    <SEC-DOCUMENT>0001043509-24-000016-index.html : 20240214
    <SEC-HEADER>0001043509-24-000016.hdr.sgml : 20240214
    <ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20240214085019
    ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001043509-24-000016
    CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
    PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		54
    CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20240214
    ITEM INFORMATION:		Results of Operations and Financial Condition
    ITEM INFORMATION:		Regulation FD Disclosure
    ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
    FILED AS OF DATE:		20240214
    DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20240214

    FILER:

    	COMPANY DATA:
    		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC
    		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001043509
    		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-AUTO DEALERS & GASOLINE STATIONS [5500]
    		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	07 Trade & Services
    		IRS NUMBER:				562010790
    		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
    		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

    	FILING VALUES:
    		FORM TYPE:		8-K
    		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
    		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13395
    		FILM NUMBER:		24632682

    	BUSINESS ADDRESS:
    		STREET 1:		4401 COLWICK ROAD
    		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
    		STATE:			NC
    		ZIP:			28211
    		BUSINESS PHONE:		704-566-2400

    	MAIL ADDRESS:
    		STREET 1:		4401 COLWICK ROAD
    		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
    		STATE:			NC
    		ZIP:			28211
    </SEC-HEADER>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>8-K
    <SEQUENCE>1
    <FILENAME>sah-20240214.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>8-K
    <TEXT>
    Document 1 - file: sah-20240214.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-99.1
    <SEQUENCE>2
    <FILENAME>q420238kexhibit991.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>EX-99.1
    <TEXT>
    Document 2 - file: q420238kexhibit991.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-99.2
    <SEQUENCE>3
    <FILENAME>exhibit992.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>EX-99.2
    <TEXT>
    Document 3 - file: exhibit992.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-101.SCH
    <SEQUENCE>4
    <FILENAME>sah-20240214.xsd
    <DESCRIPTION>XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 4 - file: sah-20240214.xsd

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-101.LAB
    <SEQUENCE>5
    <FILENAME>sah-20240214_lab.xml
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    <TEXT>
    Document 5 - file: sah-20240214_lab.xml

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-101.PRE
    <SEQUENCE>6
    <FILENAME>sah-20240214_pre.xml
    <DESCRIPTION>XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 6 - file: sah-20240214_pre.xml

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>7
    <FILENAME>exhibit992001.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 7 - file: exhibit992001.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>8
    <FILENAME>exhibit992002.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 8 - file: exhibit992002.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>9
    <FILENAME>exhibit992003.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 9 - file: exhibit992003.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>10
    <FILENAME>exhibit992004.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 10 - file: exhibit992004.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>11
    <FILENAME>exhibit992005.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 11 - file: exhibit992005.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>12
    <FILENAME>exhibit992006.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 12 - file: exhibit992006.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>13
    <FILENAME>exhibit992007.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 13 - file: exhibit992007.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>14
    <FILENAME>exhibit992008.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 14 - file: exhibit992008.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>15
    <FILENAME>exhibit992009.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 15 - file: exhibit992009.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>16
    <FILENAME>exhibit992010.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 16 - file: exhibit992010.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>17
    <FILENAME>exhibit992011.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 17 - file: exhibit992011.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>18
    <FILENAME>exhibit992012.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 18 - file: exhibit992012.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>19
    <FILENAME>exhibit992013.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 19 - file: exhibit992013.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>20
    <FILENAME>exhibit992014.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 20 - file: exhibit992014.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>21
    <FILENAME>exhibit992015.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 21 - file: exhibit992015.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>22
    <FILENAME>exhibit992016.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 22 - file: exhibit992016.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>23
    <FILENAME>exhibit992017.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 23 - file: exhibit992017.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>24
    <FILENAME>exhibit992018.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 24 - file: exhibit992018.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>25
    <FILENAME>exhibit992019.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 25 - file: exhibit992019.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>26
    <FILENAME>exhibit992020.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 26 - file: exhibit992020.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>27
    <FILENAME>exhibit992021.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 27 - file: exhibit992021.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>28
    <FILENAME>exhibit992022.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 28 - file: exhibit992022.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>29
    <FILENAME>exhibit992023.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 29 - file: exhibit992023.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>30
    <FILENAME>exhibit992024.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 30 - file: exhibit992024.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>31
    <FILENAME>exhibit992025.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 31 - file: exhibit992025.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>32
    <FILENAME>exhibit992026.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 32 - file: exhibit992026.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>33
    <FILENAME>exhibit992027.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 33 - file: exhibit992027.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>34
    <FILENAME>exhibit992028.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 34 - file: exhibit992028.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>35
    <FILENAME>exhibit992029.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 35 - file: exhibit992029.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>36
    <FILENAME>exhibit992030.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 36 - file: exhibit992030.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>37
    <FILENAME>exhibit992031.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 37 - file: exhibit992031.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>38
    <FILENAME>exhibit992032.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 38 - file: exhibit992032.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>39
    <FILENAME>exhibit992033.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 39 - file: exhibit992033.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>40
    <FILENAME>exhibit992034.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 40 - file: exhibit992034.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>41
    <FILENAME>exhibit992035.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 41 - file: exhibit992035.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>42
    <FILENAME>exhibit992036.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 42 - file: exhibit992036.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>43
    <FILENAME>exhibit992037.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 43 - file: exhibit992037.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>44
    <FILENAME>exhibit992038.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 44 - file: exhibit992038.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>XML
    <SEQUENCE>45
    <FILENAME>R1.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 45 - file: R1.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EXCEL
    <SEQUENCE>47
    <FILENAME>Financial_Report.xlsx
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 47 - file: Financial_Report.xlsx

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>XML
    <SEQUENCE>48
    <FILENAME>Show.js
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 48 - file: Show.js

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>XML
    <SEQUENCE>49
    <FILENAME>report.css
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 49 - file: report.css

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>XML
    <SEQUENCE>51
    <FILENAME>FilingSummary.xml
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 51 - file: FilingSummary.html

    Document 51 - RAW XML: FilingSummary.xml

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>JSON
    <SEQUENCE>53
    <FILENAME>MetaLinks.json
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 53 - file: MetaLinks.json

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    <TYPE>ZIP
    <SEQUENCE>54
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    Document 54 - file: 0001043509-24-000016-xbrl.zip

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    Document 55 - file: sah-20240214_htm.html

    Document 55 - RAW XML: sah-20240214_htm.xml

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