No definition available.

Name:	lad_Note5StockholdersEquityDetailsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	lad_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The amount of adjustment to stockholders' equity associated with an employee's income tax withholding obligation as part of a net-share settlement of a share-based award.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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

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
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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

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
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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased during the period and has not been retired and is not held in treasury. Some state laws may mandate 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 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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30, 31

-Article 5

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- 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

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=lad_AdditionalSharesAuthorizedMember
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Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Note 5 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) - Common Class A [Member] - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	6 Months Ended	47 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Jul. 20, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Note 5 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) [Line Items]
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased				2,000,000
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	98,947	1,598,723
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share (in Dollars per share)	$ 100.29	$ 35.56
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value (in Dollars)	$ 9.9
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased	1,401,277	1,401,277
Additional Shares Authorized [Member]
Note 5 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) [Line Items]
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased			1,000,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Note 5 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) [Line Items]
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share (in Dollars per share)	$ 88.45
Shares Paid for Tax Withholding for Share Based Compensation	77,438
Adjustments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation (in Dollars)	$ 6.9