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Financial Services Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum | Dec. 31, 2012 Finance | Dec. 31, 2011 Finance | Dec. 31, 2012 Polaris Acceptance | Dec. 31, 2011 Polaris Acceptance | Dec. 31, 2012 Polaris' wholly-owned subsidiary | Dec. 31, 2012 GE Commercial Distribution Finance Corporation
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment ownership percentage |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |
Outstanding balance of receivables |  |  |  |  |  | $ 601,175,000 | $ 477,604,000 |  |
Equity cash investment as a percentage of the sum of portfolio balance and securitized receivables |  |  | 15.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment in affiliates |  |  |  | 56,988,000 | 42,251,000 |  |  |  |
Aggregate repurchase obligation, percentage |  |  | 15.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Net amount financed for dealers | 767,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate repurchase obligation, amount | 78,905,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Trade receivables from Polaris Acceptance | $ 1,777,000 | $ 1,618,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income and losses sharing percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% | 50.00%

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