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Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012
Unpaid Losses And Loss Expenses [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted average risk-free interest rate | 2.70% |  | 2.60%
Weighted average period of future premiums | 9 years 9 months 18 days |  | 9 years 7 months 6 days
Transactions with non-investment grade internal ratings | 40.00% |  | 40.00%
Non-investment grade MBS on total premiums receivable | 7.00% |  | 7.00%
Percentage of student loan transactions on total premiums receivable | 9.00% |  | 9.00%
Percentage related to asset-backed transaction | 15.00% |  | 15.00%
Premium receivables relating to a non-investment obligation deemed uncollectible | $ 119,162 |  | $ 118,961
Accelerated premium revenue for retired obligations | 29,360 | 15,790 |
Net change in loss and loss expense reserves | (78,271) |  | (256,049)
Total net loss expense reserves | 134,477 |  | 136,790
Total loss and loss expenses | (51,135) | (2,320) |
Reinsurance recoveries of losses included in loss and loss expenses | 3,881 | 12,518 |
Loss and loss expense reserves ceded to reinsurers | 148,749 |  | 147,409
Subrogation recoveries | 2,487,369 |  | 2,523,225
Subrogation recoveries, net of reinsurance | 2,460,389 |  | 2,497,233
Loss reserves [Member] |  |  |
Unpaid Losses And Loss Expenses [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted average risk-free interest rate | 2.20% |  | 1.60%
Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Unpaid Losses And Loss Expenses [Line Items] |  |  |
Past due premiums on policies insuring non-investment grade obligations amount | $ 500 |  |

X
- Definition This element represents the reduction to gross claim liability for subrogation on insured RMBS financial obligations with credit deterioration. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_BalanceOfGrossRmbsSubrogationRecoveries
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This element represents the reduction to gross claim liability for subrogation on insured RMBS financial obligations with credit deterioration, net of reinsurance. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_BalanceOfRmbsSubrogationRecoveriesNetOfReinsurance
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the loss and loss expense reserve accounts, net of subrogation and reinsurance. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_ChangeInLossAndLossExpenseReservesNet
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts Premium Receivable Deemed Uncollectible + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumReceivableDeemedUncollectible
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total provision in the period for loss adjustment expenses incurred in the claim settlement process. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_LossAdjustmentExpenseIncurred
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The known and estimated amount recoverable as of the balance sheet date from reinsurers for claims paid or incurred by the ceding insurer. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_LossReservesCededToReinsurers
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Percentage of financial guarantee premiums receivable related to RMBS insured transactions with non-investment grade internal ratings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_PercentageOfPremiumsReceivableRelatedToNonInvestmentGradeRmbsTransactions
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of financial guarantee premiums receivable related to Student Loan insured transactions with non-investment grade internal ratings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_PercentageOfPremiumsReceivableRelatedToStudentLoanTransactions
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage Premiums Receivable Related To Asset Backed Transactions + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_PercentagePremiumsReceivableRelatedToAssetBackedTransactions
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of financial guarantee premiums receivable related to insured transactions with non-investment grade internal ratings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_PercentagePremiumsReceivableRelatedToTransactionsWithNonInvestmentGradeInternalRatings
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Past due premiums on policies insuring internally rated non-investment grade obligations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_PremiumsPastDueOnNonInvestmentGradeObligation
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Loss adjustment expense reserves, net of reinsurance, represent the costs estimated to be incurred in the settlement of unpaid claims. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_ReserveForLossAdjustmentExpenses
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | ambc_UnpaidLossesAndLossExpensesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents the amount of premium revenue on financial guarantee insurance contracts recognized during the period that was accelerated for revenue recognition purposes. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933581&loc=SL5749298-161291 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 163 -Paragraph 30 -Subparagraph d -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsAcceleratedPremiumRevenueAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents the weighted average risk free rate used to discount the claim liability related to financial guarantee insurance contracts. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933314&loc=SL5749324-161292 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 163 -Paragraph 30 -Subparagraph f(1) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsClaimLiabilityWeightedAverageRiskFreeDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Weighted average period over which premium receivable for financial guarantee insurance contracts is collected where premium is received over the contract period, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumReceivedOverContractPeriodPremiumReceivableWeightedAverageCollectionPeriod1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The reduction in the amount of the provision for the period for claims and benefits incurred on contract risks ceded to other insurers under reinsurance arrangements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480758&loc=d3e6811-158387 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 113 -Paragraph 27, 113 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReinsuranceEffectOnClaimsAndBenefitsIncurredAmountCeded
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration