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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Summary of Operating Lease Exit Accruals (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Component of lease exit expense in interest expense, other, net | $ 0.2
Component of lease exit expense in income (loss) from operations and the sale of dealerships | 2.0
Component of lease exit expense in selling, general and administrative expenses | 0.1
Component of lease exit payments in selling, general and administrative expenses | 0.9
Component of lease exit payments in income (loss) from operations and the sale of dealerships | $ 5.7

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- Definition Lease exit expense discontinued operations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_LeaseExitExpenseDiscontinuedOperations
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Lease exit expense interest other. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_LeaseExitExpenseInterestOther
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Lease exit expense selling general and administrative. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_LeaseExitExpenseSellingGeneralAndAdministrative
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Lease exit payment discontinued operations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_LeaseExitPaymentDiscontinuedOperations
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Lease exit payment selling general and administrative. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_LeaseExitPaymentSellingGeneralAndAdministrative
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration