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Business Acquisitions and Dispositions - Results Associated with Disposed Dealerships That Remain in Continued Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Business Combinations [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Income (loss) from operations |  |  | $ (787)sah_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss | $ (485)sah_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss | $ (424)sah_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss
Gain (loss) on disposal | 3,200 us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal | 7,300 us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal | 11,079 us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal |  | 10 us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
Property impairment charges |  |  |  | (5,565)sah_DisposalGroupIncludingContinuedOperationAssetsImpairmentCharges |
Pre-tax income (loss) |  |  | 10,292 sah_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossBeforeIncomeTax | (6,050)sah_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossBeforeIncomeTax | (414)sah_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossBeforeIncomeTax
Total revenues |  |  | $ 205,559 sah_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationRevenue | $ 310,919 sah_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationRevenue | $ 294,083 sah_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationRevenue

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- Definition Disposal group not discontinued operation income loss before income tax. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Disposal group not discontinued operation operating income loss. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Disposal group not discontinued operation revenue. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition The gain (loss) resulting from the sale of a disposal group that is not a discontinued operation. It is included in income from continuing operations before income taxes in the income statement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2443-110228 + Details
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