v2.4.0.8

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended										9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 28, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Credit Agreement USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Credit Agreement USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Credit Agreement USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Receivables Securitization USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Receivables Securitization USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Senior Notes USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Senior Notes USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 ECP 2012 Contingent Payment USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 ECP 2012 Contingent Payment GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2011 ECP 2012 Contingent Payment GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2011 ECP 2013 Contingent Payment Draco Portion GBP (£)
Fair Value Measurements
Maximum payment under contingent consideration agreement																	£ 25,000,000	£ 27,000,000
Losses related to contingent consideration obligations outstanding at period-end	(700,000)	(900,000)	(2,800,000)	(500,000)	1,500,000
Borrowings under credit agreement, carrying value									974,600,000	901,400,000
Borrowings under receivable securitization facility, carrying value					80,000,000	77,300,000						80,000,000
Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liabilities Payments Made			38,349,000	600,000	3,100,000										33,900,000	22,400,000
Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liabilities Other Settlements															3,900,000	2,600,000
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	1,312,055,000		1,312,055,000		1,118,478,000		956,076,000	644,200,000	974,600,000		10,000,000	80,000,000	600,000,000	0
Long-term Debt, Fair Value													$ 560,000,000

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

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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



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 68

-Subparagraph g

-Clause 3

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: 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)

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



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13,16)

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

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	credit
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X

- Details

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

X

- Definition

This item represents the amount of the total change in unrealized (holding) gains or losses for the period which are included in the statement of income (or changes in net assets) in other income. Such unrealized (holding) gains or losses relate 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=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 157

-Paragraph 32

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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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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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



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS140-4/FIN46(R)-8

-Paragraph B12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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