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Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 Option | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |
Lease exit expense | $ 0.3 us-gaap_BusinessExitCosts1 |  |
Interest Expense | 2.0 us-gaap_InterestExpense |  |
Lease exit accrued cost | 1.7 sah_LeaseExitAccrualsAmount |  |
Operating lease term for dealership facilities, minimum | 15 years |  |
Operating lease term for dealership facilities, maximum | 20 years |  |
Operating lease number of renewal options, minimum | 1 sah_NumberOfOperatingLeaseRenewalOptionsMinimum |  |
Operating lease number of renewal options, maximum | 2 sah_OperatingLeaseNumberOfRenewalOptionsMaximum |  |
Operating lease period of renewal options | 10 years |  |
Percentage of lease facility based on capitalization rates | 20.00%sah_PercentageLeaseFacilityBasedOnCapitalizationRates |  |
Lease expense for continuing operation | 106.0 sah_LeaseExpenseForContinuingOperation | 99.6 sah_LeaseExpenseForContinuingOperation | 102.4 sah_LeaseExpenseForContinuingOperation
Lease expense for discontinuing operation | 0.9 sah_LeaseExpenseForDiscontinuingOperation | 1.1 sah_LeaseExpenseForDiscontinuingOperation | 6.2 sah_LeaseExpenseForDiscontinuingOperation
Leases, net contingent rent benefit related to decrease in interest rates from continuing operation | 2.0 sah_LeasesContingentRentBenefitContinuingOperation | 2.3 sah_LeasesContingentRentBenefitContinuingOperation | 2.3 sah_LeasesContingentRentBenefitContinuingOperation
Leases net contingent rent benefit related to decrease in interest rates from discontinuing operation | 0.1 sah_LeasesContingentRentBenefitDiscontinuingOperation | 0.6 sah_LeasesContingentRentBenefitDiscontinuingOperation | 0.6 sah_LeasesContingentRentBenefitDiscontinuingOperation
Obligations under subleases, if subleases do not perform | 91.1 sah_ObligationsUnderSubleasesAmount |  |
Estimated minimum lease payment | 5.2 sah_LeaseObligationsIfBuyerDoesNotPerformAmount |  |
Maximum exposure associated with general indemnifications | 16.8 us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesGross |  |
General indemnifications minimum expiration period | 1 year |  |
General indemnifications maximum expiration period | 3 years |  |
Joint venture ownership percentage | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage |  |
Contingent liability reserve balance after reduction | 2.8 sah_ContingentLiabilityReserveBalance |  |
Other Accrued Liabilities [Member] |  |  |
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |
Amount reserved for pending proceedings | 2.0 sah_LegalMattersAmountReservedForPendingProceedings / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = sah_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesMember | 1.2 sah_LegalMattersAmountReservedForPendingProceedings / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = sah_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesMember |
Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member] |  |  |
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |
Amount reserved for pending proceedings | $ 0.3 sah_LegalMattersAmountReservedForPendingProceedings / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = sah_OtherLongTermLiabilitiesMember |  |

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- Definition Undiscounted amount of the accrual for environmental loss contingencies. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.Y.Q1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011672&loc=d3e149879-122751 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section Y -Paragraph Question 1 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13207-110859 + Details
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- Definition Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Includes, but is not limited to, one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, and termination benefits associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement. Excludes expenses associated with special or contractual termination benefits, a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation. + 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 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140864-122747 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 + Details
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