v2.4.0.8

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Details) | 3 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2014 Credit Agreement USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 Credit Agreement USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2014 Receivables securitization facility USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 Receivables securitization facility USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2014 Senior notes USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 Senior notes USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2013 ECP 2012 Contingent Payment USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2013 ECP 2012 Contingent Payment GBP (£) | Jun. 30, 2014 Subsequent Event ECP 2012 Contingent Payment USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2014 Subsequent Event ECP 2012 Contingent Payment GBP (£) | Apr. 02, 2014 Subsequent Event ECP 2013 Contingent Payment USD ($)
Fair Value Measurements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum payment under contingent consideration agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | £ 25,000,000 |  |  | $ 30,000,000
Contingent consideration payments | 2,006,000 | 37,768,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 33,900,000 | 22,400,000 | 44,800,000 | 26,900,000 |
Contingent consideration other settlements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,900,000 | 2,600,000 | 5,100,000 | 3,100,000 |
(Gains) Losses related to contingent consideration obligations outstanding at period-end | 700,000 | (800,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Borrowings under credit agreement, carrying value |  |  | 992,200,000 | 672,600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Borrowings under receivable securitization facility, carrying value | 80,000,000 |  |  |  | 80,000,000 | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, fair value |  |  |  |  |  |  | 572,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, carrying amount |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 600,000,000 | $ 600,000,000 |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Settlements of contingent consideration liabilities other than cash payment + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lkq_BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilitiesOtherSettlements
Namespace Prefix: | lkq_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Payments made under contingent consideration arrangements + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | lkq_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Total outstanding balance for the credit facility borrowings, including term loan borrowings and line of credit borrowings as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lkq_CreditFacilityBorrowings
Namespace Prefix: | lkq_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition For contingent consideration arrangements recognized in connection with a business combination, this element represents an estimate of the high-end of the potential range (undiscounted) of the consideration which may be paid. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7488404&loc=d3e6927-128479 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of unrealized (holding) gain (loss) which is included in the statement of income (or changes in net assets) related to those liabilities still held at the reporting date for which fair value is measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). + 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 (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25499696&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Carrying amount of liabilities associated with financial assets accounted for as secured borrowings recognized in the transferor's statement of financial position at the end of each period presented. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 860 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7523297&loc=SL6224234-111729 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TransfersAccountedForAsSecuredBorrowingsAssociatedLiabilitiesCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant