v2.4.1.9
Income Taxes - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2012
Income Taxes [Line Items]            
Undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries   $ 7,733us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUndistributedForeignEarnings $ 4,665us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUndistributedForeignEarnings      
Unrecognized tax benefits, net   6,844wex_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsNet        
Unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact effective tax rate   6,844us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate        
Accrued penalties and interest related to uncertain tax positions   1,988us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued 1,625us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued 1,313us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued    
Income tax expense   101,621us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 90,102us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 109,474us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit    
Write-off of refund claim payable to former shareholder of RD Card Holding   0wex_DecreaseInTaxRefundDueToFormerShareholders 0wex_DecreaseInTaxRefundDueToFormerShareholders 9,750wex_DecreaseInTaxRefundDueToFormerShareholders    
Goodwill impairment   0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss 17,508us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss    
Increase in income tax due to retroactive adjustment       2,400wex_IncreaseInIncomeTaxDueToImpactOfRetroactiveAdjustment    
Reduction in tax expenses due to research and development credits 2,400us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions          
Tax Years 2010 through 2013 [Member]            
Income Taxes [Line Items]            
Reduction in tax expenses due to research and development credits         11,300us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
/ us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis
= wex_TaxYears2010through2013Member
 
State and Local Jurisdiction            
Income Taxes [Line Items]            
Operating loss carry forwards   645,132us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
561,469us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
     
Domestic Tax Authority            
Income Taxes [Line Items]            
Operating loss carry forwards   53,099us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
       
Domestic Tax Authority | Evolution1            
Income Taxes [Line Items]            
Operating loss carryforwards, utilized during period   7,363wex_OperatingLossCarryforwardsUtilizedDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= wex_EvolutionOneMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
       
Foreign Tax Authority            
Income Taxes [Line Items]            
Operating loss carry forwards   53,609us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
31,489us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
     
Australia            
Income Taxes [Line Items]            
Income tax expense           31,432us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= country_AU
Write-off of refund claim payable to former shareholder of RD Card Holding           $ 9,750wex_DecreaseInTaxRefundDueToFormerShareholders
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= country_AU