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Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Nov. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Nov. 29, 2016 | May 09, 2013 USD ($) | Jul. 02, 2012 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Agreement $ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum EBTDAR to rent ratio |  |  |  |  | 401.00% |  |
Notional Forward | Agreement |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |
Incremental interest expense |  |  |  |  | $ 5,500,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $ 10,700,000
Net expense expected to be reclassified |  |  |  |  | 2,500,000 |  |
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of swap positions |  |  |  |  | 3,700,000 | 10,000,000 |
Fair value of swap positions |  |  |  |  | 2,800,000 |  |
Benefits and charges related to cash flow swaps not designated as hedges |  |  |  |  | 600,000 | 600,000 | $ 500,000
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member] | Other Accrued Liabilities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of swap positions |  |  |  |  | 4,100,000 | 5,100,000 |
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Member] | Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of swap positions |  |  |  |  | $ 2,400,000 | $ 4,900,000 |
Mortgage Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt weighted average interest rate on note |  |  |  |  | 3.74% |  |
Mortgage financing aggregate |  |  |  |  | $ 103,400,000 |  |
Percentage of operating locations related to mortgage financing |  |  |  |  | 45.00% |  |
Outstanding principal balance |  |  |  |  | $ 403,700,000 |  |
Notes payable due date |  |  |  |  | between 2017 and 2033 |  |
Required Ratio [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum EBTDAR to rent ratio |  |  |  |  | 150.00% |  |
Common Class A [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, shares issued | shares |  |  |  |  | 62,967,061 | 62,586,381 |
2014 Credit Facility [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity date of revolving credit facility and floor plan facility |  | Aug. 15, 2019 |  |  | Nov. 30, 2021 |  |
2016 Credit Facility [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity date of revolving credit facility and floor plan facility |  |  |  |  | Nov. 30, 2021 |  |
Minimum EBTDAR to rent ratio |  |  |  |  | 401.00% |  |
2016 Credit Facility [Member] | Required Ratio [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum EBTDAR to rent ratio |  |  |  |  | 150.00% |  |
2016 Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income and retained earnings free of restrictions |  |  |  |  | $ 127,400,000 |  |
2016 Revolving Credit Facility [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Increased availability under borrowing facility | $ 25,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Current borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  | 250,000,000 |  |
Maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  | 300,000,000 |  |
Borrowing base |  |  |  |  | 228,500,000 |  |
Letters of credit outstanding amount |  |  |  |  | 21,400,000 |  |
Revolving Credit Facility |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Borrowing availability amount |  |  |  |  | 207,100,000 |  |
2016 Floor Plan Facilities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Increased availability under borrowing facility | $ 200,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  | 1,015,000,000 |  |
Increase in credit facility borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  | $ 1,265,000,000 |  |
2016 Used Vehicle Floor Plan Facility [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allocation of credit facility increase, percentage |  |  |  |  | 30.00% |  |
7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2022 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Principal amount |  |  |  | $ 200,000,000 |  |  |
Stated interest rate on debt agreement |  |  |  | 7.00% | 7.00% | 7.00% |
Notes issued at a price of principal amount |  |  |  | 99.11% |  |  |
Notes issued yield maturity, percentage |  |  |  | 7.125% |  |  |
Notes maturity date |  |  |  |  | Jul. 15, 2022 |  |
Interest payable description |  |  |  |  | semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year |  |
Notes redemption price percentage of the par value due to change of control |  |  |  |  | 101.00% |  |
Debt instrument maximum allowed dividends per share | $ / shares |  |  |  |  | $ 0.10 |  |
Restrictive covenants under 2011 credit facilities and 7 % notes with 5% notes |  |  |  |  | Specifically, the indenture governing the 7.0% Notes limits Sonic’s ability to pay quarterly cash dividends on Sonic’s Class A and Class B common stock in excess of $0.10 per share. Sonic may only pay quarterly cash dividends on Sonic’s Class A and Class B common stock if Sonic complies with the terms of the indenture governing the 7.0% |  |
Outstanding principal amount of the 7.0% notes |  |  |  |  | 25.00% |  |
7.0% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2022 [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income and retained earnings free of restrictions |  |  |  |  | $ 127,400,000 |  |
Indebtedness with outstanding balance under other agreements |  |  |  |  | $ 35,000,000 |  |
5.0% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2029 [Member] | Common Class A [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, shares issued | shares |  |  |  | 4,100,000 |  |  |
5.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Principal amount |  |  | $ 300,000,000 |  |  |  |
Stated interest rate on debt agreement |  |  | 5.00% |  | 5.00% | 5.00% |
Notes issued at a price of principal amount |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |
Notes maturity date |  |  |  |  | May 15, 2023 |  |
Interest payable description |  |  |  |  | semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year |  |
Notes redemption price percentage of the par value due to change of control |  |  |  |  | 101.00% |  |
Debt instrument maximum allowed dividends per share | $ / shares |  |  |  |  | $ 0.10 |  |
Restrictive covenants under 2011 credit facilities and 7 % notes with 5% notes |  |  |  |  | Specifically, the indenture governing the 5.0% Notes limits Sonic’s ability to pay quarterly cash dividends on Sonic’s Class A and Class B common stock in excess of $0.10 per share. Sonic may only pay quarterly cash dividends on Sonic’s Class A and Class B common stock if Sonic complies with the terms of the indenture governing the 5.0% Notes. |  |
Outstanding principal amount of the 7.0% notes |  |  |  |  | 25.00% |  |
Outstanding notes repurchased amount |  |  |  |  | $ 10,700,000 |  |
Repurchase amount paid in cash, plus accrued and unpaid interest related thereto |  |  |  |  | $ 10,600,000 |  |
Notes redemption price percentage of the principal amount |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |
5.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Indebtedness with outstanding balance under other agreements |  |  |  |  | $ 50,000,000 |  |
9.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stated interest rate on debt agreement |  |  | 9.00% |  |  |  |
Convertible senior notes due |  |  |  |  | 2018 |  |

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- Definition The estimated net amount of unrealized gains or losses on interest rate cash flow hedges as of the balance sheet date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736893&loc=d3e80748-113994 + Details
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- Definition The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement. + 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(22)) -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 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
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- Definition Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility. + 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 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + 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 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) of the credit facility. + 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.(f)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 + Details
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- Definition Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility. + 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 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding). + 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 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date, including the current and noncurrent portions, of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer). Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 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(22)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
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