XML 115 R38.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Oct. 02, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 Dealerships Store Collision Brand State | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of dealerships |  | 123 |  |
Number of states |  | 14 |  |
Number of different brands of cars and light trucks |  | 25 |  |
Number of collision repair centers |  | 21 |  |
Number of stores |  | 102 |  |
Percentage of dealership that is accounted for under the equity method |  | 50.00% |  |
Book overdraft position |  | $ 41,000,000 | $ 39,900,000 |
Revenue allowances for commission reserves |  | 14,900,000 | 13,200,000 |
Amount recognized for continue operation |  | 37,900,000 | 32,100,000 | 25,300,000
Additional amount recognized for discontinued operation |  |  | 900,000 | 1,400,000
Term for funding of finance contracts |  | 10 days |  |
Contracts in transit receivables |  | 190,000,000 | 183,200,000 |
Goodwill impairment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Goodwill |  | 476,315,000 | 454,224,000 | 468,465,000
Franchise asset impairment charge |  | 600,000 |  |
Insurance reserves |  | 23,600,000 | 23,400,000 |
Deposits |  | 65,000,000 | 60,000,000 |
Reduction in interest expense |  | 1,000,000 | 300,000 |
Total outstanding balance of financial instruments and market risks |  | 1,300,000,000 | 1,200,000,000 |
Advertising expense |  | 56,600,000 | 50,300,000 | 49,100,000
Cooperative manufacturer credits advertising expenses |  | 21,800,000 | 22,000,000 | 17,700,000
Automobile Manufacturers [Member] |  |  |  |
Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Concentrations of credit risk with respect to receivables are limited primarily to automobile manufacturers |  | 82,600,000 | 71,600,000 |
Financial Institutions [Member] |  |  |  |
Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Concentrations of credit risk with respect to receivables are limited primarily to financial institutions |  | $ 210,300,000 | $ 204,900,000 |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Projected sales in the unit for next year |  | 15,500,000 |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Projected sales in the unit for next year |  | 16,000,000 |  |

X
- Definition Concentration credit risk amount. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_ConcentrationCreditRiskAmount
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Concentration credit risk receivables. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_ConcentrationCreditRiskReceivables
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Contracts in transit receivables. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_ContractsInTransitReceivables
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | sah_DescriptionOfBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Financial instruments outstanding balance before interest rate swaps. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_FinancialInstrumentsOutstandingBalanceBeforeInterestRateSwaps
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Floor plan assistance recognized continuing operations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_FloorPlanAssistanceRecognizedContinuingOperations
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Floor plan assistance recognized discontinuing operations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_FloorPlanAssistanceRecognizedDiscontinuingOperations
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Goodwill valuation assumption projected sales in unit. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_GoodwillValuationAssumptionProjectedSalesInUnit
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of brands of cars and light trucks. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_NumberOfBrandsOfCarsAndLightTrucks
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of collision repair centers. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_NumberOfCollisionRepairCenters
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of dealerships operated by entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_NumberOfDealershipsOperatedByEntity
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Percentage of dealership subsidiaries accounted as equity method. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_PercentageOfDealershipSubsidiariesAccountedAsEquityMethod
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Term for funding of finance contracts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_TermForFundingOfFinanceContracts
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 720 -SubTopic 35 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420018&loc=d3e36677-107848 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of payments made in excess of existing cash balances, which will be honored by the bank but reflected as a loan to the entity. Overdrafts generally have a very short time frame for correction or repayment and are therefore more similar to short-term bank financing than trade financing. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Current Liabilities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509677 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361426&loc=d3e1243-112600 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BankOverdrafts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total amount received by an entity from a vendor under a cooperative advertising arrangement that has been offset against advertising expense. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 605 -SubTopic 50 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6408645&loc=d3e63872-111659 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cooperative Advertising -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509061 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CooperativeAdvertisingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The carrying amount of the asset transferred to a third party to serve as a deposit, which typically serves as security against failure by the transferor to perform under terms of an agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 17 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 8 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8,17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DepositAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of loss from the write-down of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13854-109267 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13777-109266 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of a finite-lived intangible asset to fair value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16373-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in interest payable, which represents the amount owed to note holders, bond holders, and other parties for interest earned on loans or credit extended to the reporting entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInterestPayableNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of states the entity operates in as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfStatesInWhichEntityOperates
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the number of stores. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfStores
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions) of accrued known and estimated losses incurred as of the balance sheet date for which no insurance coverage exists, and for which a claim has been made or is probable of being asserted, typically arising from workmen's compensation-type of incidents and personal injury to nonemployees from accidents on the entity's property. + 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 210.5-02.24) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 09 -Article 12 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant