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v2.4.1.9

Interim Financial Information (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014
Business and Organization [Line Items] |  |  |
Immaterial Error of Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ (2,983)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents | $ (12,254)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents |
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities | 58,167 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities | 133,192 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities |
Number of domestic regions | 2 gpi_Numberofdomesticregions |  |
Number of international regions | 2 gpi_Numberofinternationalregions |  |
Assets, Current | 1,982,489 us-gaap_AssetsCurrent |  | 2,035,219 us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
Total assets | 4,098,467 us-gaap_Assets |  | 4,141,492 us-gaap_Assets
Liabilities, Current | 1,817,106 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent |  | 1,922,199 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
East [Member] |  |  |
Business and Organization [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of dealerships | 40 gpi_NumberOfDealerships / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = gpi_EastMember |  |
West [Member] |  |  |
Business and Organization [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of dealerships | 76 gpi_NumberOfDealerships / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = gpi_WestMember |  |
UNITED STATES |  |  |
Business and Organization [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of States in which Entity Operates | 14 us-gaap_NumberOfStatesInWhichEntityOperates / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_US |  |
UNITED KINGDOM |  |  |
Business and Organization [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of Towns in which Entity Operates | 15 gpi_NumberOfTownsInWhichEntityOperates / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_GB |  |
Number of dealerships | 17 gpi_NumberOfDealerships / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_GB |  |
BRAZIL |  |  |
Business and Organization [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of States in which Entity Operates | 3 us-gaap_NumberOfStatesInWhichEntityOperates / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_BR |  |
Number of dealerships | 17 gpi_NumberOfDealerships / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_BR |  |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |
Business and Organization [Line Items] |  |  |
Assets, Current | 14,447 us-gaap_AssetsCurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember |  | 19,049 us-gaap_AssetsCurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Long-Lived Assets | 26,179 us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember |  | 31,783 us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Total assets | 40,626 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember |  | 50,832 us-gaap_Assets / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Liabilities, Current | 12,821 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember |  | 16,374 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Liabilities, Noncurrent | 16,732 us-gaap_LiabilitiesNoncurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember |  | 15,955 us-gaap_LiabilitiesNoncurrent / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Liabilities | $ 29,553 us-gaap_Liabilities / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember |  | $ 32,329 us-gaap_Liabilities / us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis = us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember

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- Definition Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events. + 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 210.5-02.18) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 12 -Article 7 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 18 -Article 5 + Details
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