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Discontinued Operations (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2012 Dealership
Discontinued Operations (Textual) [Abstract] |
Disposed dealerships | 5
Cash generated from disposition | $ 23.6
Disposal of net assets | $ 8.0
Disposed dealerships | 0

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | sah_
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Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Disposal of net assets discontinued operations. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
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- Definition Disposed dealerships. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | sah_
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Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Number of dealerships disposed. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_NumberOfDealershipsDisposed
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
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Balance Type: | na
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- Definition The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Investing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3179-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 15, 16 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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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