than three months

Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Rental payment obligations during the remaining terms of these leases	$ 7.3

Asset Impairments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Asset Impairments (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)
Assets Impairments (Textual) [Abstract]
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)		$ 7,000
Increase in assumed risk free rate to estimate WACC		2.00%
Goodwill sensitivity		$ 15,000
Impairment assessment condition.		if the Company forecasted no SAAR growth beyond 2014 in the 2012 impairment assessment, and all other assumptions remained constant, an additional $10.0 million of non-cash franchise rights impairment charges would have resulted.
Impairment of long lived assets held for sale			$ 3,200	$ 3,200
Pre tax impairment charges of other long lived assets			$ 1,600	$ 1,800
Number of dealerships				2
Pre-tax impairment charges of real estate	$ 800			$ 5,800

- Definition

The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 958
-SubTopic 225
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6743430&loc=d3e92212-112881

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Impairment
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6515133

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2420-110228

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2921-110230

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 144
-Paragraph 26
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 144
-Paragraph 7, 25
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Intangible Franchise Rights
Beginning Balance	$ 170,687	$ 158,694
Additions through acquisitions	33,703	11,994
Disposition of Intangible Franchise Rights	(1,661)	0
Impairment of Intangible Franchise Rights	(6,988)
Currency Translation	317	(1)
Ending Balance	196,058	170,687
Goodwill
Beginning Balance	531,458	507,962
Additions through acquisitions	51,699	23,636
Dispositions of Goodwill	(1,309)	0
Currency translation	670	(6)
Tax adjustments	134	134
Ending Balance	$ 582,384	$ 531,458

Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill (Details Textual) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended				36 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2007	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Countries and States [Line Items]
Accumulated Impairments	$ 40.3				$ 40.3
Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of franchises awarded		3	3
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	16
KANSAS
Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of franchises acquired	2
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	2
FLORIDA
Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of franchises acquired	3
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	3
Texas and California [Member]
Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of franchises awarded		3
Texas [Member]
Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of franchises acquired	2	11	1
Number of franchises awarded		2	1
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	2	7
United Kingdom [Member]
Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of franchises acquired	6			6	9
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	6		2	3	7
South Carolina [Member]
Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of franchises acquired	1
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	1		2
OKLAHOMA
Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of franchises acquired	1
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	1
GEORGIA
Intangible Franchise Rights and Goodwill (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of franchises acquired	1
Number of franchises awarded			1
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	1

Employee Savings Plans (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Savings Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Deferred compensation plan related to participants	$ 26.2	$ 22.1
Matching contribution paid	$ 3.7	$ 3.2

Operating Leases (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
2012	$ 45,886
2013	41,141
2014	36,497
2015	33,910
2016	29,473
Thereafter	76,030
Total	$ 262,937

Operating Leases (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Operating Leases (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating Leases (Textual) [Abstract]
Minimum term of lease facility	15 years
Extended period of lease under option	15 years
Future, non-cancelable sublease payments	$ 4.0
Total rent expense under all operating leases	$ 50.4	$ 48.3	$ 51.1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012
Changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Translation, Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	$ (7,969)	$ (7,852)	$ (7,258)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	1,843	(117)	(594)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Translation, Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(6,126)	(7,969)	(7,852)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities, Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	8	50	104
Other comprehensive income, net of tax, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities	(8)	(42)	(54)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities, Net of Tax, Ending Balance	0	8	50
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Swaps, Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(21,275)	(10,953)	(19,102)
Interest rate swap contracts	(5,656)	(10,322)	8,149
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Interest Rate Swaps, Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(26,931)	(21,275)	(10,953)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(29,236)	(18,755)	(26,256)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	(3,821)	(10,481)	7,501
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	$ (29,236)	$ (18,755)	$ (26,256)	$ (33,057)

- Definition

Accumulated change, net of tax, in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges. Includes an entity's share of an equity investee's Increase or Decrease in deferred hedging gains or losses.

+ References + Details

- Definition

Accumulated adjustment, net of tax, that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into the reporting currency from the functional currency of the reporting entity, net of reclassification of realized foreign currency translation gains or losses.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=d3e681-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
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-Paragraph 11
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Subparagraph (a)
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=SL7669686-108580

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6915805&loc=d3e32022-110900

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450520&loc=d3e32583-110901

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 52
-Paragraph 12, 13
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 52
-Paragraph 31
-Subparagraph a
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 10
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

- Definition

Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=d3e681-108580

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=SL7669686-108580

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 31
-Article 5

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS115-1/124-1
-Paragraph 15D
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 10
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 14, 17, 26
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3

+ Details

- Definition

Net of tax amount of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the parent entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733093&loc=SL4573702-111684

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 19
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7656940&loc=SL4569616-111683

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7656940&loc=SL4569643-111683

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 30
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph c(3)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 29
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

- Definition

Net of tax amount of unrealized holding gain (loss) before reclassification adjustments and transfers on available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=SL7669646-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 13
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 17, 22
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 24
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph c(3)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ 1,938,957	$ 1,976,572	$ 1,895,826	$ 1,664,745	$ 1,625,929	$ 1,570,389	$ 1,474,145	$ 1,409,302	$ 7,476,100	$ 6,079,765	$ 5,509,169
Gross profit	280,253	291,231	285,344	260,424	245,861	248,753	244,211	221,775	1,117,252	960,600	$ 877,033
Net income	$ 17,132	$ 31,335	$ 28,625	$ 23,117	$ 20,855	$ 21,494	$ 24,683	$ 15,362	$ 100,209	$ 82,394
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.75	$ 1.38	$ 1.25	$ 1.01	$ 0.92	$ 0.92	$ 1.03	$ 0.64	$ 4.39	$ 3.50	$ 2.09
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.70	$ 1.32	$ 1.20	$ 0.97	$ 0.90	$ 0.91	$ 1.03	$ 0.64	$ 4.19	$ 3.47	$ 2.09

- Definition

The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.21)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 52
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16381557&loc=d3e4984-109258

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7655603&loc=d3e1252-109256

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.19)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.23)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 18
-Article 7

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 36, 37, 38
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 07-4
-Paragraph 4
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 20
-Article 5

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 21
-Article 9

+ Details

- Definition

The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

+ References + Details

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Asset Impairments			$ 7,276	$ 4,805	$ 10,840
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	$ 7,000
Impairment primarily related to the Company's real estate holdings		$ 800			$ 5,800

Subsequent Events (Details)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Subsequent Events (Details)	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number Of Dealerships Acquired		16
Toyota [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Franchises Acquired	2
Renault [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Franchises Acquired	3
Nissan [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Franchises Acquired	4
BMW [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Franchises Acquired	4
Mini [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Franchises Acquired	2
Peugeot [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Franchises Acquired	3
Land Rover [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Franchises Acquired	2
Jaguar [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Franchises Acquired	1
Collision Centers [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Franchises Acquired	5
Motorcycle Dealership [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Franchises Acquired	1
BRAZIL
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number Of Dealerships Acquired	18
Number of Franchises Acquired	21