Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Document and Entity Information

v2.4.1.9
Document and Entity Information (USD $)
In Billions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Feb. 18, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Line Items]      
Document Type 10-K    
Amendment Flag false    
Document Period End Date Dec. 31, 2014    
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2014    
Document Fiscal Period Focus FY    
Entity Registrant Name SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC    
Entity Central Index Key 0001043509    
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31    
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer No    
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes    
Entity Voluntary Filers No    
Entity Filer Category Large Accelerated Filer    
Entity Public Float   $ 1.1dei_EntityPublicFloat  
Common Class A [Member]      
Document and Entity Information [Line Items]      
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding     38,905,340dei_EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
Common Class B [Member]      
Document and Entity Information [Line Items]      
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding     12,029,375dei_EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember