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

Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual)

v2.4.0.6

Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Assets recorded at fair value	$ 0	$ 0
Liabilities recorded at fair value	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Assets recorded at fair value	0	0
Liabilities recorded at fair value	0	0
9.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Stated Interest rate on debt agreement	9.00%
7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2022 [Member]
Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Stated Interest rate on debt agreement	7.00%
Cash flow swaps designated as hedges [Member]
Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Amount included in other accrued liabilities	11.2	11.4
Amount included in other long-term liabilities	17.3	20.0
Cash flow swaps not designated as hedges [Member]
Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Amount included in other accrued liabilities	0.7	0.7
Amount included in other long-term liabilities	$ 2.0	$ 2.2

- Definition

Amount of derivative liability included in other accrued liabilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sah_DerivativeLiabilityInOtherAccruedLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	sah_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of derivative liability included in other long-term liabilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sah_DerivativeLiabilityInOtherLongTermLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	sah_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	sah_FairValueMeasurementsTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	sah_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the aggregate of the assets reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: 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))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the aggregate of the liabilities reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant