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

X

- Definition

Payments made under contingent consideration arrangements

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lkq_BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilitiesPaymentsMade
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

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueHigh
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

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems
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

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
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