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Long-Term Debt (Debt Refinancing Transaction) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on debt extinguishment	$ 1,600,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	$ 1,600,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	$ 0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	$ 0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Write-off of deferred debt issuance costs	400,000us-gaap_WriteOffOfDeferredDebtIssuanceCost	400,000us-gaap_WriteOffOfDeferredDebtIssuanceCost	0us-gaap_WriteOffOfDeferredDebtIssuanceCost	0us-gaap_WriteOffOfDeferredDebtIssuanceCost
Credit facility due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capitalization ratio, requirement			65.00%an_DebtInstrumentCovenantTermsMaximumCapitalizationRatio / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = an_CreditFacilityDue2016Member
Term loan facility due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term loan facility	0us-gaap_LoansPayableToBank / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = an_TermLoanFacilityDue2016Member	0us-gaap_LoansPayableToBank / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = an_TermLoanFacilityDue2016Member	500,000,000us-gaap_LoansPayableToBank / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = an_TermLoanFacilityDue2016Member
Revolving credit facility due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity under revolving credit facility			1,200,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = an_RevolvingCreditFacilityDue2016Member
Credit Facility Due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capitalization ratio, requirement	70.00%an_DebtInstrumentCovenantTermsMaximumCapitalizationRatio / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = an_CreditFacilityDue2019Member	70.00%an_DebtInstrumentCovenantTermsMaximumCapitalizationRatio / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = an_CreditFacilityDue2019Member
Revolving Credit Facility Due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity under revolving credit facility	$ 1,800,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = an_RevolvingCreditFacilityDue2019Member	$ 1,800,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = an_RevolvingCreditFacilityDue2019Member
Debt instrument, maturity date		Dec. 03, 2019

X

- Definition

The maximum capitalization ratio required under the company's credit agreement, which is a contractually defined amount principally reflecting vehicle floorplan payable and non-vehicle debt divided by the company's total capitalization including vehicle floorplan payable and certain adjustments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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X

- Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ 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)(2))

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

+ Details

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X

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12317-112629



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

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-Topic 470

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-Section 40

-Paragraph 4

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X

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

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



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

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X

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of loans from a bank with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

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- Definition

Write-off of amounts previously capitalized as debt issuance cost in an extinguishment of debt.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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