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Inventories - Components of Inventories (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
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Inventory Disclosure [Abstract] |  |
New vehicles | $ 856,967 sah_InventoryNewVehicles | $ 924,818 sah_InventoryNewVehicles
Used vehicles | 246,713 sah_InventoryUsedVehicles | 214,015 sah_InventoryUsedVehicles
Service loaners | 115,741 sah_InventoryServiceLoaners | 112,520 sah_InventoryServiceLoaners
Parts, accessories and other | 60,606 us-gaap_OtherInventoriesSpareParts | 60,349 us-gaap_OtherInventoriesSpareParts
Net inventories | $ 1,280,027 us-gaap_InventoryNet | $ 1,311,702 us-gaap_InventoryNet

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- Definition Inventory new vehicles. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Inventory service loaners. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Inventory used vehicles. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | sah_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
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Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Amount after valuation and LIFO reserves of inventory expected to be sold, or consumed within one year or operating cycle, if longer. + 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 210.5-02.6(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 330 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6386567&loc=d3e3927-108312 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6676-107765 + Details
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- Definition Gross amount of components of assembled products that can be sold directly or indirectly through sales of assembled products. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 6 -Article 5 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 210.5-02.6) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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