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Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
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3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sep. 30, 2014
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Sep. 30, 2013
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Sep. 30, 2014
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Sep. 30, 2013
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Jun. 30, 2014
Agreement
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Jun. 30, 2014
Cash Flow Swap Thirteen
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Jun. 30, 2014
Cash Flow Swap Fourteen
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Sep. 30, 2014
Assumed Notes [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2022 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2013
7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2022 [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
Subordinated Notes [Member]
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Jul. 02, 2012
Subordinated Notes [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
5.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2013
5.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
Mortgage Notes [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
Other Accrued Liabilities [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
Other Accrued Liabilities [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
Other Assets [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
Other Assets [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
2011 Credit Facility [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
2011 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
2011 New Vehicle Floor Plan Facility [Member]
2011 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
2014 Credit Facility [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
2014 Credit Facility [Member]
Maximum [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
2014 Credit Facility [Member]
Minimum [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
2014 Credit Facility [Member]
Required Ratio [Member]
Maximum [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
2014 Credit Facility [Member]
Required Ratio [Member]
Minimum [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
2014 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2014
2014 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Two Thousand Fourteen New Vehicle Floor Plan Facility
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Sep. 30, 2014
2014 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility [Member]
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| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity date of revolving credit facility and floor plan facility | Aug. 15, 2016 | Aug. 15, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Increased borrowing capacity | $ 175,000,000 | $ 225,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Increased borrowing capacity | 605,000,000 | 275,000,000 | 800,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Borrowing base | 144,200,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letters of credit outstanding amount | 29,200,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total debt | 783,481,000 | 783,481,000 | 748,373,000 | 5,200,000 | 200,000,000 | 200,000,000 | 300,000,000 | 300,000,000 | 9,800,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Borrowing availability amount | 105,200,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Increase in credit facility borrowing capacity | 1,000,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allocation of credit facility increase, percentage | 20.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal amount | 200,000,000 | 300,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest on notes | 5.00% | 5.00% | 5.35% | 7.00% | 7.00% | 5.00% | 5.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes issued at a price of principal amount | 100.00% | 99.11% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes issued yield maturity, percentage | 7.125% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes maturity date | May 15, 2023 | Jul. 15, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest payable description | semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year | semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes redeemed percentage of aggregate principal amount | 35.00% | 35.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes redemption price percentage of the par value | 107.00% | 105.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes redemption price percentage of the par value due to change of control | 101.00% | 101.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument maximum allowed dividends per share | $ 0.10 | $ 0.10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restrictive covenants under 2011 credit facilities and 7 % notes with 5% notes | Specifically, the indenture governing Sonic’s 7.0% Notes limits Sonic’s ability to pay quarterly cash dividends on Sonic’s Class A and B Common Stock in excess of $0.10 per share. Sonic may only pay quarterly cash dividends on Sonic’s Class A and B Common Stock if Sonic complies with the terms of the indenture governing the 7.0% | Specifically, the indenture governing Sonic’s 5.0% Notes limits Sonic’s ability to pay quarterly cash dividends on Sonic’s Class A and B Common Stock in excess of $0.10 per share. Sonic may only pay quarterly cash dividends on Sonic’s Class A and B Common Stock if Sonic complies with the terms of the indenture governing the 5.0% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding principal amount of the 7.0% notes | 25.00% | 25.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indebtedness with outstanding balance | 35,000,000 | 50,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Premium recorded on notes payable | 7,300,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Premium associated with notes | 200,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes payable due date | October 2015 and August 2016 | between 2015 and 2033 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt weighted average interest rate on note | 3.76% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage financing aggregate | 265,400,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage of dealership properties related to mortgage financing | 30.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EBTDAR to rent ratio | 3.56 | 1.00 | 1.50 | 1.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of swap positions | 10,600,000 | 10,600,000 | 16,300,000 | 9,300,000 | 11,600,000 | 2,000,000 | 3,700,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of swap positions | 3,300,000 | 8,400,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notional Forward | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description of interest rate cash flow swap agreements | swap agreements become effective in July 2016 and July 2015, respectively, and terminate in July 2017. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate Cash flow swap agreements | 25,000,000 | 100,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Benefits and charges related to cash flow swaps not designated as hedges | 200,000 | 100,000 | 400,000 | 700,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Incremental interest expense | 2,400,000 | 3,000,000 | 8,300,000 | 8,800,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net expense expected to be reclassified | $ 5,800,000 | $ 5,800,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||