XML 89 R12.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Inventories and Related Notes Payable - Floor Plan | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract] |
Inventories and Related Notes Payable - Floor Plan | 3. Inventories and Related Notes Payable - Floor Plan Inventories consist of the following:
|  |  | December 31, 2014 |  |  | December 31, 2013 |  |
|  |  | (In thousands) |  |
| New vehicles |  | $ | 924,818 |  |  | $ | 938,263 |  |
| Used vehicles |  |  | 214,015 |  |  |  | 171,909 |  |
| Service loaners |  |  | 112,520 |  |  |  | 108,136 |  |
| Parts, accessories and other |  |  | 60,349 |  |  |  | 63,830 |  |
| Net inventories |  | $ | 1,311,702 |  |  | $ | 1,282,138 |  |
Sonic finances all of its new and certain of its used vehicle inventory through standardized floor plan facilities with a syndicate of financial institutions and manufacturer-affiliated finance companies. The new and used floor plan facilities bear interest at variable rates based on prime and LIBOR. The weighted average interest rate for Sonic’s new vehicle floor plan facilities, for continuing operations and discontinued operations, was 1.57%, 1.86% and 2.02% for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Sonic’s floor plan interest expense related to the new vehicle floor plan arrangements is partially offset by amounts received from manufacturers in the form of floor plan assistance. Floor plan assistance received is capitalized in inventory and charged against cost of sales when the associated inventory is sold. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, for continuing operations and discontinued operations, Sonic recognized a reduction in cost of sales of approximately $39.7, million, $37.9 million and $33.0 million, respectively, related to manufacturer floor plan assistance. The weighted average interest rate for Sonic’s used vehicle floor plan facilities, for continuing operations and discontinued operations, was 1.80%, 2.78% and 2.80% for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The new and used floor plan facilities are collateralized by vehicle inventories and other assets, excluding franchise and dealer agreements, of the relevant dealership subsidiary. The new and used floor plan facilities contain a number of covenants, including, among others, covenants restricting Sonic with respect to the creation of liens and changes in ownership, officers and key management personnel. Sonic was in compliance with all of these restrictive covenants as of December 31, 2014.

X
- Definition Inventories and related notes payable - floor plan. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sah_InventoriesAndRelatedNotesPayableFloorPlanTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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