XML 76 R21.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Operating Lease Exit Accruals | A summary of the activity of these operating lease exit accruals consists of the following:
|  |  |  | (In thousands) |  |  |
|  | Balance, December 31, 2013 |  | $ | 27,234 |  |  |
|  | Lease exit expense (1) |  |  | (272 | ) |  |
|  | Payments (2) |  |  | (5,445 | ) |  |
|  | Lease buyout (3) |  |  | (1,556 | ) |  |
|  | Balance, September 30, 2014 |  | $ | 19,961 |  |  |
| (1) Expense of approximately $0.2 million is recorded in interest expense, other, net, expense of approximately $0.1 million |
| is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses, and income of approximately $0.6 million is recorded |
| in income (loss) from discontinued operations in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated |
| Statements of Income. |
| (2) Amount is recorded as an offset to rent expense in selling, general and administrative expenses, with approximately |
| $0.6 million in continuing operations and $4.8 million in income (loss) from discontinued operations in the |
| accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. |
| (3) Amount represents write-off of accrual related to an early lease buyout agreement which was completed and paid, |
| relieving Sonic of any future lease obligation. |

X
- Definition Summary of lease exit accruals. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_SummaryOfLeaseExitAccrualsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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