Sonic Automotive, Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

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

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

v3.2.0.727

Long-Term Debt - Long-Term Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	May. 09, 2013	Jul. 02, 2012
7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt agreement	7.00%	7.00%		7.00%
Discount associated with notes	$ 1.4	$ 1.5
5.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt agreement	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%
2014 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	2.25%	2.25%
Notes Payable to Finance Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest on notes	10.19%
Premium associated with notes	$ 0.1
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%
Mortgage Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Discount associated with notes	$ 0.3	$ 0.4
Mortgage Notes [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage notes to finance companies-fixed rate, percentage	3.51%
Mortgage notes to finance companies-variable rate, percentage	1.25%
Mortgage Notes [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage notes to finance companies-fixed rate, percentage	7.03%
Mortgage notes to finance companies-variable rate, percentage	3.50%

- Definition

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

+ 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 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

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+ 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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- Definition

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

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

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

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- Definition

The interest rate applicable to the portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a set, unchanging rate.

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