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Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
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3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sep. 30, 2013
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Jun. 30, 2013
Agreement
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Sep. 30, 2012
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Sep. 30, 2013
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Sep. 30, 2012
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Sep. 30, 2013
5.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
5.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2022 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2022 [Member]
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Jun. 30, 2013
9.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018 [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
9.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
9.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018 [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
Mortgage Notes [Member]
Property
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Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
2011 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
Other Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Other Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
Other Assets [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member]
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Jun. 30, 2013
Cash Flow Swap 12 [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
Cash Flow Swap 12 [Member]
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Jun. 30, 2013
Cash Flow Swap 13 [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
Cash Flow Swap 13 [Member]
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Jun. 30, 2013
Cash Flow Swap 14 [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
Cash Flow Swap 14 [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
2011 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
2011 Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Maximum [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
2011 Credit Facility [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
2011 Credit Facility [Member]
Maximum [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
2011 Credit Facility [Member]
Maximum [Member]
Required Ratio [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
2011 Credit Facility [Member]
Minimum [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2013
2011 Credit Facility [Member]
Minimum [Member]
Required Ratio [Member]
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Jul. 31, 2013
2011 New Vehicle Floor Plan Facility [Member]
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| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 Credit facility, amendment, number of common stock pledged as collateral, reductions | 5,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity date of 2011 revolving credit facility and floor plan facility | Aug. 15, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit facilities amendment date | Mar. 14, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Increased borrowing capacity | $ 80,000,000 | $ 225,000,000 | $ 175,000,000 | $ 525,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Borrowing base | 141,700,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Letters of credit outstanding amount | 32,300,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Borrowing availability amount | 109,400,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Limit of borrowing capacity | 500,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EBTDAR to rent ratio | 3.43 | 1.50 | 1.00 | 1.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest on notes | 5.00% | 5.00% | 7.00% | 7.00% | 9.00% | 9.00% | 9.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes issued at a price of principal amount | 100.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes maturity date | May 15, 2023 | Jul. 15, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal amount | 300,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest payable description | Semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year | Semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes redeemed percentage of aggregate principal amount | 35.00% | 35.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes redemption price percentage of the principal amount | 100.00% | 100.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes redemption price percentage of the par value | 105.00% | 107.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes redemption price percentage of the par value due to change of control | 101.00% | 101.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt instrument maximum allowed dividends per share | $ 0.10 | $ 0.10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restrictive covenants under 2011 credit facilities and 7 % notes with 5% notes | Specifically, the indenture governing Sonic's 5.0% 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 5.0% 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding principal amount of the 7.0% notes | 25.00% | 25.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indebtedness with outstanding balance | 50,000,000 | 35,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt default description under 5% and 7% notes | Sonic's obligations under the 5.0% Notes may be accelerated by the holders of 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the 5.0% 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 5.0% Notes; and (3) certain defaults under other agreements under which Sonic or its subsidiaries have outstanding indebtedness in excess of $50.0 million. | 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repayment of cash to repurchase 9.0% notes | 237,200,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of notes | (28,238,000) | (19,898,000) | 28,200,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Incremental interest expense | 13,553,000 | 15,632,000 | 42,302,000 | 45,875,000 | 800,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unsecured senior subordinated obligations, description | 9.0% Notes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt weighted average interest rate on note | 4.09% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage financing aggregate | 240,300,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage financing related to dealership properties | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes payable due date | Between August 2014 and September 2033 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of swap positions | 20,300,000 | 34,300,000 | 11,600,000 | 12,100,000 | 11,700,000 | 22,200,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of swap positions included in other assets | 3,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notional forward | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration of Interest rate cash flow swap agreements | swap agreements become effective in July 2015, July 2016 and July 2017, respectively, and terminate in July 2016, July 2017 and June 2018, respectively | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate cash flow swap agreements | 200,000,000 | 200,000,000 | 50,000,000 | 50,000,000 | 250,000,000 | 250,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate cash flow swap agreements maturing date | Jul. 01, 2016 | Jul. 01, 2016 | Jul. 01, 2017 | Jul. 01, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Incremental interest expense | 3,000,000 | 3,400,000 | 8,800,000 | 10,300,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net expense expected to be reclassified | $ 7,200,000 | $ 7,200,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||