Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Long-Term Debt (Details Textual)

v2.4.0.6
Long-Term Debt (Details Textual) (USD $)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2012
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Receive Rate one-month LIBOR    
Premium associated with notes $ 600,000   $ 700,000
Incremental interest expense 2,900,000 4,400,000  
One-month LIBOR rate 0.204%    
Net expense expected to be reclassified 7,400,000    
Outstanding principal amount of the 7.0% Notes 25.00%    
Remaining unamortized premium balance 600,000   700,000
9.0% Senior Subordinate Notes due 2018 [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Interest on notes 9.00%    
Discount associated with notes 1,000,000   1,100,000
Notes maturity date Mar. 15, 2018    
Unsecured senior subordinated obligations, description 9.0% Notes    
Debt instrument date of required interest payments semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 each year    
Debt instrument earliest redemption date after March 15, 2014    
Indenture 9.0% notes 101.00%    
Restrictive covenants Mar. 31, 2013    
Notes redeemed percentage of aggregate principal amount 100.00%    
Debt instrument maximum allowed dividends per share $ 0.10    
Indebtedness with outstanding balance 35,000,000    
Acceleration of notes obligation by holders 25.00%    
Debt Default Description under 9% and 7% Notes Sonic’s obligations under the 9.0% Notes may be accelerated by the holders of 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the 9.0% Notes then outstanding if certain events of default occur, including: (1) defaults in the payment of principal or interest when due; (2) defaults in the performance, or breach, of Sonic’s covenants under the 9.0% Notes; and (3) certain defaults under other agreements under which Sonic or its subsidiaries have outstanding indebtedness in excess of $35.0 million.    
7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2022 [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Interest on notes 7.00%    
Discount associated with notes 1,700,000   1,700,000
Senior Subordinated Notes [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Interest on notes 7.00%    
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%    
Notes redemption price percentage of the principal amount 100.00%    
Notes redemption price percentage of the par value 107.00%    
Notes redemption price percentage of the par value due to change of control 101.00%    
Debt instrument maximum allowed dividends per share $ 0.10    
Indebtedness with outstanding balance 35,000,000    
Restrictive Covenants Under 2011 Credit facilities and 7 % 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% Notes.    
Debt Default Description under 9% and 7% Notes Sonic’s obligations under the 7.0% Notes may be accelerated by the holders of 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the 7.0% Notes then outstanding if certain events of default occur, including: (1) defaults in the payment of principal or interest when due; (2) defaults in the performance, or breach, of Sonic’s covenants under the 7.0% Notes; and (3) certain defaults under other agreements under which Sonic or its subsidiaries have outstanding indebtedness in excess of $35.0 million.    
Mortgage Notes Payable [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Discount associated with notes 700,000   700,000
Mortgage Notes [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Debt weighted average interest rate on note 4.37%    
Mortgage financing aggregate 216,900,000    
Mortgage financing related to dealership properties 22    
Notes payable due date between June 2013 and March 2031    
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Fair value of swap positions 31,200,000   34,300,000
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member] | Other accrued liabilities [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Fair value of swap positions 11,900,000   12,100,000
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Fair value of swap positions 19,300,000   22,200,000
Maximum [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Interest on notes 10.52%    
Maximum [Member] | Mortgage Loan at Fix Interest Rate [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Interest on notes 7.03%    
Maximum [Member] | Mortgage Loan at Variable Interest Rate [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
One-month LIBOR rate 3.50%    
Minimum [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Interest on notes 9.52%    
Minimum [Member] | Mortgage Loan at Fix Interest Rate [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Interest on notes 4.07%    
Minimum [Member] | Mortgage Loan at Variable Interest Rate [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
One-month LIBOR rate 1.25%    
Weighted Average [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Interest on notes 10.19%    
2011 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Interest rate 2.00%   2.25%
2011 Credit facility, Amendment, Number of Common Stock Pledged As Collateral, Reductions 5,000,000    
Increased Borrowing Capacity 225,000,000    
Borrowing Base 133,900,000    
Letters of credit outstanding amount 32,300,000    
Borrowing Availability Amount 101,600,000    
2011 Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Increased Borrowing Capacity 175,000,000    
2011 Credit Facility [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Maturity date of 2011 Revolving credit facility and Floor plan facility Aug. 15, 2016    
Credit facilities amendment date Mar. 14, 2013    
2011 Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
EBTDAR to rent ratio 3.24    
2011 Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Required ratio [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
EBTDAR to rent ratio 1.50    
2011 Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
EBTDAR to rent ratio 1.00    
2011 Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Required ratio [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
EBTDAR to rent ratio 1.00    
Common Class A [Member]
     
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]      
Estimated fair value of common stock issued $ 615,000   $ 614,000
Estimated fair value of common stock issued per share $ 0.01   $ 0.01