Segment Information - Summary of Reportable Operating Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
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3 Months Ended |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2014
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Sep. 30, 2014
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Jun. 30, 2014
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Mar. 31, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Sep. 30, 2013
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Jun. 30, 2013
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Mar. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Total consolidated revenues |
$ 2,351,828us-gaap_Revenues
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$ 2,355,604us-gaap_Revenues
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$ 2,353,280us-gaap_Revenues
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$ 2,136,387us-gaap_Revenues
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$ 2,315,369us-gaap_Revenues
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$ 2,242,197us-gaap_Revenues
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$ 2,202,436us-gaap_Revenues
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$ 2,083,166us-gaap_Revenues
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$ 9,197,099us-gaap_Revenues
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$ 8,843,168us-gaap_Revenues
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$ 8,365,468us-gaap_Revenues
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Total segment income |
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214,820sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss
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212,649sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss
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220,948sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss
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Interest expense, other, net |
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(53,190)us-gaap_InterestExpenseOther
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(55,485)us-gaap_InterestExpenseOther
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(60,090)us-gaap_InterestExpenseOther
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Other income (expense), net |
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97us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
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(28,143)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
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(19,625)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
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Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes |
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161,727us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
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129,021us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
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141,233us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
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Total floorplan interest expense |
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18,793sah_FloorPlanInterestExpense
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21,954sah_FloorPlanInterestExpense
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19,454sah_FloorPlanInterestExpense
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Total depreciation and amortization |
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58,260us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
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54,007us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
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45,285us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
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Total capital expenditures |
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146,432us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
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157,617us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
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95,376us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
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Total assets |
3,183,135us-gaap_Assets
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3,051,170us-gaap_Assets
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3,183,135us-gaap_Assets
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3,051,170us-gaap_Assets
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Cash and cash equivalents |
4,182us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
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3,016us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
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4,182us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
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3,016us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
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3,371us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
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1,913us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
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Goodwill, Net |
475,929us-gaap_Goodwill
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476,315us-gaap_Goodwill
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475,929us-gaap_Goodwill
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476,315us-gaap_Goodwill
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454,224us-gaap_Goodwill
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Other Intangible Assets, net |
83,720us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
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87,866us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
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83,720us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
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87,866us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
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Other Corporate and other assets |
735,227us-gaap_OtherAssets
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600,870us-gaap_OtherAssets
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735,227us-gaap_OtherAssets
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600,870us-gaap_OtherAssets
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Franchised Dealerships [Member] |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Total consolidated revenues |
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9,191,661us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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8,843,168us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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8,365,468us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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Total segment income |
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230,733sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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218,139sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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221,721sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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Total floorplan interest expense |
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18,727sah_FloorPlanInterestExpense / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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21,954sah_FloorPlanInterestExpense / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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19,454sah_FloorPlanInterestExpense / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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Total depreciation and amortization |
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58,001us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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54,007us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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45,285us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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Total capital expenditures |
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117,129us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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151,947us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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95,376us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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Total assets |
1,841,962us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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1,877,433us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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1,841,962us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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1,877,433us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
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Echo Park [Member] |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Total consolidated revenues |
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5,438us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember
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Total segment income |
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(15,913)sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember
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(5,490)sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember
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(773)sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember
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Total floorplan interest expense |
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66sah_FloorPlanInterestExpense / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember
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Total depreciation and amortization |
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259us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember
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Total capital expenditures |
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29,303us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember
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5,670us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember
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Total assets |
$ 42,115us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember
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$ 5,670us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember
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$ 42,115us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember
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$ 5,670us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember
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