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Segment Information - Summary of Reportable Operating Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Total consolidated revenues | $ 2,235,515 us-gaap_Revenues | $ 2,136,386 us-gaap_Revenues
Total segment income | 36,718 sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss | 45,954 sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss
Interest expense, other, net | (13,219)us-gaap_InterestExpenseOther | (13,818)us-gaap_InterestExpenseOther
Other income (expense), net | 90 us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense | 97 us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes | 23,589 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | 32,233 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Franchised Dealerships [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Total consolidated revenues | 2,219,830 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember | 2,136,386 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
Total segment income | 43,072 sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember | 47,696 sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_FranchisedDealershipsMember
Echo Park [Member] |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Total consolidated revenues | 15,685 us-gaap_Revenues / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember |
Total segment income | $ (6,354)sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember | $ (1,742)sah_SegmentReportingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = sah_EchoParkMember

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- Definition Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 + Details
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- Definition Interest expense on all other items not previously classified. For example, includes dividends associated with redeemable preferred stock of a subsidiary that is treated as a liability in the parent's consolidated balance sheet. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4D -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624177-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph -4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 + Details
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- Definition The net amount of other income and expense amounts, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, resulting from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business) also known as other nonoperating income (expense) recognized for the period. Such amounts may include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) net gains or losses on securities, (d) unusual costs, (e) gains or losses on foreign exchange transactions, and (f) miscellaneous other income and expense items. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 9 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.9) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
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- Definition Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 + Details
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