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
- Details
Financial Statements
Notes to Financial Statements
Accounting Policies
- Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
Notes Tables
Notes Details

Long-Term Debt - Notes Narrative (Details)

v3.20.2

Long-Term Debt - Notes Narrative (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt - Notes Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 10, 2017	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Percentage Of Outstanding Principal Amount Redeemable Upon Event Of Default		25.00%
Debt outstanding		$ 741,778,000	$ 741,778,000	$ 714,968,000
Maximum Borrowing 2019 Mortgage Facility		112,200,000	112,200,000
Maximum Borrowing 2020 Line of Credit Facility		57,000,000.0	57,000,000.0
Remaining Availability 2020 LOC		57,000,000.0	57,000,000.0
Outstanding Balance 2020 LOC		$ 0	$ 0
Mortgage notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt weighted average interest rate on note		3.53%	3.53%
Debt outstanding		$ 388,100,000	$ 388,100,000
5.0% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		5.00%	5.00%
6.125% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes Redemption Price Percentage Of Par Value Due To Change Of Control	101.00%
Stated interest rate	6.125%	6.125%	6.125%
Principal amount	$ 250,000,000.0
Notes issued, percent of principal	100.00%
Maximum dividend (usd per share)		$ 0.12	$ 0.12
2019 Mortgage Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		2.50%	2.50%
Maximum dividend (usd per share)		$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Long Term Debt Prepayment		$ 500,000	$ 500,000
Debt Instrument, Unused Borrowing Capacity, Amount		$ 8,600,000	$ 8,600,000
Percent of Collateralized Real Estate		75.00%	75.00%
Minimum \| 5.0% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Other Outstanding Indebtedness In Excess		$ 50,000,000.0
Minimum \| 2019 Mortgage Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			0.50%
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread LIBOR			1.50%
Maximum \| 2019 Mortgage Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			1.75%
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread LIBOR			2.75%

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Debt Instrument, Basis Spread specified by 2019 Mortgage Facility

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Minimum amount of outstanding indebtedness the entity or its subsidiaries must have under other agreements in order to allow an acceleration of the entity's debt obligation if certain events of default occur.

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Percentage of the outstanding principal amount of the entity's debt obligation that holders may accelerate if certain events of default occur.

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Long Term Debt Prepayment

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Maximum Borrowing 2019 Mortgage Facility

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Maximum Borrowing 2020 Line of Credit Facility

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The aggregate amount to be paid by the entity upon a "change of control" as defined in the indenture, expressed as a percentage of the par value of the debt obligation.

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Outstanding Balance 2020 LOC

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Remaining Availability 2020 LOC

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Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

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Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

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Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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

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Amount of unused borrowing capacity under the long-term financing arrangement that is available to the entity as of the balance sheet date.

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Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

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