Sonic Automotive, Inc. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Cover
- Document and Entity Information
Financial Statements
Notes to Financial Statements
Accounting Policies
- Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
Notes Tables
Notes Details

Long-Term Debt - Long-Term Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail)

v2.4.1.9

Long-Term Debt - Long-Term Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt agreement	5.00%
7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt agreement	7.00%	7.00%
Discount associated with notes	$ 1.5	$ 1.6
5.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt agreement	5.00%	5.00%
Notes Payable to Finance Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest on notes	10.19%
Premium associated with notes	0.1	0.4
Notes Payable to Finance Company [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt agreement	9.52%
Notes Payable to Finance Company [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt agreement	10.52%
2011 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	2.00%
2014 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		2.25%
Mortgage Notes Payable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Discount associated with notes	$ 0.4	$ 0.6
Mortgage Loan at Fix Interest Rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt agreement	3.51%
Mortgage Loan at Fix Interest Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt agreement	7.03%
Mortgage Loan at Variable Interest Rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt agreement	1.25%
Mortgage Loan at Variable Interest Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt agreement	3.50%

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

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- Definition

The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

Reference 1: 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

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+ References

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- Definition

The effective interest rate at the end of the reporting period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

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

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- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of long-term debt outstanding.

+ References

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