Represent the number of votes per class of common stock.

No definition available.

Name:	lad_CommonStockNumberOfVotes
Namespace Prefix:	lad_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of shares of one class common stock shares convertible into another class of common stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lad_ConversionOfCommonStockShares
Namespace Prefix:	lad_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	lad_Note8StockholdersEquityDetailsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	lad_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage number of shares of Class B common stock outstanding representing less than 1% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding that would be subject to automatic conversion.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lad_PercentageOfClassBCommonToTotalCommonStockSubjectToAutomaticConversion
Namespace Prefix:	lad_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash outflow in the form of capital distributions and dividends to common shareholders, preferred shareholders and noncontrolling interests.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For net-share settlement of share-based awards when the employer settles employees' income tax withholding obligations, this element represents the number of shares the employees use to repay the employer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and have not been retired and are not held in treasury. Some state laws may govern the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The remaining number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total cost of shares repurchased divided by the total number of shares repurchased.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

Note 8 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			41 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Nov. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Jul. 20, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Note 8 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) [Line Items]
Payments of Dividends (in Dollars)	$ 2,600us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	$ 2,500us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	$ 15,929us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	$ 10,085us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	$ 12,066us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Common Class B [Member]
Note 8 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) [Line Items]
Conversion Of Common Stock, Shares			1
Percentage of Class B Common Stock To Total Common Stock Subject To Automatic Conversion			1.00%
Common Stock Number of Votes			10
Common Class A [Member] \| Additional Shares Authorized [Member]
Note 8 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) [Line Items]
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased							1,000,000
Common Class A [Member]
Note 8 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) [Line Items]
Common Stock Number of Votes			1
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased								2,000,000
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares						1,499,776
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share (in Dollars per share)						$ 31.19
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased			1,500,224			1,500,224
Shares Paid for Tax Withholding for Share Based Compensation			106,772	59,721	80,687