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

Summary of Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Additional Information (Detail)

v2.4.1.9

Summary of Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014 Franchise	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014 Dealerships	Dec. 31, 2013 Dealerships	Dec. 31, 2012 Dealerships
Condensed Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges	$ 6,400,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	$ 200,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges		$ 9,900,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges		$ 6,594,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	$ 9,872,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	$ 950,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Charges against to natural damages	1,000,000us-gaap_LossFromCatastrophes	2,000,000us-gaap_LossFromCatastrophes	1,000,000us-gaap_LossFromCatastrophes
Gain (loss) on disposal		3,200,000	7,300,000			11,079,000		10,000
Number of franchises disposed			2sah_NumberOfFranchisesDisposed			9sah_NumberOfFranchisesDisposed	0sah_NumberOfFranchisesDisposed	12sah_NumberOfFranchisesDisposed
Charges against legal settlement reserve accrual			300,000us-gaap_LitigationSettlementExpense
Loss on extinguishment of debt					28,200,000		(28,238,000)	(19,713,000)
Interest on notes	5.00%					5.00%
9% Notes [Member]
Condensed Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Incremental interest incurred charge					800,000
Interest on notes					9.00%
5% Notes [Member]
Condensed Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Interest on notes					5.00%
Franchised Dealerships [Member]
Condensed Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Tax expenses	$ 900,000

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