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Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Details Textual) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Additional Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Textual) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Increase in floor plan interest expense due to impact of interest rate hedges | $ 2,700,000 gpi_IncreaseDecreaseInFloorPlanInterestExpenseDueToInterestRateHedges | $ 2,400,000 gpi_IncreaseDecreaseInFloorPlanInterestExpenseDueToInterestRateHedges |  |
Floor Plan Interest Expense | 9,348,000 gpi_FloorPlanInterestExpense | 10,913,000 gpi_FloorPlanInterestExpense |  |
Amount expected to be reclassified from other comprehensive loss into earnings | 12,900,000 us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12MonthsNet |  |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax | (22,455,000)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax | (14,630,000)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax | (17,909,000)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax | (13,850,000)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax
Interest Rate Swap [Member] |  |  |  |
Additional Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Textual) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Interest rate hedges weighted average rate | 2.50%gpi_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeWeightedAverageFixedInterestRate / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember |  |  |
Aggregate notional value of nineteen additional forward interest rate swaps | 563,000,000 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember |  |  |
Interest Rate Swaps Forward Starting [Member] |  |  |  |
Additional Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Textual) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Interest rate hedges weighted average rate | 2.80%gpi_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeWeightedAverageFixedInterestRate / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = gpi_InterestRateSwapsForwardStartingMember |  |  |
Number of additional forward interest rate swaps | 15 us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = gpi_InterestRateSwapsForwardStartingMember |  |  |
Aggregate notional value of nineteen additional forward interest rate swaps | 775,000,000 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = gpi_InterestRateSwapsForwardStartingMember |  |  |
Maximum Notional Amount Of Derivatives In Effect At Any Time | $ 761,000,000 gpi_MaximumNotionalAmountOfDerivativesInEffectAtAnyTime / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = gpi_InterestRateSwapsForwardStartingMember |  |  |
Minimum [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps Forward Starting [Member] |  |  |  |
Additional Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Textual) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Forward swaps start date | August 2015 |  |  |
Forward swaps expiration date | December 2017 |  |  |
Maximum [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps Forward Starting [Member] |  |  |  |
Additional Derivative Instruments and Risk Management Activities (Textual) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Forward swaps start date | January 2018 |  |  |
Forward swaps expiration date | December 2020 |  |  |

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- Definition Interest expense incurred on borrowings under the floorplan line of the credit facility and arrangements with vehicle manufacturer affiliates for the financing of specific new, used and rental vehicle inventory. Interest expense also includes the net impact of interest rate swap settlements during the period, which are designed to hedge exposure to variable interest rates. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Forward swaps expiration date + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Forward swaps start date + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The increase or decrease in floorplan interest expense due to interest rate hedges. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Weighted average fixed interest rate related to the group of interest rate derivatives. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Maximum notional amount of derivatives in effect at any time. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 12 -Section 13 -Sentence Column B + Details
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- Definition Accumulated change, net of tax, in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges. Includes an entity's share of an equity investee's Increase or Decrease in deferred hedging gains or losses. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=SL7669686-108580 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=d3e637-108580 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=d3e681-108580 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10A -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=SL7669646-108580 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7668309&loc=d3e80784-113994 + Details
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- Definition The number of derivative instruments of a particular group held by the entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5580258-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5579245-113959 + Details
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- Definition The estimated net amount of unrealized gains or losses on interest rate cash flow hedges as of the balance sheet date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7668309&loc=d3e80748-113994 + Details
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