Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2014
Agreement
Jul. 02, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Total debt $ 773,412,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount $ 748,373,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount      
Stated interest rate on debt agreement 5.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage        
Notional Forward       2sah_NumberOfNewForwardStartingCashFlowSwapAgreements  
Description of interest rate cash flow swap agreements swap agreements become effective in July 2016 and July 2015, respectively, and terminate in July 2017.        
Incremental interest expense 10,700,000sah_InterestExpenseNetCashFlowSwaps 11,800,000sah_InterestExpenseNetCashFlowSwaps 13,400,000sah_InterestExpenseNetCashFlowSwaps    
Net expense expected to be reclassified 5,100,000us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12MonthsNet        
Cash Flow Swap 13 [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Interest rate Cash flow swap agreements 25,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= sah_CashFlowSwapThirteenMember
    25,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= sah_CashFlowSwapThirteenMember
 
Swap agreement effective date 2016-07        
Swap agreement maturity date 2017-07        
Cash Flow Swap 14 [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Interest rate Cash flow swap agreements 100,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= sah_CashFlowSwapFourteenMember
    100,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= sah_CashFlowSwapFourteenMember
 
Swap agreement effective date 2015-07        
Swap agreement maturity date 2017-07        
Common Class A [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Common stock, shares issued 62,046,966us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
61,584,248us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
     
2014 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Increased borrowing capacity 225,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
       
Increased borrowing capacity 275,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
       
Borrowing base 194,800,000sah_RevolvingBorrowingBase
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
       
Letters of credit outstanding amount 29,200,000us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
       
Total debt 0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
       
Borrowing availability amount 165,600,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
       
Allocation of credit facility increase, percentage 20.00%sah_MaximumAllocableBorrowingCapacityIncreasePercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
       
7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2022 [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Principal amount 200,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_SevenPercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
       
Stated interest rate on debt agreement 7.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_SevenPercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
7.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_SevenPercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
     
Notes maturity date Jul. 15, 2022        
Interest payable description semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year        
Notes redeemed percentage of aggregate principal amount 35.00%sah_DebtInstrumentPercentageOfMaximumRedemptionWithCashFromCommonStockOffering
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_SevenPercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
       
Notes redemption price percentage of the par value 107.00%sah_NotesRedemptionPricePercentageOfParValue
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_SevenPercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
       
Notes redemption price percentage of the par value due to change of control 101.00%sah_NotesRedemptionPricePercentageOfParValueDueToChangeOfControl
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_SevenPercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
       
Debt instrument maximum allowed dividends per share $ 0.10sah_DebtInstrumentMaximumAllowedDividendsPerShare
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_SevenPercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
       
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%        
Outstanding principal amount of the 7.0% notes 25.00%sah_DebtInstrumentPercentageOfOutstandingPrincipalAmountRedeemableUponEventOfDefault
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_SevenPercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
       
7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2022 [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Indebtedness with outstanding balance under other agreements 35,000,000sah_DebtInstrumentOtherOutstandingIndebtednessInExcess
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_SevenPercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
       
Subordinated Notes [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Notes issued at a price of principal amount 99.11%sah_NotesIssuedAtPriceOfPrincipalAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorSubordinatedNotesMember
       
Notes issued yield maturity, percentage         7.125%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorSubordinatedNotesMember
5.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Principal amount 300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_FivePercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
       
Stated interest rate on debt agreement 5.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_FivePercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
5.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_FivePercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
     
Notes issued at a price of principal amount 100.00%sah_NotesIssuedAtPriceOfPrincipalAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_FivePercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
       
Notes maturity date May 15, 2023        
Interest payable description semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year        
Notes redeemed percentage of aggregate principal amount 35.00%sah_DebtInstrumentPercentageOfMaximumRedemptionWithCashFromCommonStockOffering
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_FivePercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
       
Notes redemption price percentage of the par value 105.00%sah_NotesRedemptionPricePercentageOfParValue
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_FivePercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
       
Notes redemption price percentage of the par value due to change of control 101.00%sah_NotesRedemptionPricePercentageOfParValueDueToChangeOfControl
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_FivePercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
       
Debt instrument maximum allowed dividends per share $ 0.10sah_DebtInstrumentMaximumAllowedDividendsPerShare
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_FivePercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
       
Restrictive covenants under 2011 credit facilities and 7 % notes with 5% notes 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% Notes        
Outstanding principal amount of the 7.0% notes 25.00%sah_DebtInstrumentPercentageOfOutstandingPrincipalAmountRedeemableUponEventOfDefault
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_FivePercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
       
Notes redemption price percentage of the principal amount 100.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentageOfPrincipalAmountRedeemed
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_FivePercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
       
5.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Indebtedness with outstanding balance under other agreements 50,000,000sah_DebtInstrumentOtherOutstandingIndebtednessInExcess
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_FivePercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
       
5.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 [Member] | Common Class A [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Common stock, shares issued         4,100,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_FivePercentSeniorSubordinateNoteDueTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
Assumed Notes [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Total debt 4,400,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_AssumedNotesMember
       
Stated interest rate on debt agreement 5.35%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_AssumedNotesMember
       
Premium recorded on notes payable 7,300,000sah_DebtInstrumentsFairValueDisclosurePremiumRecorded
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_AssumedNotesMember
       
Premium associated with notes 100,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedPremium
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_AssumedNotesMember
       
Notes payable due date October 2015 and August 2016        
Mortgage Notes [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Total debt 265,900,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_MortgageNotesMember
       
Notes payable due date between 2015 and 2033        
Debt weighted average interest rate on note 3.74%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_MortgageNotesMember
       
Mortgage financing aggregate 44,400,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_MortgageNotesMember
       
Percentage of dealership properties related to mortgage financing 30.00%sah_PercentageOfMortgageDealershipProperties
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_MortgageNotesMember
       
Actual Ratio [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Minimum EBTDAR to rent ratio 3.56sah_MinimumEbtdarToRentRatio
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_ActualRatioMember
       
Required Ratio [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Minimum EBTDAR to rent ratio 1.50sah_MinimumEbtdarToRentRatio
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_RequiredRatioMember
       
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Fair value of swap positions 11,100,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesMember
16,300,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesMember
     
Benefits and charges related to cash flow swaps not designated as hedges 500,000sah_CashFlowSwapsNotDesignatedAsHedgeBenefitsAndCharges
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesMember
900,000sah_CashFlowSwapsNotDesignatedAsHedgeBenefitsAndCharges
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesMember
700,000sah_CashFlowSwapsNotDesignatedAsHedgeBenefitsAndCharges
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesMember
   
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member] | Other Accrued Liabilities [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Fair value of swap positions 8,200,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= sah_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesMember
11,600,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= sah_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesMember
     
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member] | Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Fair value of swap positions 3,500,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= sah_OtherLongTermLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesMember
8,400,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= sah_OtherLongTermLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesMember
     
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member] | Other Assets [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Fair value of swap positions 600,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesMember
3,700,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesMember
     
2011 Credit Facility [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Maturity date of revolving credit facility and floor plan facility Aug. 15, 2016        
2011 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Increased borrowing capacity 175,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= sah_TwoThousandElevenRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
       
2011 New Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Increased borrowing capacity 605,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= sah_TwoThousandElevenNewUsedVehicleFloorPlanFacilityMember
       
2014 Credit Facility [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Maturity date of revolving credit facility and floor plan facility Aug. 15, 2019        
2014 Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
EBTDAR to rent ratio 1.00sah_EbtdarToRentRatio
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
       
2014 Credit Facility [Member] | Actual Ratio [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Minimum EBTDAR to rent ratio 3.56sah_MinimumEbtdarToRentRatio
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_ActualRatioMember
       
2014 Credit Facility [Member] | Required Ratio [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Minimum EBTDAR to rent ratio 1.50sah_MinimumEbtdarToRentRatio
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_RequiredRatioMember
       
2014 Credit Facility [Member] | Required Ratio [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
EBTDAR to rent ratio 1.00sah_EbtdarToRentRatio
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_RequiredRatioMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
       
2014 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Increased borrowing capacity 800,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenUsedVehicleFloorPlanFacilityMember
       
2014 New Vehicle Floor Plan Facility [Member] | 2014 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Increase in credit facility borrowing capacity $ 1,000,000,000sah_LineOfCreditFacilityCombinedIncreaseInBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenNewVehicleFloorPlanFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sah_TwoThousandFourteenRevolvingCreditFacilityMember