Santander Consumer USA (SC) 10-Q 15 May 14 2014 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	12-May-14
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q1	'
Entity Registrant Name	'Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc.	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001580608	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Non-accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	348,775,493

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$112,835	$10,531
Receivables held for sale	171,466	82,503
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	21,087,173	20,219,609
Unsecured consumer loans, net	1,000,545	954,189
Restricted cash	1,830,392	1,563,613
Receivables from dealers, held for investment, net	108,200	94,745
Accrued interest receivable	312,040	319,157
Leased vehicles, net	2,956,910	2,023,433
Furniture and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $56,059 and $58,117, respectively	30,315	25,712
Federal, state and other income taxes receivable	304,032	372,338
Deferred tax asset	232,185	197,041
Goodwill	74,056	74,056
Intangible assets	54,391	54,664
Other assets	521,693	410,305
Total assets	28,796,233	26,401,896
Liabilities:	'	'
Notes payable — credit facilities, $4,365,000 and $3,650,000 to affiliates, respectively	9,573,726	8,099,773
Notes payable — secured structured financings	15,783,587	15,195,887
Accrued interest payable — $10,457 and $11,563 to affiliates, respectively	26,784	26,512
Accounts payable and accrued expenses — $41,788 and $39,772 to affiliates, respectively	390,845	283,106
Federal, state and other income taxes payable	15,502	7,623
Other liabilities	97,771	102,163
Total liabilities	25,888,215	23,715,064
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 5 and 10)	'	'
Equity:	'	'
Common stock, $0.01 par value - 1,100,000,000 shares authorized; 348,770,333 and 346,763,261 shares issued and ; 348,767,179 and 346,760,107 shares outstanding, respectively	3,488	3,468
Additional paid-in capital	1,547,075	1,409,463
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-765	-2,853
Retained earnings	1,358,220	1,276,754
Total stockholders’ equity	2,908,018	2,686,832
Total liabilities and equity	$28,796,233	$26,401,896

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Accumulated depreciation	$56,059	$58,117
Notes payable — credit facilities to affiliates	4,365,000	3,650,000
Accrued interest payable to affiliates	10,457	11,563
Accounts payable and accrued expenses to affiliates	$41,788	$39,772
Common stock , par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock , shares authorized	1,100,000,000	1,100,000,000
Common stock , shares issued	348,770,333	346,763,261
Common stock , shares outstanding	348,767,179	346,760,107

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'
Interest on finance receivables and loans	$1,140,329	$811,907
Leased vehicle income	147,123	'
Other finance and interest income	250	2,685
Total finance and other interest income	1,287,702	814,592
Interest expense — Including $34,243 and $11,512 to affiliates, respectively	124,446	82,997
Leased vehicle expense	120,069	'
Net finance and other interest income	1,043,187	731,595
Provision for loan losses	698,594	217,193
Net finance and other interest income after provision for loan losses	344,593	514,402
Profit sharing	32,161	'
Net finance and other interest income after provision for loan losses and profit sharing	312,432	514,402
Gain on sale of receivables	35,814	'
Servicing fee income	10,405	7,271
Fees, commissions, and other	89,304	68,858
Total other income	135,523	76,129
Salary and benefits expense	201,915	62,547
Repossession expense	48,431	36,158
Other operating costs	68,102	50,169
Total operating expenses	318,448	148,874
Income before income taxes	129,507	441,657
Income tax expense	48,041	152,798
Net income	81,466	288,859
Noncontrolling interests	'	1,543
Net income attributable to Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc.	81,466	290,402
Net income	81,466	288,859
Other comprehensive income:	'	'
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of tax of $1,230 and $1,706	2,088	2,834
Change in unrealized gains on investments available for sale, net of tax of zero and $943	'	-1,456
Other comprehensive income, net	2,088	1,378
Comprehensive income	83,554	290,237
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	991
Comprehensive income attributable to Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc.	$83,554	$291,228
Net income per common share (basic and diluted)	$0.23	$0.84
Dividends declared per common share	'	'
Weighted average common shares (basic)	348,101,891	346,164,763
Weighted average common shares (diluted)	356,325,036	346,164,763

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'
Interest expense to affiliates	$34,243	$11,512
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, tax	1,230	1,706
Change in unrealized gains on investments available for sale, tax	$0	$943

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Retained Earnings	Noncontrolling Interests
In Thousands, except Share data
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$2,239,466	$3,462	$1,335,572	($9,164)	$869,664	$39,932
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012	'	346,165,000	'	'	'	'
Repayment of employee loans	519	'	519	'	'	'
Stock issued in connection with employee incentive compensation plans	69	'	69	'	'	'
Stock issued in connection with employee incentive compensation plans, shares	'	4,000	'	'	'	'
Capital contribution received from shareholder	48,275	'	48,275	'	'	'
Net income	288,859	'	'	'	290,402	-1,543
Other comprehensive income, net of taxes	1,378	'	'	1,378	'	'
Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	2,578,566	3,462	1,384,435	-7,786	1,160,066	38,389
Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2013	'	346,169,000	'	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	2,686,832	3,468	1,409,463	-2,853	1,276,754	'
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	346,760,107	346,760,000	'	'	'	'
Stock issued in connection with employee incentive compensation plans	16,410	20	16,390	'	'	'
Stock issued in connection with employee incentive compensation plans, shares	'	2,007,000	'	'	'	'
Stock based compensation expense	121,222	'	121,222	'	'	'
Net income	81,466	'	'	'	81,466	'
Other comprehensive income, net of taxes	2,088	'	'	2,088	'	'
Balance at Mar. 31, 2014	$2,908,018	$3,488	$1,547,075	($765)	$1,358,220	'
Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2014	348,767,179	348,767,000	'	'	'	'

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net income	$81,466	$288,859
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Derivative mark to market	-5,058	-6,618
Provision for credit losses	698,594	217,193
Depreciation and amortization	139,158	26,114
Accretion of discount and capitalized origination costs, net	-197,943	-97,249
Originations and purchases of receivables held for sale	-1,267,304	'
Proceeds from sales of and repayments on receivables held for sale	1,187,745	'
Gain on sale of receivables	-35,814	'
Stock-based compensation	121,222	231
Deferred tax benefit	-27,128	-32,041
Changes in assets and liabilities:	'	'
Accrued interest receivable	2,176	10,609
Accounts receivable	-22,193	210
Federal income tax and other taxes	76,185	153,587
Other assets	-26,738	-5,075
Accrued interest payable	272	839
Other liabilities	126,702	69,051
Net cash provided by operating activities	851,342	625,710
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Retail installment contracts originated or purchased from dealers	-4,239,359	-2,541,431
Collections on retail installment contracts	2,246,851	2,019,293
Proceeds from sale of loans held for investment	554,060	'
Leased vehicles purchased	-1,212,312	'
Manufacturer incentives received	217,457	'
Proceeds from termination of leased vehicles	11,089	'
Change in revolving unsecured consumer loans	13,493	'
Unsecured consumer term loans purchased	-107,902	'
Collections on unsecured consumer term loans	17,110	'
Disbursements for receivables from lenders held for investment	-14,288	-83,080
Collections on receivables from lenders held for investment	887	'
Collections on investments available for sale	'	17,872
Purchases of furniture and equipment	-7,443	-2,956
Sales of furniture and equipment	714	758
Change in restricted cash	-266,779	-446,938
Other investing activities	-4,391	-1,859
Net cash used in investing activities	-2,790,813	-1,038,341
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from notes payable related to secured structured financings — net of debt issuance costs	2,734,093	2,444,579
Payments on notes payable related to secured structured financings	-2,149,907	-1,863,146
Proceeds from unsecured notes payable	1,740,000	195,000
Payments on unsecured notes payable	-1,325,000	-188,302
Proceeds from notes payable	6,721,716	3,945,517
Payments on notes payable	-5,662,762	-4,236,675
Proceeds from stock option exercises, gross	13,071	'
Repurchase of stock - employee tax withholding	-5,908	'
Repayment of employee notes	'	519
Capital contribution from shareholder	'	48,275
Cash collateral posted on derivatives	-23,528	'
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,041,775	345,767
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	102,304	-66,864
Cash — Beginning of period	10,531	70,887
Cash — End of period	$112,835	$4,023

Description_of_Business_Basis_

Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Significant Accounting Policies	'
	1	Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Changes in Significant Accounting Policies and Practices
	Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., a Delaware Corporation (“SCUSA Delaware” or, together with its subsidiaries, “SCUSA” or “the Company”), is the holding company for Santander Consumer USA Inc., an Illinois corporation (“SCUSA Illinois”), and subsidiaries, a specialized consumer finance company focused on vehicle finance and unsecured consumer lending products.
	The Company is owned approximately 60.5% by Santander Holdings USA, Inc. (“SHUSA”), a subsidiary of Banco Santander, S.A. (“Santander”), approximately 4.1% by Sponsor Auto Finance Holdings Series LP (“Auto Finance Holdings”), approximately 10.0% by DDFS LLC, an entity affiliated with Thomas G. Dundon, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), approximately 25.3% by public shareholders and approximately 0.1% by other holders, primarily members of senior management.
	The Company’s primary business is the indirect origination of retail installment contracts principally through manufacturer-franchised dealers in connection with their sale of new and used vehicles to retail consumers.
	In conjunction with a ten-year private label financing agreement with Chrysler Group (the “Chrysler Agreement”) that became effective May 1, 2013, the Company offers a full spectrum of auto financing products and services to Chrysler customers and dealers under the Chrysler Capital brand. These products and services include consumer retail installment contracts and leases, as well as dealer loans for inventory, construction, real estate, working capital and revolving lines of credit.
	The Company also originates vehicle loans through a Web-based direct lending program, purchases vehicle retail installment contracts from other lenders, and services automobile and recreational and marine vehicle portfolios for other lenders. Additionally, in 2013 the Company began originating and acquiring unsecured consumer loans.
	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, including certain special purpose financing trusts utilized in financing transactions (“Trusts”), which are considered variable interest entities (“VIEs”). The Company consolidates other VIEs for which it was deemed the primary beneficiary. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, have been prepared in accordance with United States (U.S.) generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods indicated. Results of operations for the periods presented herein are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the entire year.
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions which affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the amount of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences may be material. These estimates include the determination of loan loss allowance, discount accretion, impairment, expected end-of-term lease residual values, values of repossessed assets, and income taxes. These estimates, although based on actual historical trends and modeling, may potentially show significant variances over time.
	Business Segment Information
	The Company has one reportable segment: Consumer Finance, which includes the Company’s vehicle financial products and services, including retail installment contracts, vehicle leases, and dealer loans, as well as financial products and services related to motorcycles, RVs, and watercraft. It also includes the Company’s unsecured personal loan and point-of-sale financing operations.
	Accounting Policies
	The Company has identified the following critical accounting policies and estimates used by management in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements: retail installment contracts, unsecured consumer loans, receivables from dealers, provision for loan losses, leased vehicles, income taxes, and earnings per share. As of March 31, 2014, there have been no significant changes to the Company's accounting policies as disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes: Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. This ASU provides guidance on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits, particularly the manner in which an entity would settle, at the reporting date, any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position when net operating loss carryforwards, similar tax losses, or tax credit carryforwards exist. This guidance became effective for the Company January 1, 2014 and implementation did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Finance_Receivables

Finance Receivables	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Finance Receivables	'
	2	Finance Receivables
	Finance receivables held for investment at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, were comprised as follows:
		31-Mar-14
		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment
		Loans			Purchased			Total			Receivables from			Unsecured
		Acquired			Receivables						Dealers Held			Consumer
		Individually			Portfolios						for Investment			Loans
	Unpaid principal balance	$	22,826,639		$	1,566,897		$	24,393,536		$	109,105		$	1,217,755
	Loan loss allowance (Note 3)		(2,444,552	)		(206,170	)		(2,650,722	)		(1,035	)		(203,190	)
	Discount		(649,416	)		(41,311	)		(690,727	)		—			(14,866	)
	Capitalized origination costs and fees		35,086			—			35,086			130			846
	Net carrying balance	$	19,767,757		$	1,319,416		$	21,087,173		$	108,200		$	1,000,545
		31-Dec-13
		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment
		Loans			Purchased			Total			Receivables from			Unsecured
		Acquired			Receivables						Dealers Held			Consumer
		Individually			Portfolios						for Investment			Loans
	Unpaid principal balance	$	21,238,281		$	1,961,060		$	23,199,341		$	95,835		$	1,165,778
	Loan loss allowance (Note 3)		(2,132,634	)		(226,356	)		(2,358,990	)		(1,090	)		(179,350	)
	Discount		(573,462	)		(81,216	)		(654,678	)		—			(32,831	)
	Capitalized origination costs		33,936			—			33,936			—			592
	Net carrying balance	$	18,566,121		$	1,653,488		$	20,219,609		$	94,745		$	954,189
	As of March 31, 2014, retail installment contracts and receivables from dealers held for sale totaled $144,772 and $26,694, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, retail installment contracts and receivables from dealers held for sale totaled $56,066 and $26,437, respectively. Sales of retail installment contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2014 included principal balance amounts of approximately $1,685,723. No receivables from dealers were sold during the three months ended March 31, 2014.
	Retail installment contracts are collateralized by vehicle titles, and the Company has the right to repossess the vehicle in the event the consumer defaults on the payment terms of the contract. Most of the Company’s retail installment contracts held for investment are pledged against warehouse facilities or securitization bonds (Note 6). Most of the creditors on the Company’s retail installment contracts are retail consumers; however, approximately $477,062 and $345,177 of the unpaid principal balance represented fleet contracts with commercial consumers as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
	Borrowers on the Company’s retail installment contracts held for investment are located in Texas (17%), Florida (10%), California (8%), Georgia (5%), North Carolina (5%), and other states each individually representing less than 5% of the Company’s total.
	Receivables from dealers held for investment includes a term loan, which was previously a residual warehouse credit facility, with a third-party vehicle dealer and lender that operates in multiple states. The loan allowed committed borrowings of $50,000 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and the facility balance was $50,000 at each of those dates.
	Borrowers on the Company’s remaining receivables from dealers held for investment, all of which are Chrysler-affiliated, are located in Texas (29%), Ohio (18%), New York (13%), New Jersey (12%), California (8%), Tennessee (8%), Louisiana (5%) and other states each individually representing less than 5% of the Company’s total.
	Borrowers on the Company’s unsecured consumer loans are located in California (9%), New York (8%), Texas (8%), Florida (6%), Pennsylvania (5%) and other states each individually representing less than 5% of the Company’s total.
	Changes in accretable yield on the Company’s purchased receivables portfolios for the periods indicated were as follows:
		For the Three Months Ended
		31-Mar-14			31-Mar-13
	Balance — beginning of period	$	403,400		$	816,854
	Additions (loans acquired during the period)		—			—
	Accretion of accretable yield		(65,046	)		(135,199	)
	Reclassifications from nonaccretable difference		24,469			61,693
	Balance — end of period	$	362,823		$	743,348
	The Company did not acquire any vehicle loan portfolios for which it was probable at acquisition that not all contractually required payments would be collected during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. Interest receivable on purchased receivables portfolios totaled $12,446 and $16,950 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Loan_Loss_Allowance_and_Credit

Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality	'
	3	Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality
	Loan Loss Allowance
	The Company estimates loan losses on individually acquired retail installment contracts and unsecured consumer loans held for investment based on delinquency status, historical loss experience, estimated values of underlying collateral, when applicable, and various economic factors. The Company maintains a general loan loss allowance for receivables from dealers based on risk ratings, and individually evaluates the loans for specific impairment as necessary. The activity in the loan loss allowance for individually acquired loans for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		Retail Installment			Receivables			Unsecured
		Contracts			from Dealers Held			Consumer Loans
		Acquired			for Investment
		Individually
	Balance — beginning of period	$	2,132,634		$	1,090		$	179,350
	Provision for loan losses		656,706			(55	)		62,129
	Charge-offs		(752,565	)		—			(40,948	)
	Recoveries		407,777			—			2,659
	Balance — end of period	$	2,444,552		$	1,035		$	203,190
	The loan loss allowance for receivables from dealers is comprised entirely of general allowances as none of these receivables have been determined to be individually impaired.
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
		Retail Installment			Receivables			Unsecured
		Contracts			from Dealers Held			Consumer Loans
		Acquired			for Investment
		Individually
	Balance — beginning of period	$	1,555,362		$	—		$	—
	Provision for loan losses		251,641			—			—
	Charge-offs		(384,726	)		—			—
	Recoveries		238,335			—			—
	Balance — end of period	$	1,660,612		$	—		$	—
	The activity in the loan loss allowance related to purchased receivables portfolios for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance — beginning of period	$	226,356		$	218,640
	Incremental provisions for purchased receivable portfolios		1,325			21,662
	Incremental reversal of provisions for purchased receivable portfolios		(21,511	)		(56,110	)
	Balance — end of period	$	206,170		$	184,192
	Delinquencies
	Retail installment contracts and unsecured consumer amortizing term loans are classified as non-performing when they are greater than 60 days past due as to principal or interest. At the time a loan is placed on non-accrual status, previously accrued and uncollected interest is reversed against interest income. When an account is returned to a performing status of 60 days or less past due, the Company returns to accruing interest on the contract. The accrual of interest on receivables from dealers and revolving unsecured consumer loans continues until the loan is charged off. A summary of delinquencies as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		31-Mar-14
		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment									Receivables			Unsecured
											from Dealers Held			Consumer
		Loans			Purchased			Total			for Investment			Loans
		Acquired			Receivables
		Individually			Portfolios
	Principal, current	$	20,933,262		$	1,247,506		$	22,180,768		$	109,105		$	1,088,013
	Principal, 31-60 days past due		1,290,394			210,344			1,500,738			—			39,639
	Delinquent principal over 60 days		602,983			109,047			712,030			—			90,103
	Total principal	$	22,826,639		$	1,566,897		$	24,393,536		$	109,105		$	1,217,755
		31-Dec-13
		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment									Receivables			Unsecured
											from Dealers Held			Consumer
		Loans			Purchased			Total			for Investment			Loans
		Acquired			Receivables
		Individually			Portfolios
	Principal, current	$	18,653,827		$	1,457,813		$	20,111,640		$	95,835		$	1,072,316
	Principal, 31-60 days past due		1,729,139			321,549			2,050,688			—			28,102
	Delinquent principal over 60 days		855,315			181,698			1,037,013			—			65,360
	Total principal	$	21,238,281		$	1,961,060		$	23,199,341		$	95,835		$	1,165,778
	As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, there were no receivables held for sale that were non-performing.
	FICO® Distribution — A summary of the credit risk profile of the Company’s consumer loans by Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO®) distribution, determined at origination, as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was as follows:
	31-Mar-14
			Retail Installment			Unsecured
			Contracts Held			Consumer
	FICO Band		for Investment			Loans
	<540			27.00%			3.60%
	540-599			32.20%			27.70%
	600-659			26.20%			43.80%
>660			14.60%			24.90%
31-Dec-13
		Retail Installment			Unsecured
		Contracts Held			Consumer
FICO Band		for Investment			Loans
<540			26.80%			6.30%
540-599			31.80%			24.20%
600-659			26.30%			39.40%
>660			15.10%			30.10%
Commercial Lending Credit Quality Indicators — The credit quality of receivables from dealers, which are considered commercial loans, is summarized according to standard regulatory classifications as follows:
Pass — Asset is well protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or guarantors, if any, or by the fair value less costs to acquire and sell any underlying collateral in a timely manner.
Special Mention — Asset has potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention, which, if left uncorrected, may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for an asset at some future date. Special Mention assets are not adversely classified.
Substandard — Asset is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or by the collateral pledged, if any. A well-defined weakness or weaknesses exist that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. The loans are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if deficiencies are not corrected.
Doubtful — Exhibits the inherent weaknesses of a substandard credit. Additional characteristics exist that make collection or liquidation in full highly questionable and improbable, on the basis of currently known facts, conditions and values. Possibility of loss is extremely high, but because of certain important and reasonable specific pending factors which may work to the advantage and strengthening of the credit, an estimated loss cannot yet be determined.
Loss — Credit is considered uncollectible and of such little value that it does not warrant consideration as an active asset. There may be some recovery or salvage value, but there is doubt as to whether, how much or when the recovery would occur.
Commercial loan credit quality indicators for receivables from dealers held for investment as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:
	March 31,			December 31,
	2014			2013
Pass	$	89,785		$	95,835
Special Mention		19,320			—
Substandard		—			—
Doubtful		—			—
	$	109,105		$	95,835
Troubled Debt Restructurings
In certain circumstances, the Company modifies the terms of its finance receivables to troubled borrowers. Modifications may include a reduction in interest rate, an extension of the maturity date, rescheduling future cash flows, or a combination thereof. A modification of finance receivable terms is considered a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) if the Company grants a concession to a borrower for economic or legal reasons related to the debtor’s financial difficulties which would not otherwise have been considered. Management considers TDRs to include all individually acquired retail installment contracts that have been modified at least once, deferred for a period of 90 days or more, or deferred at least twice during the period. Additionally, modifications set forth through bankruptcy proceeding are deemed to be TDRs by the Company. The purchased receivables portfolio is excluded from the scope of the applicable guidance. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 there were no receivables from dealers classified as a TDR.
The table below presents the Company’s loans modified in TDRs as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
	31-Mar-14						31-Dec-13
	Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans			Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans
Total TDR principal	$	2,812,852		$	9,600		$	2,604,351		$	8,391
Accrued interest		68,967			—			70,965			—
Discount		(80,025	)		(147	)		(70,321	)		(274	)
Origination costs		4,324			8			4,161			5
Outstanding recorded investment		2,806,118			9,461			2,609,156			8,122
Allowance for loan losses		(498,811	)		(3,870	)		(475,128	)		(2,345	)
Outstanding recorded investment, net of allowance	$	2,307,307		$	5,591		$	2,134,028		$	5,777
A summary of the Company’s performing and non-performing TDRs at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, is as follows:
	31-Mar-14						31-Dec-13
	Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans			Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans
Current	$	2,028,793			4,008		$	1,690,893		$	6,120
31-60 days past due		500,876			1,171			556,489			875
Greater than 60 days past due (non-performing)		283,183			4,421			356,969			1,396
Total TDRs	$	2,812,852		$	9,600		$	2,604,351		$	8,391
A loan that has been classified as a TDR remains so until the loan is liquidated through payoff or charge-off. Consistent with other of the Company’s retail installment contracts, TDRs are placed on nonaccrual status when the account becomes past due more than 60 days, and return to accrual status when the account is 60 days or less past due. Average recorded investment and income recognized on TDR loans are as follows:
	Three Months Ended
	31-Mar-14						31-Mar-13
	Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans			Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans
Average outstanding recorded investment in TDRs	$	2,707,637		$	8,996		$	1,556,410		$	—
Interest income recognized	$	120,451		$	329		$	92,141		$	—
TDR Impact on Allowance for Loan Losses
Prior to a loan being classified as a TDR, the Company generally estimates an appropriate allowance for loan loss based on delinquency status, the Company’s historical loss experience, estimated values of underlying collateral, and various economic factors. Once a loan has been classified as a TDR, impairment is measured based on present value of expected future cash flows considering all available evidence, including collateral values.
The following table summarizes the financial effects of loan modifications accounted for as TDRs that occurred during the three-months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):
	Three Months Ended
	31-Mar-14						31-Mar-13
	Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans			Retail Installment Contracts
Troubled Debt Restructurings:
Outstanding recorded investment before TDR	$	624,009		$	11,495		$	290,861
Outstanding recorded investment after TDR	$	581,053		$	11,336		$	288,841
Number of contracts		39,229			14,829			20,474
Loan modifications accounted for as TDRs within the previous 12 months that subsequently defaulted during the three-months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 are summarized in the following table:
	Three Months Ended
	31-Mar-14						31-Mar-13
	Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans			Retail Installment Contracts
Troubled debt restructurings that subsequently defaulted	$	11,389		$	—		$	10,072
Number of contracts		1,348			—			822
TDRs that have subsequently defaulted but are currently active are written down to estimated collateral value less cost to sell. As of March 31, 2014, the principal writedown on active TDRs totaled approximately $50,832.

Leased_Vehicles_Net

Leased Vehicles, Net	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Leased Vehicles, Net	'
	4	Leased Vehicles, net
	Leased vehicles consisted of the following as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
			31-Mar-14			31-Dec-13
	Leased vehicles		$	3,603,848		$	2,402,052
	Origination fees and other costs			1,927			2,716
	Manufacturer subvention payments			(407,424	)		(259,152	)
				3,198,351			2,145,616
	Depreciation			(241,441	)		(122,183	)
			$	2,956,910		$	2,023,433
	The following summarizes the future minimum rental payments due to the Company as lessor under operating leases as of March 31, 2014:
	Remainder of 2014	$	417,563
	2015		529,880
	2016		366,658
	2017		25,961
	2018		14
	Thereafter		—
	Total	$	1,340,076

Debt

Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt	'
	5	Debt
	Revolving Credit Facilities
	The following table presents information regarding credit facilities as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		31-Mar-14
		Maturity Date(s)	Utilized Balance		Committed Amount		Effective Rate		Assets Pledged		Restricted Cash Pledged
	Warehouse line	Jun-14	$	212,438	$	500,000		1.14%	$	295,988	$	—
	Warehouse line	Various (a)		552,682		1,227,744		1.39%		808,611		10,851
	Warehouse line (b)	Jan-16		724,888		4,550,000		1.91%		1,218,964		25,771
	Warehouse line	Dec-15		1,399,123		2,000,000		0.94%		1,722,751		36,295
	Warehouse line	Jul-15		317,886		500,000		0.93%		383,811		18,035
	Warehouse line (c)	Sep-15		119,480		200,000		2.31%		207,906		8,015
	Repurchase facility (d)	Various		748,461		748,461		1.55%		843,484		—
	Warehouse line	Dec-15		708,174		750,000		0.82%		1,025,381		21,836
	Warehouse line (e)	Nov-16		175,000		175,000		1.70%		—		—
	Warehouse line (f)	Mar-15		250,594		250,594		0.99%		297,750		—
	Total facilities with third parties			5,208,726		10,901,799				6,804,646		120,803
	Lines of credit with Santander and related subsidiaries (g):
	Line of credit	Dec-16		500,000		500,000		2.44%		4,423		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18		65,000		500,000		2.95%		—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-16		1,750,000		1,750,000		2.11%		—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18		1,750,000		1,750,000		2.89%		73,995		—
	Line of credit	Mar-17		300,000		300,000		1.70%		—		—
	Total facilities with Santander and related subsidiaries			4,365,000		4,800,000				78,418		—
	Total revolving credit facilities		$	9,573,726	$	15,701,799			$	6,883,064	$	120,803
		31-Dec-13
		Maturity Date(s)	Utilized Balance		Committed Amount		Effective Rate		Assets Pledged		Restricted Cash Pledged
	Warehouse line	Jun-14	$	483,738	$	500,000		0.82%	$	757,352	$	—
	Warehouse line	Various		159,300		1,219,474		3.62%		232,015		3,667
	Warehouse line (b)	Apr-15		613,600		4,550,000		2.12%		745,759		15,184
	Warehouse line	Jun-15		1,360,070		2,000,000		0.96%		1,672,082		42,510
	Warehouse line	Jul-15		495,786		500,000		0.85%		598,754		25,056
	Warehouse line (c)	Sep-15		73,080		200,000		2.84%		76,807		2,701
	Repurchase facility (d)	Various		879,199		879,199		1.59%		—		—
	Warehouse line	Dec-15		210,000		750,000		1.84%		302,632		—
	Warehouse line (e)	Nov-16		175,000		175,000		1.72%		—		—
	Total facilities with third parties			4,449,773		10,773,673				4,385,401		89,118
	Lines of credit with Santander and related subsidiaries (e) (f):
	Line of credit	Dec-16		500,000		500,000		2.48%		10,674		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18		—		500,000		3.10%		—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-16		1,750,000		1,750,000		2.09%		—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18		1,400,000		1,750,000		2.58%		93,969		—
	Total facilities with Santander and related subsidiaries			3,650,000		4,500,000				104,643		—
	Total revolving credit facilities		$	8,099,773	$	15,273,673			$	4,490,044	$	89,118
	(a)	One–fourth of any outstanding balance on this facility matures in each of the following months: April 2014, November 2014, March 2015, and November 2015.
	(b)	This line is held exclusively for Chrysler Capital retail loan and lease financing, with lease financing comprising no more than 50% of the outstanding balance upon advance.
	(c)	This line is held exclusively for unsecured consumer term loans.
	(d)	The repurchase facility is also collateralized by securitization bonds and residuals retained by the Company. No portion of this facility is unsecured. This facility has rolling 30-day and 90-day maturities.
	(e)	This line is collateralized by residuals retained by the Company.
	(f)	This line is collateralized by securitization notes payable retained by the Company.
	(g)	These lines are also collateralized by securitization notes payable and residuals retained by the Company. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, $2,216,127 and $1,123,354 of the aggregate outstanding balances on these facilities were unsecured.
	Facilities with Third Parties
	The warehouse lines and repurchase facility are fully collateralized by a designated portion of the Company’s retail installment contracts (Note 2) and leased vehicles (Note 4) and securitization residuals and notes payable retained by the Company. The Company was in compliance with all covenants related to these financing arrangements at March 31, 2014.
	Lines of Credit with Santander and Related Subsidiaries
	Through its New York branch, Santander provides the Company with $4,500,000 of long-term committed revolving credit facilities. Through SHUSA, under an agreement entered into on March 6, 2014, Santander provides the Company with an additional $300,000 of committed revolving credit, collateralized by residuals retained on its own securitizations. The fundings through the New York branch and through SHUSA are collectively known as the “Santander Credit Facilities.”
	The facilities offered through the New York branch are structured as three and five year floating rate facilities, with current maturity dates of December 31, 2016 and 2018. Santander has the option to continue to renew the term of these facilities annually going forward, thereby maintaining the three and five year maturities. These facilities currently permit unsecured borrowing but generally are collateralized by retail installment contracts and retained residuals. Any secured balances outstanding under the facilities at the time of their maturity will amortize to match the maturities and expected cash flows of the corresponding collateral.
	Secured Structured Financings
	The following table presents information regarding secured structured financings as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		31-Mar-14
		Original Estimated Maturity Date(s)	Balance		Initial Note Amounts Issued		Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate		Collateral		Restricted Cash
	2010 Securitizations	October 2016 - November 2017	$	509,699	$	4,671,749	1.04%-1.44%		$	941,754	$	206,218
	2011 Securitizations	October 2015-September 2017		843,443		5,605,609	1.21%-2.80%			1,208,325		179,484
	2012 Securitizations	November 2017-December 2018		3,554,805		8,023,840	0.92%-1.68%			4,419,949		395,580
	2013 Securitizations	January 2019-January 2021		4,945,429		6,689,700	0.89%-1.59%			5,873,396		377,271
2014 Securitization	Apr-20		1,393,823		1,500,000		1.72%		1,624,017		90,167
Public securitizations			11,247,199		26,490,898				14,067,441		1,248,720
2010 Private issuance	Jun-11		201,747		516,000		1.29%		359,416		9,611
2011 Private issuances	Dec-18		554,257		4,856,525	1.46%-1.80%			796,959		39,216
2012 Private issuance	May-16		22,256		70,308		1.07%		26,678		2,763
2013 Private issuance	September 2018-September 2020		2,552,886		2,693,754	1.13%-1.38%			3,275,012		94,111
2014 Private issuances	March 2018-June 2021		1,205,242		1,232,251	1.15%-1.40%			1,544,265		35,432
Privately issued amortizing notes			4,536,388		9,368,838				6,002,330		181,133
Total secured structured financings		$	15,783,587	$	35,859,736			$	20,069,771	$	1,429,853
	31-Dec-13
	Original Estimated Maturity Date(s)	Balance		Initial Note Amounts Issued		Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate		Collateral		Restricted Cash
2010 Securitizations	October 2016 - November 2017	$	632,251	$	4,671,749	1.04%-1.44%		$	1,143,435	$	205,190
2011 Securitizations	October 2015-September 2017		1,218,208		5,605,609	1.21%-2.80%			1,634,220		195,854
2012 Securitizations	November 2017-December 2018		4,061,127		8,023,840	0.92%-1.68%			5,013,135		383,677
2013 Securitizations	January 2019-January 2021		5,503,580		6,689,700	0.89%-1.59%			6,465,840		351,160
Public securitizations			11,415,166		24,990,898				14,256,630		1,135,881
2010 Private issuance	Jun-11		219,704		516,000		1.29%		378,434		8,435
2011 Private issuances	Dec-18		662,138		4,856,525	1.46%-1.80%			908,304		36,449
2012 Private issuance	May-16		30,526		70,308		1.07%		35,378		3,016
2013 Private issuances	September 2018-September 2020		2,868,353		2,693,754	1.13%-1.38%			3,554,569		97,100
Privately issued amortizing notes			3,780,721		8,136,587				4,876,685		145,000
Total secured structured financings		$	15,195,887	$	33,127,485			$	19,133,315	$	1,280,881
Notes Payable — Secured Structured Financings
The principal and interest on secured structured financings are paid using the cash flows from the underlying retail installment contracts, loans and leases, which serve as collateral for the notes. Accordingly, the timing of the principal payments on these notes is dependent on the payments received on the underlying collateral.
Most of the Company’s secured structured financings are in the form of public, SEC-registered securitizations. The Company also executes private securitizations under Rule 144A of the Securities Act and periodically issues private term amortizing notes, which are structured similarly to securitizations but are acquired by banks and conduits. Historically, all of the Company’s securitizations and private issuances have been collateralized by vehicle retail installment contracts and loans; however, in 2013, the Company issued its first amortizing notes backed by vehicle leases. As of March 31, 2014, the Company had private issuances of notes backed by vehicle leases totaling approximately $1,396,011.
Unamortized debt issuance costs are amortized as interest expense over the terms of the related notes payable using a method that approximates the effective interest method. Amortization of premium or accretion of discount on acquired notes payable is also included in interest expense using a method that approximates the effective interest method, over the estimated remaining life of the acquired notes. Total interest expense on secured structured financings for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $59,862 and $57,710, respectively.

Asset_Securitizations

Asset Securitizations	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Asset Securitizations	'
	6	Asset Securitizations
	The Company transfers retail installment contracts and leased vehicles into newly formed Trusts which then issue one or more classes of notes payable backed by the collateral. The Company’s continuing involvement with the credit facilities and Trusts are in the form of servicing loans held by SPEs and, except for the Chrysler Capital securitizations, through holding a residual interest in the SPE. These transactions are structured without recourse. The Trusts are considered VIEs under U.S. GAAP and, except for the Chrysler Capital securitizations, are consolidated because the Company has: (a) power over the significant activities of the entity as servicer of its financial assets and (b), because of the residual interest and in some cases debt securities held by the Company, an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE which are potentially significant to the VIE. The Company did not retain any debt or equity interests in the Chrysler Capital securitizations executed in 2013 and 2014, and recorded these transactions as sales of the associated retail installment contracts.
	The collateral, borrowings under credit facilities and securitization notes payable of the consolidated Trusts remain on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company recognizes finance charges and fee income on the retail installment contracts and leased vehicles and interest expense on the debt, and records a provision for loan losses to cover probable inherent losses on the contracts. All of the Trusts are separate legal entities and the collateral and other assets held by these subsidiaries are legally owned by them and are not available to other creditors.
	The following table summarizes the assets and liabilities related to VIEs included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Restricted cash	$	1,550,657	$	1,370,174
	Retail installment contracts, net		19,910,992		19,166,392
	Various other assets		3,695,594		2,564,902
	Notes payable		25,514,661		23,810,950
	Various other liabilities		49,412		25,682
	A summary of the cash flows received from on-balance sheet securitization trusts during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, is as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar-14		31-Mar-13
	Receivables securitized	$	3,316,248	$	2,803,734
	Net proceeds from new securitizations	$	2,734,093	$	2,450,000
	Cash received for servicing fees		145,772		101,588
	Cash received upon release from reserved and		749		3,419
	restricted cash accounts
	Net distributions from Trusts		320,861		327,567
	Total cash received from securitization trusts	$	3,201,475	$	2,882,574
	The Company retains servicing responsibility for receivables transferred to the Trusts and receives a monthly servicing fee on the outstanding principal balance. Supplemental fees, such as late charges, for servicing the receivables are reflected in fees, commissions and other income. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company was servicing $22,936,058 and $21,935,874, respectively, of gross retail installment contracts that have been transferred to consolidated Trusts. The remainder of the Company’s retail installment contracts is either pledged in private issuances or warehouse facilities or unpledged.
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company sold $774,183 of gross retail installment contracts in off-balance sheet securitizations for a gain of approximately $32,538. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company was servicing $1,681,856 and $1,017,756, respectively, of gross retail installment contracts that have been sold in these off-balance sheet Chrysler Capital securitizations.

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen

Derivative Financial Instruments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Derivative Financial Instruments	'
	7	Derivative Financial Instruments
	Certain of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements are designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes. The Company’s remaining interest rate swap agreements, as well as its interest rate cap agreements, the corresponding options written in to offset the interest rate cap agreements, and a total return swap, are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. The underlying notional amounts and aggregate fair values of these agreements at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, were as follows:
		31-Mar-14					31-Dec-13
		Notional		Fair Value			Notional			Fair Value
	Interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges	$	5,142,500	$	(2,230	)	$	3,873,000		$	(5,686	)
	Interest rate swap agreements not designated as hedges		3,237,133		(26,205	)		3,444,459			(31,360	)
	Interest rate cap agreements		4,929,458		43,599			4,616,960			28,274
	Options for interest rate cap agreements		4,929,458		(43,680	)		4,616,960			(28,389	)
	Total return swap		250,594		—			—			—
	The aggregate fair value of the interest rate swap agreements was included on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets in other assets and other liabilities, as appropriate. The interest rate cap agreements were included in other assets and the related options in other liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
	In March 2014, the Company entered into a financing arrangement with a third party where by the Company pledged certain bonds retained in its own securitizations in exchange for approximately $250,594 in cash.  In conjunction with the financing arrangement, the Company entered into a total return swap related to the bonds as an effective avenue to monetize the Company’s retained bonds as a source of financing.  The Company will receive the fixed return on the bonds in exchange for paying a variable rate of three-month LIBOR plus 75 basis points.  In addition, at maturity, the Company will receive a payment from, or make a payment to, the counterparty based on the change in fair value of the bonds during the one-year term of the facility. Throughout the term of the facility, the party in a net liability position must post collateral. The Company has the ability to substitute collateral and may do so if a bond is set to begin amortizing.  Alternatively, the amortization may be utilized to reduce the notional amount of the facility.
	The Company enters into legally enforceable master netting agreements which reduce risk by permitting netting of transactions, such as derivatives and collateral posting, with the same counterparty on the occurrence of certain events. A master netting agreement allows two counterparties the ability to net-settle amounts under all contracts, including any related collateral posted, through a single payment. The right to offset and certain terms regarding the collateral process, such as valuation, credit events and settlement, are contained in ISDA master agreements.
	Information on the offsetting of derivative assets and derivative liabilities due to the right of offset was as follows, as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		Offsetting of Financial Assets
										Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
										Consolidated Balance Sheet
		Gross		Gross Amounts			Net Amounts of Assets Presented
		Amounts of		Offset in the			in the						Cash
		Recognized		Consolidated			Consolidated			Financial			Collateral		Net
		Assets		Balance Sheet			Balance Sheet			Instruments			Received		Amount
	31-Mar-14
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	$	3,067	$	—		$	3,067		$	—		$	—	$	3,067
	Interest rate caps - Santander & affiliates		27,018		—			27,018			—			—		27,018
	Interest rate caps - third party		16,581		—			16,581			—			—		16,581
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		46,666		—			46,666			—			—		46,666
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		—		—			—			—			—		—
	Total derivative assets	$	46,666	$	—		$	46,666		$	—		$	—	$	46,666
	Total financial assets	$	46,666	$	—		$	46,666		$	—		$	—	$	46,666
	31-Dec-13
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	$	1,601	$	—		$	1,601		$	—		$	—	$	1,601
	Interest rate caps - Santander & affiliates		9,342		—			9,342			—			—		9,342
	Interest rate caps - third party		18,932		—			18,932			—			—		18,932
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		29,875		—			29,875			—			—		29,875
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		—		—			—			—			—		—
	Total derivative assets	$	29,875	$	—		$	29,875		$	—		$	—	$	29,875
	Total financial assets	$	29,875	$	—		$	29,875		$	—		$	—	$	29,875
		Offsetting of Financial Liabilities
													Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
													Consolidated Balance Sheet
		Gross		Gross Amounts			Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented
		Amounts of		Offset in the			in the						Cash
		Recognized		Consolidated			Consolidated			Financial			Collateral		Net
		Liabilities		Balance Sheet			Balance Sheet			Instruments			Pledged		Amount
	31-Mar-14
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	$	31,502	$	(9,707	)	$	21,795		$	—		$	—	$	21,795
	Back to back - Santander & affiliates		27,018		(21,817	)	$	5,201		$	—		$	—	$	5,201
	Back to back - third party		16,662		(16,662	)		—			—			—		—
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		75,182		(48,186	)		26,996			—			—		26,996
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		—		—			—			—			—		—
	Total derivative liabilities	$	75,182	$	(48,186	)	$	26,996		$	—		$	—	$	26,996
	Total financial liabilities	$	75,182	$	(48,186	)	$	26,996		$	—		$	—	$	26,996
	31-Dec-13
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	$	38,647	$	(2,258	)	$	36,389		$	—		$	—	$	36,389
	Back to back - Santander & affiliates		9,342		(9,342	)		—			—			—		—
	Back to back - third party		19,047		(15,420	)		3,627			—			—		3,627
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		67,036		(27,020	)		40,016			—			—		40,016
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		—		—			—			—			—		—
	Total derivative liabilities	$	67,036	$	(27,020	)	$	40,016		$	—		$	—	$	40,016
	Total financial liabilities	$	67,036	$	(27,020	)	$	40,016		$	—		$	—	$	40,016
	The Company is the holder of a warrant that gives it the right, if certain vesting conditions are satisfied, to purchase additional shares in a company in which it has a cost method investment. This warrant was issued in 2012 and is carried at its estimated fair value of zero at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
	The gross gains (losses) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income, and gains (losses) recognized in net income, are included as components of interest expense. The Company’s interest rate swap agreements had effects on its consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 as follows:
		March 31, 2014
				Gross Gains (Losses)			Gross Gains (Losses)
			Recognized in			Reclassified From
	Gains (Losses)		Accumulated Other			Accumulated Other
	Recognized in		Comprehensive			Comprehensive Income
	Interest Expense		Income			To Interest Expense
Interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges	$	138	$	654		$	(2,664	)
Derivative instruments not designated as hedges	$	5,189
	March 31, 2013
			Gross Gains (Losses)			Gross Gains (Losses)
			Recognized in			Reclassified From
	Gains (Losses)		Accumulated Other			Accumulated Other
	Recognized in		Comprehensive			Comprehensive Income
	Interest Expense		Income			to Interest Expense
Interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges	$	—	$	(505	)	$	(4,995	)
Derivative instruments not designated as hedges	$	6,657
The ineffectiveness related to the interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges was not material for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

Other_Assets

Other Assets	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Other Assets	'
	8	Other Assets
	Other assets were comprised as follows:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Upfront fee (a)	$	136,250	$	140,000
	Inventory of repossessed vehicles		137,648		129,323
	Manufacturer subvention payments receivable (a)		111,075		55,579
	Derivative assets (Note 7)		46,666		29,875
	Indemnification payments receivable (b)		8,603		8,603
	Other		81,451		46,925
		$	521,693	$	410,305
	(a)	These amounts relate to the Chrysler agreement. The Company paid a $150,000 upfront fee at the effective date of the agreement. This fee is being amortized into finance and other interest income over the ten-year term of the agreement. As the preferred financing provider for Chrysler, the Company is entitled to subvention payments on loans and leases with below-market customer payments.
	(b)	This amount represents tax indemnification payments to the original equity investors in two investment partnerships now owned by the Company. These payments are expected to be recovered through tax refunds passed through to the Company as the original investors recognize losses related to the investments.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Taxes	'
	9	Income Taxes
	The Company makes its best estimate to arrive at an expected annual effective tax rate; this rate is evaluated quarterly or more frequently if deemed necessary.   In arriving at an expected annual effective tax rate, the Company does not consider unusual or infrequent events; discrete events are accounted for in the period in which they occur and may cause a variation from the normal relationship between income tax expense and pre-tax net income.
	The Company recorded income tax expense of $48,041 (37.1% effective tax rate) and $152,798 (34.6% effective tax rate) during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The effective tax rate increased primarily due to the non-recurrence of a partial release of a valuation allowance during the three months ended March 31, 2013.
	Significant judgment is required in evaluating and reserving for uncertain tax positions.  Although management believes adequate reserves have been established for all uncertain tax positions, the final outcomes of these matters may differ.  Reserves for uncertain tax positions are adjusted as events occur and as new information arises.  Reserves are released as statutes of limitations close.  Additional interest on uncertain tax positions is accrued quarterly.  The provision for income taxes includes a reserve for uncertain tax positions as well as the associated penalties and net interest accrued.
	The Company is currently under audit in various tax jurisdictions for various years.  Although the outcomes are uncertain, a reserve for potential liabilities has been established based on the best available information as to the audit outcomes.  As audits are finalized, any excess reserves are released or any additional liabilities due exceeding reserves are expensed at the time the outcome is made known.  Management does not believe the outcome of any current tax audits, individually or combined, will have a material effect on the results of operations.  Reserves for potential tax assessments are included in the provision for income taxes.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	10	Commitments and Contingencies
	In connection with the sale of retail installment contracts through securitizations, the Company has made standard representations and warranties customary to the consumer finance industry. Violations of these representations and warranties may require the Company to repurchase loans previously sold. As of March 31, 2014, the Company had no repurchase requests outstanding. In the opinion of management, the potential exposure of other recourse obligations related to the Company’s retail installment contract sales agreements will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
	The Company has a letter of credit facility with Santander — New York Branch totaling $500,000 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The amount issued was zero as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The letters of credit can serve as collateral for certain warehouse lines. These commitments will expire on December 31, 2014.
	Santander has provided guarantees on the covenants, agreements, and obligations of the Company under the governing documents of its warehouse facilities and privately issued amortizing notes. These guarantees are limited to the obligations of SCUSA as servicer.
	The Company committed to purchase certain new advances of unsecured revolving financings originated by a third party retailer, along with existing balances on accounts with new advances, for an initial term ending in April 2020. The Company also is required to make a profit-sharing payment to the retailer each month.
	Under terms of the agreement with Chrysler, the Company must make revenue sharing payments to Chrysler and also must make loss-sharing payments when residual losses on leased vehicles exceed a specified threshold.
	The Company is obligated to make purchase price holdback payments to a third party originator of loans that it purchases on a periodic basis, when losses are lower than originally expected.
	The Company has a flow agreement with Bank of America whereby the Company is committed to sell up to $300,000 of eligible loans to the bank each month through May 31, 2018. The Company retains servicing on all sold loans and will receive or pay a servicer performance payment if yields, net of credit losses, on the loans are higher or lower, respectively, than expected at origination.
	The Company has an agreement with Santander Bank N.A. (“SBNA,” formerly Sovereign Bank), a subsidiary of SHUSA, whereby the Company provides SBNA the first right to review and assess Chrysler dealer lending opportunities and, if SBNA elects, to provide the proposed financing. The Company provides servicing on all loans originated under this arrangement. The Company received a $9,000 referral fee in June 2013 in connection with this arrangement and is amortizing the fee into income over the ten-year term of agreement. The Company also will receive or pay a servicer performance payment if yields, net of credit losses, on the loans are higher or lower, respectively, than expected at origination. At the end of each quarter, the Company has the first right to originate loans in an amount equal to the amount of originations the Company made during the quarter due to SBNA decline or a failure to timely respond. Throughout the year, these amounts aggregate if the Company does not exercise its right of first refusal. At the end of each year, any amounts not used expire and do not roll over to the next year. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, approximately $347,247 and $202,494 had been originated by SBNA under this agreement, and SCUSA had not exercised its right to originate additional loans.
	The Company also has agreements with SBNA to service recreational and marine vehicle portfolios. These agreements call for a periodic retroactive adjustment, based on cumulative return performance, of the servicing fee rate to inception of the contract. The adjustment for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was a downward adjustment of $1,920 and zero, respectively.
	The Company also provides SBNA with the first right to review and approve consumer vehicle lease applications. As of March 31, 2014, the Company was required to make SBNA whole on approximately $36,187 of leases that had been originated by SBNA under this program but were subsequently determined not to meet SBNA’s underwriting requirements.
	On July 3, 2013, the Company entered into a purchase agreement and amended a servicing agreement with a peer-to-peer unsecured lending platform company from which the Company already was acquiring prime amortizing term unsecured consumer loans. Under terms of the new agreements, the Company has committed to purchase at least the lesser of $30,000 per month or 75% of the lending platform company’s near-prime originations through July 2015, and the lesser of $30,000 per month or 50% of the lending platform company’s near-prime originations thereafter through July 2017. This commitment can be reduced or cancelled with 90 days’ notice.
	Periodically, the Company is party to or otherwise involved in other legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. The Company does not believe that there are any proceedings threatened or pending, if determined adversely, that would have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations, or liquidity of the Company.

RelatedParty_Transactions

Related-Party Transactions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Related-Party Transactions	'
	11	Related-Party Transactions
	Related-party transactions not otherwise disclosed in these footnotes to the consolidated financial statements include the following:
	The Company has a line of credit agreement with Santander — New York Branch (Note 5). Interest expense on these lines of credit totaled $24,874 and $6,494 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Accrued interest was $10,119 and $11,435 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
	During the first quarter of 2014, the Company established a line of credit agreement with SHUSA (Note 5). Interest expense on this line of credit totaled $363 for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Accrued interest was $213 as of March 31, 2014.
	The Company has a letter of credit facility with Santander — New York Branch (Note 10). Letter of credit fees for the used and unused portions, which are included as a component of interest expense, totaled $125 and $144 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Accrued fees totaled $125 and $128 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
	The Company has derivative financial instruments with Santander and affiliates with outstanding notional amounts of $12,580,549 and $10,461,378 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively (Note 7). Interest expense on these agreements, which is included as a component of interest expense, totaled $8,881 and $4,874 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	During 2013, the Company sold approximately $222,384 of the Company’s receivables from dealers to SBNA. The Company continues to service these loans but the loans are not subject to the servicer performance payment that applies to dealer loans originated under the SBNA flow agreement, described in Note 10. Servicing fee income recognized on receivables from dealers sold to SBNA or originated by SBNA totaled $1,265 for the three months ended March 31, 2014, including $464 in servicer performance payments on loans originated by SBNA. Other information on the dealer loan portfolio serviced for SBNA as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Total serviced portfolio	$	676,856	$	513,684
	Cash collections due to owner	$	8,830	$	6,941
	Servicing fees receivable	$	997	$	817
	The Company also has agreements with SBNA to service auto retail installment contracts and recreational and marine vehicle portfolios. Servicing fee income recognized under these agreements totaled $865 and $6,214 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Other information on the serviced auto loan and retail installment contract portfolios for SBNA as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Total serviced portfolio	$	1,096,905	$	1,175,566
	Cash collections due to owner	$	32,698	$	32,831
	Servicing fees receivable (refundable)	$	661	$	(3,163	)
	During 2014, the Company entered into a flow agreement with SBNA whereby SBNA has the first right to review and approve Chrysler Capital consumer vehicle lease applications. SCUSA may review any applications declined by SBNA for the Company’s own portfolio. The Company provides servicing and receives an origination fee on all leases originated under this agreement. Origination and service fee income recognized on leases originated and serviced for SBNA totaled $3,685 and $94, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Other information on the consumer vehicle lease portfolio serviced for SBNA as of March 31, 2014 is as follows:
	Total serviced portfolio	$	241,878
	Cash collections due to owner	$	260
	Origination and servicing fees receivable	$	4,780
	Lease originations receivable	$	16,123
	Produban Servicios Informaticos Generales S.L., a Santander affiliate, is under contract with the Company to provide professional services, telecommunications, and internal and/or external applications. Expenses incurred, which are included as a component of data processing, communications and other expenses, totaled $22 and $38 for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company originated $704 in unsecured revolving loans under terms of entered into a Master Services Agreement (MSA) with a company in which it has a cost method investment and holds a warrant to increase its ownership if certain vesting conditions are satisfied. The MSA enables SCUSA to review credit applications of retail store customers.
	The Company paid expenses totaling zero and $381 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, on behalf of the former managing member of the investment partnerships described in note 8. The former managing member is an investor in Auto Finance Holdings.

Computation_of_Basic_and_Dilut

Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share	'
	12	Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share
	Earnings per common share is computed using the two-class method required for participating securities. Restricted stock awards are considered to be participating securities because holders of such shares have non-forfeitable dividend rights in the event of a declaration of a dividend on the Company’s common shares.
	We have excluded 28,000 employee stock option awards from the calculation of earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2014, because the effect would be anti-dilutive.
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2014		2013
	Earnings per common share
	Net income attributable to SCUSA		81,466		290,402
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding before restricted participating shares (in thousands)		347,518		346,165
	Weighted average number of participating restricted common shares outstanding (in thousands)		584		—
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands)		348,102		346,165
	Earnings per common share	$	0.23	$	0.84
	Earnings per common share - assuming dilution
	Net income attributable to SCUSA		81,466		290,402
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands)		348,102		346,165
	Effect of employee stock-based awards (in thousands)		8,223		—
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - assuming dilution (in thousands)		356,325		346,165
	Earnings per common share - assuming dilution	$	0.23	$	0.84

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	13	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	Fair value estimates, methods, and assumptions are as follows:
		31-Mar-14				31-Dec-13
		Carrying		Estimated		Carrying		Estimated
		Value		Fair Value		Value		Fair Value
	Cash and cash equivalents (a)	$	112,835	$	112,835	$	10,531	$	10,531
	Receivables held for sale (b)		171,466		176,425		82,503		83,344
	Retail installment contracts held for investment, net (c)		21,087,173		21,644,945		20,219,609		21,465,236
	Unsecured consumer loans, net (d)		1,000,545		1,071,108		954,189		1,187,286
	Receivables from dealers held for investment (e)		108,200		108,200		94,745		94,745
	Restricted cash (a)		1,830,392		1,830,392		1,563,613		1,563,613
	Notes payable — credit facilities (f)		9,573,726		9,573,726		8,099,773		8,099,773
	Notes payable — secured structured financings (g)		15,783,587		15,924,794		15,195,887		15,565,013
	(a)	Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash — The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, approximated fair value at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, due to the short maturity of these instruments and is considered a Level 1 measurement.
	(b)	Receivables held for sale — Receivables held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or market, as determined on an aggregate basis. The estimated fair value is based on the prices obtained or expected to be obtained in the subsequent sales and is considered a Level 1 measurement.
	(c)	Retail installment contracts held for investment — Retail installment contracts are carried at amortized cost, net of loan loss allowance. The estimated fair value is calculated based on estimated market rates for similar contracts with similar credit risks and is considered a Level 3 measurement.
	(d)	Unsecured consumer loans, net — Unsecured consumer loans are carried at amortized cost, net of loan loss allowance. Carrying value approximates fair value for unsecured revolving loans because the loans are short term in duration, do not have a defined maturity date and/or are at a market-based interest rate. For unsecured amortizing loans, the estimated fair value is calculated based on estimated market rates for similar loans with similar credit risks and is considered a level 3 measurement.
	(e)	Receivables from dealers held for investment — Receivables from dealers held for investment are carried at amortized cost, net of loan loss allowance. The estimated fair value is calculated based on estimated market rates for similar receivables with similar credit risks and is considered a Level 3 measurement.
	(f)	Notes payable — credit facilities — The carrying amount of notes payable related to revolving credit facilities is estimated to approximate fair value as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. Management believes that the terms of these credit agreements approximate market terms for similar credit agreements. The fair value of notes payable is considered a Level 3 measurement.
	(g)	Notes payable — secured structured financings — The estimated fair value of notes payable related to secured structured financings is calculated based on market quotes for the Company’s publicly traded debt and estimated market rates currently available from recent transactions involving similar debt with similar credit risks, and is considered a Level 2 measurement.
	The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy includes three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine the fair value:
		Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2014
				Quoted Prices		Significant
				in Active		Other		Significant
				Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
				Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets — trading interest rate caps (a)	$	43,599	$	—	$	43,599	$	—
	Assets — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	$	2,497	$	—	$	2,497	$	—
	Assets — trading interest rate swaps (a)	$	570	$	—	$	570	$	—
	Liabilities — trading options for interest rate	$	43,680	$	—	$	43,680	$	—
	caps (a)
	Liabilities — cash flow hedging interest rate	$	4,727	$	—	$	4,727	$	—
	swaps (a)
	Liabilities — trading interest rate swaps (a)	$	26,775	$	—	$	26,775	$	—
	Total return swap (b)	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
				Quoted Prices		Significant
				in Active		Other		Significant
				Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
				Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets — trading interest rate caps (a)	$	28,274	$	—	$	28,274	$	—
	Assets — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	$	1,601	$	—	$	1,601	$	—
	Liabilities — trading options for interest rate	$	28,389	$	—	$	28,389	$	—
	caps (a)
	Liabilities — cash flow hedging interest rate	$	7,287	$	—	$	7,287	$	—
	swaps (a)
	Liabilities — trading interest rate swaps (a)	$	31,360	$	—	$	31,360	$	—
	(a)	The valuation of swaps and caps is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivative, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs. The Company incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurement of its derivatives. In adjusting the fair value of its derivative contracts for the effect of nonperformance risk, the Company has considered the impact of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings and guarantees. Effective January 1, 2012, the Company made an election to use the exception in ASC 820-10-35-18D (commonly referred to as the “portfolio exception”) with respect to measuring counterparty credit risk for instruments (Note 7).
	(b)	The total return swap is valued based on the estimated market value of the underlying bonds pledged to the associated credit facility.
	No amounts were transferred in or out of Level 3 during 2014 or 2013.
	The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy:
		Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2014
				Quoted Prices		Significant
				in Active		Other		Significant
				Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
				Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets — repossessed vehicle inventory	$	137,648	$	—	$	137,648	$	—
	TDRs that have subsequently defaulted (Note 3)	$	49,502	$	—	$	—	$	49,502
		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
				Quoted Prices		Significant
			in Active		Other		Significant
			Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
			Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
	Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Assets — repossessed vehicle inventory	$	129,323	$	—	$	129,323	$	—
TDRs that have subsequently defaulted (Note 3)	$	40,619	$	—	$	—	$	40,619
The Company estimates the fair value of its repossessed vehicle inventory using historical auction rates and current market levels of used car prices. TDRs that have subsequently defaulted but are currently active are written down to estimated collateral value less cost to sell.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Employee Benefit Plans	'
	14	Employee Benefit Plans
	SCUSA Compensation Plan — Beginning in 2012, the Company granted stock options to certain executives, other employees, and independent directors under a Management Equity Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan is administered by the Board of Directors and enables the Company to make stock awards up to a total of approximately 29 million common shares (net of shares canceled and forfeited), or 8.5% of the equity invested in the Company as of December 31, 2011.
	Stock options granted have an exercise price based on the estimated fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The stock options expire after ten years and include both time vesting options and performance vesting options. The fair value of the stock options is amortized into income over the vesting period as time and performance vesting conditions are met. Under the Management Shareholder Agreements entered into by certain employees, no shares obtained through exercise of stock options could be transferred until the later of December 31, 2016, and the Company’s execution of an IPO (the later date of which is referred to as the Lapse Date). Until the Lapse Date, if an employee were to leave the Company, the Company would have the right to repurchase any or all of the stock obtained by the employee through option exercise. If the employee were terminated for cause (as defined in the Plan) or voluntarily left the Company without good reason (as defined in the Plan), in each case, prior to the Lapse Date the repurchase price would be the lower of the strike price or fair market value at the date of repurchase. If the employee were terminated without cause or voluntarily left the Company with good reason, in each case, prior to the Lapse Date the repurchase price is the fair market value at the date of repurchase. Management believes the Company’s repurchase right caused the IPO event to constitute an implicit vesting condition and therefore did not record any stock compensation expense until the date of the IPO, January 23, 2014.
	On December 28, 2013, the Board approved certain changes to the Plan and the Management Shareholders Agreement, including acceleration of vesting for certain employees, removal of transfer restrictions for shares underlying a portion of the options outstanding under the Plan, and addition of transfer restrictions for shares underlying another portion of the outstanding options. All of the changes were contingent on, and effective upon, the Company’s execution of an IPO and, as such, became effective upon pricing of the IPO on January 22, 2014. Also on December 28, 2013, the Board established the Omnibus Incentive Plan, which enables the Company to grant awards of nonqualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and other awards that may be settled in or based upon the value of the Company’s common stock up to a total of 5,192,640 common shares. As of March 31, 2014, the Company had granted 583,890 shares of restricted stock to certain executives under terms of the Omnibus Incentive Plan. Compensation expense related to this restricted stock is recognized over a five-year vesting period, with $604 recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
	On January 23, 2014, the Company executed an IPO, in which selling stockholders offered and sold to the public 85,242,042 shares of common stock at a price of $24.00 per share. The Company received no proceeds from the initial public offering. Stock-based compensation expense totaling $117,770 related to vested options was recognized upon the IPO, including expense related to accelerated vesting for certain executives of $33,845.
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company granted additional stock options from the Management Equity Plan to certain executives, other employees, and an independent director, with an estimated fair value of $15,210, which will be recognized over the five-year vesting period of the awards.
	A summary of the Company’s stock options and related activity as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2014 is as follows:
							Weighted
					Weighted		Average
					Average		Remaining		Aggregate
					Exercise		Contractual		Intrinsic
		Shares			Price		Term (Years)		Value
		(in whole dollars)
	Options outstanding at January 1, 2014		23,910,062		$	9.81		8
	Granted		1,434,834			24.03
	Exercised		(2,816,093	)		9.55				(40,918	)
	Expired		—			—
	Forfeited		(333,177	)		9.91
	Options outstanding at March 31, 2014		22,195,626			10.76		7.9		295,677
	Options exercisable at March 31, 2014		15,745,500			9.87		7.8		223,821

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	'
	15	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
	A summary of changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
			Three Months Ended March 31, 2014								Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
			Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges (a)			Unrealized gains (losses) on investments available for sale (a)		Total			Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges (a)			Unrealized gains (losses) on investments available for sale (a)			Total
	Beginning balance		$	(2,853	)	$	—	$	(2,853	)	$	(12,416	)	$	3,252		$	(9,164	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before			412			—		412			(319	)		(1,135	)		(1,454	)
	reclassifications
	Amounts reclassified out of accumulated			1,676			—		1,676			3,153			(321	)		2,832
	other comprehensive income (loss) (b)
	Ending balance		$	(765	)	$	—	$	(765	)	$	(9,582	)	$	1,796		$	(7,786	)
	(a)	Amounts in this table are net of tax
	(b)	Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consist of the following:
			Three Months Ended March 31, 2014					Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
	Reclassification		Amount reclassified			Income statement line item		Amount reclassified			Income statement line item
	Cash flow hedges:
	Settlements of derivatives		$	2,664		Interest expense		$	4,995		Interest expense
	Tax expense (benefit)			(988	)				(1,842	)
	Net of tax		$	1,676				$	3,153
	Investments available for sale:
	Discount accretion		$	—				$	(508	)	Interest expense
	Tax expense (benefit)			—					187
	Net of tax		$	—				$	(321	)

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Subsequent Events	'
	16	Subsequent Events
	On April 2, 2014, SCUSA expanded its unsecured personal lending business by executing an additional agreement with LendingClub Corporation, whereby SCUSA has the first opportunity to review for its own portfolio applications that do not meet either the public credit policy or custom credit policy facilitated by Lending Club's platform.
	On April 22, 2014, SCUSA entered into an agreement with a technology company, GreenSky Trade Credit, LLC, whereby GreenSky will facilitate SCUSA’s origination of turn-down loans in the retail home improvement space.
	On April 22, 2014, SCUSA executed an application transfer agreement with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), whereby SCUSA will provide nonprime retail auto financing through a turn-down program for new and used vehicles for the OEM’s customers and dealers in the U.S.
	On May 1, 2014, SCUSA’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.15 per share to be paid on May 30, 2014 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 12, 2014.

Description_of_Business_Basis_1

Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Basis of Presentation	'
	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, including certain special purpose financing trusts utilized in financing transactions (“Trusts”), which are considered variable interest entities (“VIEs”). The Company consolidates other VIEs for which it was deemed the primary beneficiary. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, have been prepared in accordance with United States (U.S.) generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods indicated. Results of operations for the periods presented herein are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the entire year.
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions which affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the amount of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences may be material. These estimates include the determination of loan loss allowance, discount accretion, impairment, expected end-of-term lease residual values, values of repossessed assets, and income taxes. These estimates, although based on actual historical trends and modeling, may potentially show significant variances over time.
Business Segment Information	'
	Business Segment Information
	The Company has one reportable segment: Consumer Finance, which includes the Company’s vehicle financial products and services, including retail installment contracts, vehicle leases, and dealer loans, as well as financial products and services related to motorcycles, RVs, and watercraft. It also includes the Company’s unsecured personal loan and point-of-sale financing operations.
Accounting Policies	'
	Accounting Policies
	The Company has identified the following critical accounting policies and estimates used by management in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements: retail installment contracts, unsecured consumer loans, receivables from dealers, provision for loan losses, leased vehicles, income taxes, and earnings per share. As of March 31, 2014, there have been no significant changes to the Company's accounting policies as disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes: Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. This ASU provides guidance on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits, particularly the manner in which an entity would settle, at the reporting date, any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position when net operating loss carryforwards, similar tax losses, or tax credit carryforwards exist. This guidance became effective for the Company January 1, 2014 and implementation did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Finance_Receivables_Tables

Finance Receivables (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of Finance Receivables Held for Investment	'
	Finance receivables held for investment at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, were comprised as follows:
		31-Mar-14
		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment
		Loans			Purchased			Total			Receivables from			Unsecured
		Acquired			Receivables						Dealers Held			Consumer
		Individually			Portfolios						for Investment			Loans
	Unpaid principal balance	$	22,826,639		$	1,566,897		$	24,393,536		$	109,105		$	1,217,755
	Loan loss allowance (Note 3)		(2,444,552	)		(206,170	)		(2,650,722	)		(1,035	)		(203,190	)
	Discount		(649,416	)		(41,311	)		(690,727	)		—			(14,866	)
	Capitalized origination costs and fees		35,086			—			35,086			130			846
	Net carrying balance	$	19,767,757		$	1,319,416		$	21,087,173		$	108,200		$	1,000,545
		31-Dec-13
		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment
		Loans			Purchased			Total			Receivables from			Unsecured
		Acquired			Receivables						Dealers Held			Consumer
		Individually			Portfolios						for Investment			Loans
	Unpaid principal balance	$	21,238,281		$	1,961,060		$	23,199,341		$	95,835		$	1,165,778
	Loan loss allowance (Note 3)		(2,132,634	)		(226,356	)		(2,358,990	)		(1,090	)		(179,350	)
	Discount		(573,462	)		(81,216	)		(654,678	)		—			(32,831	)
	Capitalized origination costs		33,936			—			33,936			—			592
	Net carrying balance	$	18,566,121		$	1,653,488		$	20,219,609		$	94,745		$	954,189
Changes in Accretable Yield on Purchased Receivables Portfolios	'
	Changes in accretable yield on the Company’s purchased receivables portfolios for the periods indicated were as follows:
		For the Three Months Ended
		31-Mar-14			31-Mar-13
	Balance — beginning of period	$	403,400		$	816,854
	Additions (loans acquired during the period)		—			—
	Accretion of accretable yield		(65,046	)		(135,199	)
	Reclassifications from nonaccretable difference		24,469			61,693
	Balance — end of period	$	362,823		$	743,348

Loan_Loss_Allowance_and_Credit1

Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of Activity in Loan Loss Allowance	'
	The activity in the loan loss allowance for individually acquired loans for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		Retail Installment			Receivables			Unsecured
		Contracts			from Dealers Held			Consumer Loans
		Acquired			for Investment
		Individually
	Balance — beginning of period	$	2,132,634		$	1,090		$	179,350
	Provision for loan losses		656,706			(55	)		62,129
	Charge-offs		(752,565	)		—			(40,948	)
	Recoveries		407,777			—			2,659
	Balance — end of period	$	2,444,552		$	1,035		$	203,190
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
		Retail Installment			Receivables			Unsecured
		Contracts			from Dealers Held			Consumer Loans
		Acquired			for Investment
		Individually
	Balance — beginning of period	$	1,555,362		$	—		$	—
	Provision for loan losses		251,641			—			—
	Charge-offs		(384,726	)		—			—
	Recoveries		238,335			—			—
	Balance — end of period	$	1,660,612		$	—		$	—
Summary of Activity in Loan Loss Allowance Related to Purchased Receivables Portfolios	'
	The activity in the loan loss allowance related to purchased receivables portfolios for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance — beginning of period	$	226,356		$	218,640
	Incremental provisions for purchased receivable portfolios		1,325			21,662
	Incremental reversal of provisions for purchased receivable portfolios		(21,511	)		(56,110	)
	Balance — end of period	$	206,170		$	184,192
Summary of Delinquencies	'
	A summary of delinquencies as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		31-Mar-14
		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment									Receivables			Unsecured
											from Dealers Held			Consumer
		Loans			Purchased			Total			for Investment			Loans
		Acquired			Receivables
		Individually			Portfolios
	Principal, current	$	20,933,262		$	1,247,506		$	22,180,768		$	109,105		$	1,088,013
	Principal, 31-60 days past due		1,290,394			210,344			1,500,738			—			39,639
	Delinquent principal over 60 days		602,983			109,047			712,030			—			90,103
	Total principal	$	22,826,639		$	1,566,897		$	24,393,536		$	109,105		$	1,217,755
		31-Dec-13
		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment									Receivables			Unsecured
											from Dealers Held			Consumer
		Loans			Purchased			Total			for Investment			Loans
		Acquired			Receivables
		Individually			Portfolios
	Principal, current	$	18,653,827		$	1,457,813		$	20,111,640		$	95,835		$	1,072,316
	Principal, 31-60 days past due		1,729,139			321,549			2,050,688			—			28,102
	Delinquent principal over 60 days		855,315			181,698			1,037,013			—			65,360
	Total principal	$	21,238,281		$	1,961,060		$	23,199,341		$	95,835		$	1,165,778
Summary of Credit Risk Profile	'
	A summary of the credit risk profile of the Company’s consumer loans by Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO®) distribution, determined at origination, as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was as follows
	31-Mar-14
			Retail Installment			Unsecured
			Contracts Held			Consumer
	FICO Band		for Investment			Loans
	<540			27.00%			3.60%
	540-599			32.20%			27.70%
	600-659			26.20%			43.80%
	>660			14.60%			24.90%
	31-Dec-13
			Retail Installment			Unsecured
			Contracts Held			Consumer
	FICO Band		for Investment			Loans
	<540			26.80%			6.30%
	540-599			31.80%			24.20%
	600-659			26.30%			39.40%
	>660			15.10%			30.10%
Summary Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators for Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment	'
	Commercial loan credit quality indicators for receivables from dealers held for investment as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:
		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
	Pass	$	89,785		$	95,835
	Special Mention		19,320			—
	Substandard		—			—
	Doubtful		—			—
		$	109,105		$	95,835
Summary of Company's TDRs	'
	The table below presents the Company’s loans modified in TDRs as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		31-Mar-14						31-Dec-13
		Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans			Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans
	Total TDR principal	$	2,812,852		$	9,600		$	2,604,351		$	8,391
	Accrued interest		68,967			—			70,965			—
	Discount		(80,025	)		(147	)		(70,321	)		(274	)
	Origination costs		4,324			8			4,161			5
	Outstanding recorded investment		2,806,118			9,461			2,609,156			8,122
	Allowance for loan losses		(498,811	)		(3,870	)		(475,128	)		(2,345	)
	Outstanding recorded investment, net of allowance	$	2,307,307		$	5,591		$	2,134,028		$	5,777
Summary of Performing and Nonperforming TDRs	'
	A summary of the Company’s performing and non-performing TDRs at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, is as follows:
		31-Mar-14						31-Dec-13
		Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans			Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans
	Current	$	2,028,793			4,008		$	1,690,893		$	6,120
	31-60 days past due		500,876			1,171			556,489			875
	Greater than 60 days past due (non-performing)		283,183			4,421			356,969			1,396
	Total TDRs	$	2,812,852		$	9,600		$	2,604,351		$	8,391
Average Recorded Investment and Income Recognized on TDR Loans	'
	Average recorded investment and income recognized on TDR loans are as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar-14						31-Mar-13
		Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans			Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans
	Average outstanding recorded investment in TDRs	$	2,707,637		$	8,996		$	1,556,410		$	—
	Interest income recognized	$	120,451		$	329		$	92,141		$	—
Summary of Loan Modification Accounted as TDRs	'
	The following table summarizes the financial effects of loan modifications accounted for as TDRs that occurred during the three-months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar-14						31-Mar-13
		Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans			Retail Installment Contracts
	Troubled Debt Restructurings:
	Outstanding recorded investment before TDR	$	624,009		$	11,495		$	290,861
	Outstanding recorded investment after TDR	$	581,053		$	11,336		$	288,841
	Number of contracts		39,229			14,829			20,474
Summary of Defaults in Loan Modifications Accounted as TDRs	'
	Loan modifications accounted for as TDRs within the previous 12 months that subsequently defaulted during the three-months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 are summarized in the following table:
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar-14						31-Mar-13
		Retail Installment Contracts			Unsecured Consumer Loans			Retail Installment Contracts
	Troubled debt restructurings that subsequently defaulted	$	11,389		$	—		$	10,072
	Number of contracts		1,348			—			822

Leased_Vehicles_Net_Tables

Leased Vehicles, Net (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of Leased Vehicles	'
	Leased vehicles consisted of the following as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
			31-Mar-14			31-Dec-13
	Leased vehicles		$	3,603,848		$	2,402,052
	Origination fees and other costs			1,927			2,716
	Manufacturer subvention payments			(407,424	)		(259,152	)
				3,198,351			2,145,616
	Depreciation			(241,441	)		(122,183	)
			$	2,956,910		$	2,023,433
SCUSA Delaware	'
Minimum Rental Payments Due to Lessor under Operating Leases	'
	The following summarizes the future minimum rental payments due to the Company as lessor under operating leases as of March 31, 2014:
	Remainder of 2014	$	417,563
	2015		529,880
	2016		366,658
	2017		25,961
	2018		14
	Thereafter		—
	Total	$	1,340,076

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Schedule of Credit Facilities	'
	The following table presents information regarding credit facilities as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		31-Mar-14
		Maturity Date(s)	Utilized Balance		Committed Amount		Effective Rate		Assets Pledged		Restricted Cash Pledged
	Warehouse line	Jun-14	$	212,438	$	500,000		1.14%	$	295,988	$	—
	Warehouse line	Various (a)		552,682		1,227,744		1.39%		808,611		10,851
	Warehouse line (b)	Jan-16		724,888		4,550,000		1.91%		1,218,964		25,771
	Warehouse line	Dec-15		1,399,123		2,000,000		0.94%		1,722,751		36,295
	Warehouse line	Jul-15		317,886		500,000		0.93%		383,811		18,035
	Warehouse line (c)	Sep-15		119,480		200,000		2.31%		207,906		8,015
	Repurchase facility (d)	Various		748,461		748,461		1.55%		843,484		—
	Warehouse line	Dec-15		708,174		750,000		0.82%		1,025,381		21,836
	Warehouse line (e)	Nov-16		175,000		175,000		1.70%		—		—
	Warehouse line (f)	Mar-15		250,594		250,594		0.99%		297,750		—
	Total facilities with third parties			5,208,726		10,901,799				6,804,646		120,803
	Lines of credit with Santander and related subsidiaries (g):
	Line of credit	Dec-16		500,000		500,000		2.44%		4,423		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18		65,000		500,000		2.95%		—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-16		1,750,000		1,750,000		2.11%		—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18		1,750,000		1,750,000		2.89%		73,995		—
	Line of credit	Mar-17		300,000		300,000		1.70%		—		—
	Total facilities with Santander and related subsidiaries			4,365,000		4,800,000				78,418		—
	Total revolving credit facilities		$	9,573,726	$	15,701,799			$	6,883,064	$	120,803
		31-Dec-13
		Maturity Date(s)	Utilized Balance		Committed Amount		Effective Rate		Assets Pledged		Restricted Cash Pledged
	Warehouse line	Jun-14	$	483,738	$	500,000		0.82%	$	757,352	$	—
	Warehouse line	Various		159,300		1,219,474		3.62%		232,015		3,667
	Warehouse line (b)	Apr-15		613,600		4,550,000		2.12%		745,759		15,184
	Warehouse line	Jun-15		1,360,070		2,000,000		0.96%		1,672,082		42,510
	Warehouse line	Jul-15		495,786		500,000		0.85%		598,754		25,056
	Warehouse line (c)	Sep-15		73,080		200,000		2.84%		76,807		2,701
	Repurchase facility (d)	Various		879,199		879,199		1.59%		—		—
	Warehouse line	Dec-15		210,000		750,000		1.84%		302,632		—
	Warehouse line (e)	Nov-16		175,000		175,000		1.72%		—		—
	Total facilities with third parties			4,449,773		10,773,673				4,385,401		89,118
	Lines of credit with Santander and related subsidiaries (e) (f):
	Line of credit	Dec-16		500,000		500,000		2.48%		10,674		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18		—		500,000		3.10%		—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-16		1,750,000		1,750,000		2.09%		—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18		1,400,000		1,750,000		2.58%		93,969		—
	Total facilities with Santander and related subsidiaries			3,650,000		4,500,000				104,643		—
	Total revolving credit facilities		$	8,099,773	$	15,273,673			$	4,490,044	$	89,118
	(a)	One–fourth of any outstanding balance on this facility matures in each of the following months: April 2014, November 2014, March 2015, and November 2015.
	(b)	This line is held exclusively for Chrysler Capital retail loan and lease financing, with lease financing comprising no more than 50% of the outstanding balance upon advance.
	(c)	This line is held exclusively for unsecured consumer term loans.
	(d)	The repurchase facility is also collateralized by securitization bonds and residuals retained by the Company. No portion of this facility is unsecured. This facility has rolling 30-day and 90-day maturities.
	(e)	This line is collateralized by residuals retained by the Company.
	(f)	This line is collateralized by securitization notes payable retained by the Company.
	(g)	These lines are also collateralized by securitization notes payable and residuals retained by the Company. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, $2,216,127 and $1,123,354 of the aggregate outstanding balances on these facilities were unsecured.
Summary of Secured Structured Financings	'
	The following table presents information regarding secured structured financings as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		31-Mar-14
		Original Estimated Maturity Date(s)	Balance		Initial Note Amounts Issued		Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate		Collateral		Restricted Cash
	2010 Securitizations	October 2016 - November 2017	$	509,699	$	4,671,749	1.04%-1.44%		$	941,754	$	206,218
	2011 Securitizations	October 2015-September 2017		843,443		5,605,609	1.21%-2.80%			1,208,325		179,484
	2012 Securitizations	November 2017-December 2018		3,554,805		8,023,840	0.92%-1.68%			4,419,949		395,580
	2013 Securitizations	January 2019-January 2021		4,945,429		6,689,700	0.89%-1.59%			5,873,396		377,271
	2014 Securitization	Apr-20		1,393,823		1,500,000		1.72%		1,624,017		90,167
	Public securitizations			11,247,199		26,490,898				14,067,441		1,248,720
	2010 Private issuance	Jun-11		201,747		516,000		1.29%		359,416		9,611
	2011 Private issuances	Dec-18		554,257		4,856,525	1.46%-1.80%			796,959		39,216
	2012 Private issuance	May-16		22,256		70,308		1.07%		26,678		2,763
	2013 Private issuance	September 2018-September 2020		2,552,886		2,693,754	1.13%-1.38%			3,275,012		94,111
	2014 Private issuances	March 2018-June 2021		1,205,242		1,232,251	1.15%-1.40%			1,544,265		35,432
	Privately issued amortizing notes			4,536,388		9,368,838				6,002,330		181,133
	Total secured structured financings		$	15,783,587	$	35,859,736			$	20,069,771	$	1,429,853
		31-Dec-13
		Original Estimated Maturity Date(s)	Balance		Initial Note Amounts Issued		Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate		Collateral		Restricted Cash
	2010 Securitizations	October 2016 - November 2017	$	632,251	$	4,671,749	1.04%-1.44%		$	1,143,435	$	205,190
	2011 Securitizations	October 2015-September 2017		1,218,208		5,605,609	1.21%-2.80%			1,634,220		195,854
	2012 Securitizations	November 2017-December 2018		4,061,127		8,023,840	0.92%-1.68%			5,013,135		383,677
	2013 Securitizations	January 2019-January 2021		5,503,580		6,689,700	0.89%-1.59%			6,465,840		351,160
	Public securitizations			11,415,166		24,990,898				14,256,630		1,135,881
	2010 Private issuance	Jun-11		219,704		516,000		1.29%		378,434		8,435
	2011 Private issuances	Dec-18		662,138		4,856,525	1.46%-1.80%			908,304		36,449
	2012 Private issuance	May-16		30,526		70,308		1.07%		35,378		3,016
	2013 Private issuances	September 2018-September 2020		2,868,353		2,693,754	1.13%-1.38%			3,554,569		97,100
	Privately issued amortizing notes			3,780,721		8,136,587				4,876,685		145,000
	Total secured structured financings		$	15,195,887	$	33,127,485			$	19,133,315	$	1,280,881

Asset_Securitizations_Tables

Asset Securitizations (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of Assets and Liabilities Related to VIEs	'
	The following table summarizes the assets and liabilities related to VIEs included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Restricted cash	$	1,550,657	$	1,370,174
	Retail installment contracts, net		19,910,992		19,166,392
	Various other assets		3,695,594		2,564,902
	Notes payable		25,514,661		23,810,950
	Various other liabilities		49,412		25,682
Summary of Cash Flows Received from On-Balance Sheet Securitization Trusts	'
	A summary of the cash flows received from on-balance sheet securitization trusts during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, is as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		31-Mar-14		31-Mar-13
	Receivables securitized	$	3,316,248	$	2,803,734
	Net proceeds from new securitizations	$	2,734,093	$	2,450,000
	Cash received for servicing fees		145,772		101,588
	Cash received upon release from reserved and		749		3,419
	restricted cash accounts
	Net distributions from Trusts		320,861		327,567
	Total cash received from securitization trusts	$	3,201,475	$	2,882,574

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen1

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of Underlying Notional Amounts and Aggregate Fair Values	'
	The underlying notional amounts and aggregate fair values of these agreements at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, were as follows:
		31-Mar-14					31-Dec-13
		Notional		Fair Value			Notional			Fair Value
	Interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges	$	5,142,500	$	(2,230	)	$	3,873,000		$	(5,686	)
	Interest rate swap agreements not designated as hedges		3,237,133		(26,205	)		3,444,459			(31,360	)
	Interest rate cap agreements		4,929,458		43,599			4,616,960			28,274
	Options for interest rate cap agreements		4,929,458		(43,680	)		4,616,960			(28,389	)
	Total return swap		250,594		—			—			—
Offsetting of Derivative Assets and Liabilities	'
	Information on the offsetting of derivative assets and derivative liabilities due to the right of offset was as follows, as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		Offsetting of Financial Assets
										Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
										Consolidated Balance Sheet
		Gross		Gross Amounts			Net Amounts of Assets Presented
		Amounts of		Offset in the			in the						Cash
		Recognized		Consolidated			Consolidated			Financial			Collateral		Net
		Assets		Balance Sheet			Balance Sheet			Instruments			Received		Amount
	31-Mar-14
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	$	3,067	$	—		$	3,067		$	—		$	—	$	3,067
	Interest rate caps - Santander & affiliates		27,018		—			27,018			—			—		27,018
	Interest rate caps - third party		16,581		—			16,581			—			—		16,581
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		46,666		—			46,666			—			—		46,666
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		—		—			—			—			—		—
	Total derivative assets	$	46,666	$	—		$	46,666		$	—		$	—	$	46,666
	Total financial assets	$	46,666	$	—		$	46,666		$	—		$	—	$	46,666
	31-Dec-13
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	$	1,601	$	—		$	1,601		$	—		$	—	$	1,601
	Interest rate caps - Santander & affiliates		9,342		—			9,342			—			—		9,342
	Interest rate caps - third party		18,932		—			18,932			—			—		18,932
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		29,875		—			29,875			—			—		29,875
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		—		—			—			—			—		—
	Total derivative assets	$	29,875	$	—		$	29,875		$	—		$	—	$	29,875
	Total financial assets	$	29,875	$	—		$	29,875		$	—		$	—	$	29,875
		Offsetting of Financial Liabilities
													Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
													Consolidated Balance Sheet
		Gross		Gross Amounts			Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented
		Amounts of		Offset in the			in the						Cash
		Recognized		Consolidated			Consolidated			Financial			Collateral		Net
		Liabilities		Balance Sheet			Balance Sheet			Instruments			Pledged		Amount
	31-Mar-14
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	$	31,502	$	(9,707	)	$	21,795		$	—		$	—	$	21,795
	Back to back - Santander & affiliates		27,018		(21,817	)	$	5,201		$	—		$	—	$	5,201
	Back to back - third party		16,662		(16,662	)		—			—			—		—
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		75,182		(48,186	)		26,996			—			—		26,996
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		—		—			—			—			—		—
	Total derivative liabilities	$	75,182	$	(48,186	)	$	26,996		$	—		$	—	$	26,996
	Total financial liabilities	$	75,182	$	(48,186	)	$	26,996		$	—		$	—	$	26,996
	31-Dec-13
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	$	38,647	$	(2,258	)	$	36,389		$	—		$	—	$	36,389
	Back to back - Santander & affiliates		9,342		(9,342	)		—			—			—		—
	Back to back - third party		19,047		(15,420	)		3,627			—			—		3,627
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		67,036		(27,020	)		40,016			—			—		40,016
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement		—		—			—			—			—		—
	Total derivative liabilities	$	67,036	$	(27,020	)	$	40,016		$	—		$	—	$	40,016
	Total financial liabilities	$	67,036	$	(27,020	)	$	40,016		$	—		$	—	$	40,016
Gross Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'
	The gross gains (losses) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income, and gains (losses) recognized in net income, are included as components of interest expense. The Company’s interest rate swap agreements had effects on its consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 as follows:
		March 31, 2014
				Gross Gains (Losses)			Gross Gains (Losses)
				Recognized in			Reclassified From
		Gains (Losses)		Accumulated Other			Accumulated Other
		Recognized in		Comprehensive			Comprehensive Income
		Interest Expense		Income			To Interest Expense
	Interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges	$	138	$	654		$	(2,664	)
	Derivative instruments not designated as hedges	$	5,189
		March 31, 2013
				Gross Gains (Losses)			Gross Gains (Losses)
				Recognized in			Reclassified From
		Gains (Losses)		Accumulated Other			Accumulated Other
		Recognized in		Comprehensive			Comprehensive Income
		Interest Expense		Income			to Interest Expense
	Interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges	$	—	$	(505	)	$	(4,995	)
	Derivative instruments not designated as hedges	$	6,657

Other_Assets_Tables

Other Assets (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Other Assets	'
	Other assets were comprised as follows:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Upfront fee (a)	$	136,250	$	140,000
	Inventory of repossessed vehicles		137,648		129,323
	Manufacturer subvention payments receivable (a)		111,075		55,579
	Derivative assets (Note 7)		46,666		29,875
	Indemnification payments receivable (b)		8,603		8,603
	Other		81,451		46,925
		$	521,693	$	410,305
	(a)	These amounts relate to the Chrysler agreement. The Company paid a $150,000 upfront fee at the effective date of the agreement. This fee is being amortized into finance and other interest income over the ten-year term of the agreement. As the preferred financing provider for Chrysler, the Company is entitled to subvention payments on loans and leases with below-market customer payments.
	(b)	This amount represents tax indemnification payments to the original equity investors in two investment partnerships now owned by the Company. These payments are expected to be recovered through tax refunds passed through to the Company as the original investors recognize losses related to the investments.

RelatedParty_Transactions_Tabl

Related-Party Transactions (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Dealer Loan Portfolio	'
Information on Dealer Loan Portfolio	'
	Other information on the dealer loan portfolio serviced for SBNA as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Total serviced portfolio	$	676,856	$	513,684
	Cash collections due to owner	$	8,830	$	6,941
	Servicing fees receivable	$	997	$	817
Serviced Auto Loan And Retail Installment	'
Information on Dealer Loan Portfolio	'
	Other information on the serviced auto loan and retail installment contract portfolios for SBNA as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Total serviced portfolio	$	1,096,905	$	1,175,566
	Cash collections due to owner	$	32,698	$	32,831
	Servicing fees receivable (refundable)	$	661	$	(3,163	)
Consumer Vehicle Lease	'
Information on Dealer Loan Portfolio	'
	Other information on the consumer vehicle lease portfolio serviced for SBNA as of March 31, 2014 is as follows:
	Total serviced portfolio	$	241,878
	Cash collections due to owner	$	260
	Origination and servicing fees receivable	$	4,780
	Lease originations receivable	$	16,123

Computation_of_Basic_and_Dilut1

Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share	'
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2014		2013
	Earnings per common share
	Net income attributable to SCUSA		81,466		290,402
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding before restricted participating shares (in thousands)		347,518		346,165
	Weighted average number of participating restricted common shares outstanding (in thousands)		584		—
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands)		348,102		346,165
	Earnings per common share	$	0.23	$	0.84
	Earnings per common share - assuming dilution
	Net income attributable to SCUSA		81,466		290,402
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands)		348,102		346,165
	Effect of employee stock-based awards (in thousands)		8,223		—
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - assuming dilution (in thousands)		356,325		346,165
	Earnings per common share - assuming dilution	$	0.23	$	0.84

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of Fair Value Estimates, Methods and Assumptions	'
	Fair value estimates, methods, and assumptions are as follows:
		31-Mar-14				31-Dec-13
		Carrying		Estimated		Carrying		Estimated
		Value		Fair Value		Value		Fair Value
	Cash and cash equivalents (a)	$	112,835	$	112,835	$	10,531	$	10,531
	Receivables held for sale (b)		171,466		176,425		82,503		83,344
	Retail installment contracts held for investment, net (c)		21,087,173		21,644,945		20,219,609		21,465,236
	Unsecured consumer loans, net (d)		1,000,545		1,071,108		954,189		1,187,286
	Receivables from dealers held for investment (e)		108,200		108,200		94,745		94,745
	Restricted cash (a)		1,830,392		1,830,392		1,563,613		1,563,613
	Notes payable — credit facilities (f)		9,573,726		9,573,726		8,099,773		8,099,773
	Notes payable — secured structured financings (g)		15,783,587		15,924,794		15,195,887		15,565,013
	(a)	Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash — The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, approximated fair value at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, due to the short maturity of these instruments and is considered a Level 1 measurement.
	(b)	Receivables held for sale — Receivables held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or market, as determined on an aggregate basis. The estimated fair value is based on the prices obtained or expected to be obtained in the subsequent sales and is considered a Level 1 measurement.
	(c)	Retail installment contracts held for investment — Retail installment contracts are carried at amortized cost, net of loan loss allowance. The estimated fair value is calculated based on estimated market rates for similar contracts with similar credit risks and is considered a Level 3 measurement.
	(d)	Unsecured consumer loans, net — Unsecured consumer loans are carried at amortized cost, net of loan loss allowance. Carrying value approximates fair value for unsecured revolving loans because the loans are short term in duration, do not have a defined maturity date and/or are at a market-based interest rate. For unsecured amortizing loans, the estimated fair value is calculated based on estimated market rates for similar loans with similar credit risks and is considered a level 3 measurement.
	(e)	Receivables from dealers held for investment — Receivables from dealers held for investment are carried at amortized cost, net of loan loss allowance. The estimated fair value is calculated based on estimated market rates for similar receivables with similar credit risks and is considered a Level 3 measurement.
	(f)	Notes payable — credit facilities — The carrying amount of notes payable related to revolving credit facilities is estimated to approximate fair value as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. Management believes that the terms of these credit agreements approximate market terms for similar credit agreements. The fair value of notes payable is considered a Level 3 measurement.
	(g)	Notes payable — secured structured financings — The estimated fair value of notes payable related to secured structured financings is calculated based on market quotes for the Company’s publicly traded debt and estimated market rates currently available from recent transactions involving similar debt with similar credit risks, and is considered a Level 2 measurement.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis	'
	The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy includes three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine the fair value:
		Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2014
				Quoted Prices		Significant
				in Active		Other		Significant
				Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
				Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets — trading interest rate caps (a)	$	43,599	$	—	$	43,599	$	—
	Assets — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	$	2,497	$	—	$	2,497	$	—
	Assets — trading interest rate swaps (a)	$	570	$	—	$	570	$	—
	Liabilities — trading options for interest rate	$	43,680	$	—	$	43,680	$	—
	caps (a)
	Liabilities — cash flow hedging interest rate	$	4,727	$	—	$	4,727	$	—
	swaps (a)
	Liabilities — trading interest rate swaps (a)	$	26,775	$	—	$	26,775	$	—
	Total return swap (b)	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
				Quoted Prices		Significant
				in Active		Other		Significant
				Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
				Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets — trading interest rate caps (a)	$	28,274	$	—	$	28,274	$	—
	Assets — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	$	1,601	$	—	$	1,601	$	—
	Liabilities — trading options for interest rate	$	28,389	$	—	$	28,389	$	—
	caps (a)
	Liabilities — cash flow hedging interest rate	$	7,287	$	—	$	7,287	$	—
	swaps (a)
	Liabilities — trading interest rate swaps (a)	$	31,360	$	—	$	31,360	$	—
	(a)	The valuation of swaps and caps is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivative, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs. The Company incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurement of its derivatives. In adjusting the fair value of its derivative contracts for the effect of nonperformance risk, the Company has considered the impact of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings and guarantees. Effective January 1, 2012, the Company made an election to use the exception in ASC 820-10-35-18D (commonly referred to as the “portfolio exception”) with respect to measuring counterparty credit risk for instruments (Note 7).
	(b)	The total return swap is valued based on the estimated market value of the underlying bonds pledged to the associated credit facility.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Nonrecurring Basis	'
	The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy:
		Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2014
				Quoted Prices		Significant
				in Active		Other		Significant
				Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
				Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets — repossessed vehicle inventory	$	137,648	$	—	$	137,648	$	—
	TDRs that have subsequently defaulted (Note 3)	$	49,502	$	—	$	—	$	49,502
		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
				Quoted Prices		Significant
				in Active		Other		Significant
				Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
				Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets — repossessed vehicle inventory	$	129,323	$	—	$	129,323	$	—
	TDRs that have subsequently defaulted (Note 3)	$	40,619	$	—	$	—	$	40,619

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Tables

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of Stock Options and Related Activity	'
	A summary of the Company’s stock options and related activity as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2014 is as follows:
							Weighted
					Weighted		Average
					Average		Remaining		Aggregate
					Exercise		Contractual		Intrinsic
		Shares			Price		Term (Years)		Value
		(in whole dollars)
	Options outstanding at January 1, 2014		23,910,062		$	9.81		8
	Granted		1,434,834			24.03
	Exercised		(2,816,093	)		9.55				(40,918	)
	Expired		—			—
	Forfeited		(333,177	)		9.91
	Options outstanding at March 31, 2014		22,195,626			10.76		7.9		295,677
	Options exercisable at March 31, 2014		15,745,500			9.87		7.8		223,821

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Summary of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	'
	A summary of changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
			Three Months Ended March 31, 2014								Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
			Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges (a)			Unrealized gains (losses) on investments available for sale (a)		Total			Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges (a)			Unrealized gains (losses) on investments available for sale (a)			Total
	Beginning balance		$	(2,853	)	$	—	$	(2,853	)	$	(12,416	)	$	3,252		$	(9,164	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before			412			—		412			(319	)		(1,135	)		(1,454	)
	reclassifications
	Amounts reclassified out of accumulated			1,676			—		1,676			3,153			(321	)		2,832
	other comprehensive income (loss) (b)
	Ending balance		$	(765	)	$	—	$	(765	)	$	(9,582	)	$	1,796		$	(7,786	)
	(a)	Amounts in this table are net of tax
	(b)	Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consist of the following:
Reclassification of Amounts Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
			Three Months Ended March 31, 2014					Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
	Reclassification		Amount reclassified			Income statement line item		Amount reclassified			Income statement line item
	Cash flow hedges:
	Settlements of derivatives		$	2,664		Interest expense		$	4,995		Interest expense
	Tax expense (benefit)			(988	)				(1,842	)
	Net of tax		$	1,676				$	3,153
	Investments available for sale:
	Discount accretion		$	—				$	(508	)	Interest expense
	Tax expense (benefit)			—					187
	Net of tax		$	—				$	(321	)

Description_of_Business_Basis_2

Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
	Segment
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Number of Reportable Segment	1
Santander Holdings USA, Inc.	'
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Ownership percentage held by third parties	60.50%
Auto Finance Holdings Series LP	'
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Ownership percentage held by third parties	4.10%
DDFS LLC	'
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Ownership percentage held by third parties	10.00%
Other Related Parties	'
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Ownership percentage held by third parties	0.10%
Public Shareholders	'
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Ownership percentage held by third parties	25.30%

Finance_Receivables_Summary_of

Finance Receivables - Summary of Finance Receivables Held for Investment (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	$21,087,173	$20,219,609
Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment	108,200	94,745
Unsecured Consumer Loans	1,000,545	954,189
Loans Acquired Individually	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	19,767,757	18,566,121
Purchased Receivables Portfolios	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	1,319,416	1,653,488
Receivables from Dealers Held for Investments	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment	108,200	94,745
Unsecured Short Term Consumer Loans	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Unsecured Consumer Loans	1,000,545	954,189
Unpaid Principal Balance	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	24,393,536	23,199,341
Unpaid Principal Balance | Loans Acquired Individually	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	22,826,639	21,238,281
Unpaid Principal Balance | Purchased Receivables Portfolios	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	1,566,897	1,961,060
Unpaid Principal Balance | Receivables from Dealers Held for Investments	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment	109,105	95,835
Unpaid Principal Balance | Unsecured Short Term Consumer Loans	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Unsecured Consumer Loans	1,217,755	1,165,778
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	-2,650,722	-2,358,990
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses | Loans Acquired Individually	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	-2,444,552	-2,132,634
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses | Purchased Receivables Portfolios	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	-206,170	-226,356
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses | Receivables from Dealers Held for Investments	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment	-1,035	-1,090
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses | Unsecured Short Term Consumer Loans	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Unsecured Consumer Loans	-203,190	-179,350
Debt Discount	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	-690,727	-654,678
Debt Discount | Loans Acquired Individually	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	-649,416	-573,462
Debt Discount | Purchased Receivables Portfolios	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	-41,311	-81,216
Debt Discount | Unsecured Short Term Consumer Loans	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Unsecured Consumer Loans	-14,866	-32,831
Capitalized Origination Costs	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	35,086	33,936
Capitalized Origination Costs | Loans Acquired Individually	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	35,086	33,936
Capitalized Origination Costs | Receivables from Dealers Held for Investments	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment	130	'
Capitalized Origination Costs | Unsecured Short Term Consumer Loans	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Unsecured Consumer Loans	$846	$592

Finance_Receivables_Additional

Finance Receivables - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Principle balance of finance receivables	$1,685,723	'
Retail installment contracts held for sale	144,772	56,066
Unpaid principal balance of fleet contracts with commercial consumers	477,062	345,177
Interest receivable on purchased receivables portfolios	12,446	16,950
Warehouse Lines of Credit	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Receivables from dealers held for investments	50,000	50,000
Revolving Credit Facility	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Receivables from dealers held for investments	50,000	50,000
Texas	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment	17.00%	'
Percentage of remaining receivable from dealers held for investment	29.00%	'
Percentage of unsecured consumer loans	8.00%	'
Florida	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment	10.00%	'
Percentage of unsecured consumer loans	6.00%	'
California	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment	8.00%	'
Percentage of remaining receivable from dealers held for investment	8.00%	'
Percentage of unsecured consumer loans	9.00%	'
Georgia	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment	5.00%	'
North Carolina	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment	5.00%	'
Other States	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment	5.00%	'
Other States | Maximum	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of remaining receivable from dealers held for investment	5.00%	'
Percentage of unsecured consumer loans	5.00%	'
Ohio	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of remaining receivable from dealers held for investment	18.00%	'
New York	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of remaining receivable from dealers held for investment	13.00%	'
Percentage of unsecured consumer loans	8.00%	'
New Jersey	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of remaining receivable from dealers held for investment	12.00%	'
Tennessee	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of remaining receivable from dealers held for investment	8.00%	'
Louisiana	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of remaining receivable from dealers held for investment	5.00%	'
Pennsylvania	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of unsecured consumer loans	5.00%	'
Receivables From Dealers	'	'
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Principle balance of finance receivables	0	'
Retail installment contracts held for sale	$26,694	$26,437

Finance_Receivables_Changes_in

Finance Receivables - Changes in Accretable Yield on Purchased Receivables Portfolios (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]	'	'
Balance at beginning of period	$403,400	$816,854
Additions (loans acquired during the period)	'	'
Accretion of accretable yield	-65,046	-135,199
Reclassifications from nonaccretable difference	24,469	61,693
Balance at end of period	$362,823	$743,348

Loan_Loss_Allowance_and_Credit2

Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Activity in Loan Loss Allowance (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Retail Installment Contracts Acquired Individually	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Balance — beginning of period	$2,132,634	$1,555,362
Provision for loan losses	656,706	251,641
Charge-offs	-752,565	-384,726
Recoveries	407,777	238,335
Balance — end of period	2,444,552	1,660,612
Receivables From Dealers	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Balance — beginning of period	1,090	'
Provision for loan losses	-55	'
Balance — end of period	1,035	'
Unsecured Short Term Consumer Loans	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Balance — beginning of period	179,350	'
Provision for loan losses	62,129	'
Charge-offs	-40,948	'
Recoveries	2,659	'
Balance — end of period	$203,190	'

Loan_Loss_Allowance_and_Credit3

Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Activity in Loan Loss Allowance Related to Purchased Receivables Portfolios (Details) (Purchased Receivables Portfolios, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Purchased Receivables Portfolios	'	'
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Balance — beginning of period	$226,356	$218,640
Incremental provisions for purchased receivable portfolios	1,325	21,662
Incremental reversal of provisions for purchased receivable portfolios	-21,511	-56,110
Balance — end of period	$206,170	$184,192

Loan_Loss_Allowance_and_Credit4

Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Delinquencies (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
Principal, current	$22,180,768	$20,111,640
Principal, 31-60 days past due	1,500,738	2,050,688
Delinquent principal over 60 days	712,030	1,037,013
Total principal	24,393,536	23,199,341
Loans Acquired Individually	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
Principal, current	20,933,262	18,653,827
Principal, 31-60 days past due	1,290,394	1,729,139
Delinquent principal over 60 days	602,983	855,315
Total principal	22,826,639	21,238,281
Purchased Receivables Portfolios	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
Principal, current	1,247,506	1,457,813
Principal, 31-60 days past due	210,344	321,549
Delinquent principal over 60 days	109,047	181,698
Total principal	1,566,897	1,961,060
Receivables from Dealers Held for Investments	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
Principal, current	109,105	95,835
Total principal	109,105	95,835
Unsecured Short Term Consumer Loans	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]	'	'
Principal, current	1,088,013	1,072,316
Principal, 31-60 days past due	39,639	28,102
Delinquent principal over 60 days	90,103	65,360
Total principal	$1,217,755	$1,165,778

Loan_Loss_Allowance_and_Credit5

Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Credit Risk Profile (Details)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
FICO Band 540	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment	27.00%	26.80%
Unsecured Consumer Loans	3.60%	6.30%
FICO Band 540-599	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment	32.20%	31.80%
Unsecured Consumer Loans	27.70%	24.20%
FICO Band 600-659	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment	26.20%	26.30%
Unsecured Consumer Loans	43.80%	39.40%
FICO Band 660	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment	14.60%	15.10%
Unsecured Consumer Loans	24.90%	30.10%

Loan_Loss_Allowance_and_Credit6

Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators for Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators	$109,105	$95,835
Pass	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators	89,785	95,835
Special Mention	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators	19,320	'
Substandard	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators	'	'
Doubtful	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]	'	'
Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators	'	'

Loan_Loss_Allowance_and_Credit7

Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Company's TDRs (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]	'	'
Accrued interest	$312,040	$319,157
Retail Installment Contracts	'	'
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]	'	'
Total TDR principal	2,812,852	2,604,351
Accrued interest	68,967	70,965
Discount	-80,025	-70,321
Origination costs	4,324	4,161
Outstanding recorded investment	2,806,118	2,609,156
Allowance for loan losses	-498,811	-475,128
Outstanding recorded investment, net of allowance	2,307,307	2,134,028
Unsecured Consumer Loans	'	'
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]	'	'
Total TDR principal	9,600	8,391
Discount	-147	-274
Origination costs	8	5
Outstanding recorded investment	9,461	8,122
Allowance for loan losses	-3,870	-2,345
Outstanding recorded investment, net of allowance	$5,591	$5,777

Loan_Loss_Allowance_and_Credit8

Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Performing and Non-performing TDRs (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Retail Installment Contracts	'	'
Troubled Debt Restructuring Debtor Current Period [Line Items]	'	'
Current	$2,028,793	$1,690,893
31-60 days past due	500,876	556,489
Greater than 60 days past due (non-performing)	283,183	356,969
Total TDR principal	2,812,852	2,604,351
Unsecured Consumer Loans	'	'
Troubled Debt Restructuring Debtor Current Period [Line Items]	'	'
Current	4,008	6,120
31-60 days past due	1,171	875
Greater than 60 days past due (non-performing)	4,421	1,396
Total TDR principal	$9,600	$8,391

Loan_Loss_Allowance_and_Credit9

Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Average Recorded Investment and Income Recognized on TDR Loans (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Retail Installment Contracts	'	'
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]	'	'
Average outstanding recorded investment in TDRs	$2,707,637	$1,556,410
Interest income recognized	120,451	92,141
Unsecured Consumer Loans	'	'
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]	'	'
Average outstanding recorded investment in TDRs	8,996	'
Interest income recognized	$329	'

Recovered_Sheet1

Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Loan Modification Accounted as TDRs (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
	Contract	Contract
Retail Installment Contracts	'	'
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding recorded investment before TDR	$624,009	$290,861
Outstanding recorded investment after TDR	581,053	288,841
Number of contracts	39,229	20,474
Unsecured Consumer Loans	'	'
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding recorded investment before TDR	11,495	'
Outstanding recorded investment after TDR	$11,336	'
Number of contracts	14,829	'

Recovered_Sheet2

Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Defaults in Loan Modifications Accounted as TDRs (Details) (Retail Installment Contracts, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
	Contract	Contract
Retail Installment Contracts	'	'
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]	'	'
Troubled debt restructurings that subsequently defaulted	$11,389	$10,072
Number of contracts	1,348	822

Recovered_Sheet3

Loan Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]	'
Principal write down on active TDRs	$50,832

Leased_Vehicles_Net_Summary_of

Leased Vehicles, Net - Summary of Leased Vehicles (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property Subject To Or Available For Operating Lease [Line Items]	'	'
Leased property Expenses	$3,198,351	$2,145,616
Depreciation	-241,441	-122,183
Leased property Expenses, net	2,956,910	2,023,433
Leased Vehicles	'	'
Property Subject To Or Available For Operating Lease [Line Items]	'	'
Leased property Expenses	3,603,848	2,402,052
Origination Fees and Other Costs	'	'
Property Subject To Or Available For Operating Lease [Line Items]	'	'
Leased property Expenses	1,927	2,716
Manufacturer Subvention Payments	'	'
Property Subject To Or Available For Operating Lease [Line Items]	'	'
Leased property Expenses	($407,424)	($259,152)

Leased_Vehicles_Net_Future_Min

Leased Vehicles, Net - Future Minimum Rental Payments Due to Lessor under Operating Leases (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property Subject To Or Available For Operating Lease [Line Items]	'
Remainder of 2014	$417,563
2015	529,880
2016	366,658
2017	25,961
2018	14
Thereafter	'
Total	$1,340,076

Debt_Schedule_of_Credit_Facili

Debt - Schedule of Credit Facilities (Details) (USD $)

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 06, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility One

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility One

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Two

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Two

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Three

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Three

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Four

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Four

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Five

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Five

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Six

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Six

Repurchase Facilities

Repurchase Facilities

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Seven

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Seven

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Eight

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Eight

Line of Credit Warehouse Facility Nine

Line of Credit Facility One

Line of Credit Facility One

Line of Credit Facility Two

Line of Credit Facility Two

Line Of Credit Facility Three

Line Of Credit Facility Three

Line Of Credit Facility Four

Line Of Credit Facility Four

Line of Credit Facility Five

Total Facilities with Third Parties

Total Facilities with Third Parties

Total Facilities with Santander and Related Subsidiaries

Total Facilities with Santander and Related Subsidiaries

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maturity Date

'

'

'

'

'2014-06

'2014-06

'

'

'2016-01

[1]

'2015-04

[1]

'2015-12

'2015-06

'2015-07

'2015-07

'2015-09

[2]

'2015-09

[2]

'

'

'2015-12

'2015-12

'2016-11

[3]

'2016-11

[3]

'2015-03

[4]

'2016-12

[5]

'2016-12

[3],[4]

'2018-12

[5]

'2018-12

[3],[4]

'2016-12

[5]

'2016-12

[3],[4]

'2018-12

[5]

'2018-12

[3],[4]

'2017-03

[5]

'

'

'

'

Maturity Date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'Various

[6]

'Various

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'Various

[7]

'Various

[7]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Effective Rate

'

'

'

'

1.14%

0.82%

1.39%

3.62%

1.91%

[1]

2.12%

[1]

0.94%

0.96%

0.93%

0.85%

2.31%

[2]

2.84%

[2]

1.55%

[7]

1.59%

[7]

0.82%

1.84%

1.70%

[3]

1.72%

[3]

0.99%

[4]

2.44%

[5]

2.48%

[3],[4]

2.95%

[5]

3.10%

[3],[4]

2.11%

[5]

2.09%

[3],[4]

2.89%

[5]

2.58%

[3],[4]

1.70%

[5]

'

'

'

'

Utilized Balance

$9,573,726,000

$8,099,773,000

$300,000,000

$8,099,773,000

$212,438,000

$483,738,000

$552,682,000

$159,300,000

$724,888,000

[1]

$613,600,000

[1]

$1,399,123,000

$1,360,070,000

$317,886,000

$495,786,000

$119,480,000

[2]

$73,080,000

[2]

$748,461,000

[7]

$879,199,000

[7]

$708,174,000

$210,000,000

$175,000,000

[3]

$175,000,000

[3]

$250,594,000

[4]

$500,000,000

[5]

$500,000,000

[3],[4]

$65,000,000

[5]

'

$1,750,000,000

[5]

$1,750,000,000

[3],[4]

$1,750,000,000

[5]

$1,400,000,000

[3],[4]

$300,000,000

[5]

$5,208,726,000

$4,449,773,000

$4,365,000,000

$3,650,000,000

Committed Amount

15,701,799,000

'

'

15,273,673,000

500,000,000

500,000,000

1,227,744,000

1,219,474,000

4,550,000,000

[1]

4,550,000,000

[1]

2,000,000,000

2,000,000,000

500,000,000

500,000,000

200,000,000

[2]

200,000,000

[2]

748,461,000

[7]

879,199,000

[7]

750,000,000

750,000,000

175,000,000

[3]

175,000,000

[3]

250,594,000

[4]

500,000,000

[5]

500,000,000

[3],[4]

500,000,000

[5]

500,000,000

[3],[4]

1,750,000,000

[5]

1,750,000,000

[3],[4]

1,750,000,000

[5]

1,750,000,000

[3],[4]

300,000,000

[5]

10,901,799,000

10,773,673,000

4,800,000,000

4,500,000,000

Assets Pledged

$120,803,000

'

'

$89,118,000

'

'

$10,851,000

$3,667,000

$25,771,000

[1]

$15,184,000

[1]

$36,295,000

$42,510,000

$18,035,000

$25,056,000

$8,015,000

[2]

$2,701,000

[2]

'

'

$21,836,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$120,803,000

$89,118,000

'

'

[1]

This line is held exclusively for Chrysler Capital retail loan and lease financing, with lease financing comprising no more than 50% of the outstanding balance upon advance.

[2]

This line is held exclusively for unsecured consumer term loans.

[3]

This line is collateralized by residuals retained by the Company.

[4]

This line is collateralized by securitization notes payable retained by the Company.

[5]

These lines are also collateralized by securitization notes payable and residuals retained by the Company. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, $2,216,127 and $1,123,354 of the aggregate outstanding balances on these facilities were unsecured.

[6]

One–fourth of any outstanding balance on this facility matures in each of the following months: April 2014, November 2014, March 2015, and November 2015.

[7]

The repurchase facility is also collateralized by securitization bonds and residuals retained by the Company. No portion of this facility is unsecured. This facility has rolling 30-day and 90-day maturities.

Debt_Schedule_of_Credit_Facili1

Debt - Schedule of Credit Facilities (Parenthetical) (Details) (Unsecured Debt, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Unsecured Debt	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'
Unsecured credit facility amount	$2,216,127	$1,123,354

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 06, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014
				Maturity Year One	Maturity Year Two	Revolving Credit Facility	Revolving Credit Facility	Revolving Credit Facility
								Maturity Year One
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revolving credit facility	$9,573,726	'	$8,099,773	'	'	$300,000	$8,099,773	$4,500,000
Credit facility maturity date	'	'	'	31-Dec-16	31-Dec-18	'	'	'
Private issuance notes secured with vehicle lease	1,396,011	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest expense on secured structured financing	$59,862	$57,710	'	'	'	'	'	'

Debt_Summary_of_Secured_Struct

Debt - Summary of Secured Structured Financings (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Balance	$15,783,587	$15,195,887
Secured Structured Financings	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Balance	15,783,587	15,195,887
Initial Note Amounts Issued	35,859,736	33,127,485
Collateral	20,069,771	19,133,315
Restricted Cash	1,429,853	1,280,881
Secured Structured Financings | 2010 Securitizations	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Balance	509,699	632,251
Initial Note Amounts Issued	4,671,749	4,671,749
Collateral	941,754	1,143,435
Restricted Cash	206,218	205,190
Secured Structured Financings | 2010 Securitizations | Minimum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2016-10	'2016-10
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.04%	1.04%
Secured Structured Financings | 2010 Securitizations | Maximum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2017-11	'2017-11
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.44%	1.44%
Secured Structured Financings | 2011 Securitizations	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Balance	843,443	1,218,208
Initial Note Amounts Issued	5,605,609	5,605,609
Collateral	1,208,325	1,634,220
Restricted Cash	179,484	195,854
Secured Structured Financings | 2011 Securitizations | Minimum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2015-10	'2015-10
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.21%	1.21%
Secured Structured Financings | 2011 Securitizations | Maximum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2017-09	'2017-09
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.80%	2.80%
Secured Structured Financings | 2012 Securitizations	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Balance	3,554,805	4,061,127
Initial Note Amounts Issued	8,023,840	8,023,840
Collateral	4,419,949	5,013,135
Restricted Cash	395,580	383,677
Secured Structured Financings | 2012 Securitizations | Minimum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2017-11	'2017-11
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	0.92%	0.92%
Secured Structured Financings | 2012 Securitizations | Maximum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2018-12	'2018-12
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.68%	1.68%
Secured Structured Financings | 2013 Securitizations	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Balance	4,945,429	5,503,580
Initial Note Amounts Issued	6,689,700	6,689,700
Collateral	5,873,396	6,465,840
Restricted Cash	377,271	351,160
Secured Structured Financings | 2013 Securitizations | Minimum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2019-01	'2019-01
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	0.89%	0.89%
Secured Structured Financings | 2013 Securitizations | Maximum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2021-01	'2021-01
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.59%	1.59%
Secured Structured Financings | 2014 Securitizations	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Balance	1,393,823	'
Initial Note Amounts Issued	1,500,000	'
Collateral	1,624,017	'
Restricted Cash	90,167	'
Secured Structured Financings | 2014 Securitizations | Maximum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2020-04	'
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.72%	'
Secured Structured Financings | Public Securitizations	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Balance	11,247,199	11,415,166
Initial Note Amounts Issued	26,490,898	24,990,898
Collateral	14,067,441	14,256,630
Restricted Cash	1,248,720	1,135,881
Secured Structured Financings | 2010 Private Issuance	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Balance	201,747	219,704
Initial Note Amounts Issued	516,000	516,000
Collateral	359,416	378,434
Restricted Cash	9,611	8,435
Secured Structured Financings | 2010 Private Issuance | Maximum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2011-06	'2011-06
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.29%	1.29%
Secured Structured Financings | 2011 Private Issuances	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Balance	554,257	662,138
Initial Note Amounts Issued	4,856,525	4,856,525
Collateral	796,959	908,304
Restricted Cash	39,216	36,449
Secured Structured Financings | 2011 Private Issuances | Minimum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.46%	1.46%
Secured Structured Financings | 2011 Private Issuances | Maximum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2018-12	'2018-12
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.80%	1.80%
Secured Structured Financings | 2012 Private Issuance	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Balance	22,256	30,526
Initial Note Amounts Issued	70,308	70,308
Collateral	26,678	35,378
Restricted Cash	2,763	3,016
Secured Structured Financings | 2012 Private Issuance | Maximum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2016-05	'2016-05
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.07%	1.07%
Secured Structured Financings | 2013 Private Issuance	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Balance	2,552,886	2,868,353
Initial Note Amounts Issued	2,693,754	2,693,754
Collateral	3,275,012	3,554,569
Restricted Cash	94,111	97,100
Secured Structured Financings | 2013 Private Issuance | Minimum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2018-09	'2018-09
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.13%	1.13%
Secured Structured Financings | 2013 Private Issuance | Maximum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2020-09	'2020-09
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.38%	1.38%
Secured Structured Financings | 2014 Private Issuance	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Balance	1,205,242	'
Initial Note Amounts Issued	1,232,251	'
Collateral	1,544,265	'
Restricted Cash	35,432	'
Secured Structured Financings | 2014 Private Issuance | Minimum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2018-03	'
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.15%	'
Secured Structured Financings | 2014 Private Issuance | Maximum	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	'2021-06	'
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.40%	'
Secured Structured Financings | Privately Issued Amortizing Notes	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Balance	4,536,388	3,780,721
Initial Note Amounts Issued	9,368,838	8,136,587
Collateral	6,002,330	4,876,685
Restricted Cash	$181,133	$145,000

Asset_Securitizations_Summary_

Asset Securitizations - Summary of Assets and Liabilities Related to VIEs (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Securitization Financial Asset For Which Transfer Is Accounted As Sale [Line Items]	'	'
Restricted cash	$1,830,392	$1,563,613
Retail installment contracts, net	21,087,173	20,219,609
Various other assets	521,693	410,305
Notes payable	9,573,726	8,099,773
Various other liabilities	97,771	102,163
Variable Interest Entities	'	'
Securitization Financial Asset For Which Transfer Is Accounted As Sale [Line Items]	'	'
Restricted cash	1,550,657	1,370,174
Retail installment contracts, net	19,910,992	19,166,392
Various other assets	3,695,594	2,564,902
Notes payable	25,514,661	23,810,950
Various other liabilities	$49,412	$25,682

Asset_Securitizations_Summary_1

Asset Securitizations - Summary of Cash Flows Received from On-Balance Sheet Securitization Trusts (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Securitization Financial Asset For Which Transfer Is Accounted As Sale [Line Items]	'	'
Receivables securitized	$3,316,248	$2,803,734
Net proceeds from new securitizations	2,734,093	2,450,000
Cash received for servicing fees	145,772	101,588
Cash received upon release from reserved and restricted cash accounts	749	3,419
Net distributions from Trusts	320,861	327,567
Total cash received from securitization trusts	$3,201,475	$2,882,574

Asset_Securitizations_Addition

Asset Securitizations - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Securitization Financial Asset For Which Transfer Is Accounted As Sale [Line Items]	'	'
Gross retail installment contracts transferred	$22,936,058	$21,935,874
Retail installment contracts gross	774,183	'
Gain on retail installment contracts	32,538	'
Chrysler Capital	'	'
Securitization Financial Asset For Which Transfer Is Accounted As Sale [Line Items]	'	'
Gross retail installment contracts transferred	$1,681,856	$1,017,756

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen2

Derivative Financial Instruments - Summary of Underlying Notional Amounts and Aggregate Fair Values (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Notional	$12,580,549	$10,461,378
Total return swap	250,594	'
Interest Rate Swap | Designated as Cash Flow Hedges	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Notional	5,142,500	3,873,000
Fair Value	-2,230	-5,686
Interest Rate Swap | Not Designated As Hedges	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Notional	3,237,133	3,444,459
Fair Value	-26,205	-31,360
Interest Rate Caps	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Notional	4,929,458	4,616,960
Fair Value	43,599	28,274
Options for Interest Rate Caps	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Notional	4,929,458	4,616,960
Fair Value	($43,680)	($28,389)

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen3

Derivative Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
		Warrant	Warrant
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Company pledged bonds retained in its own securitizations in exchange	$250,594	'	'
Variable rate of three-month LIBOR plus basis points	'75	'	'
Estimated fair value of warrant	'	$0	$0

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen4

Derivative Financial Instruments - Offsetting of Derivative Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Derivative Assets Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	'	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets	$46,666	$29,875
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	46,666	29,875
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	46,666	29,875
Derivative Assets Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	'	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Derivative Assets	'	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets	46,666	29,875
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	46,666	29,875
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	46,666	29,875
Financial Assets	'	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets	46,666	29,875
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	46,666	29,875
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	46,666	29,875
Derivative Liabilities Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	'	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	75,182	67,036
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	-48,186	-27,020
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	26,996	40,016
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	26,996	40,016
Derivative Liabilities Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement	'	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Derivative Liabilities	'	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	75,182	67,036
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	-48,186	-27,020
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	26,996	40,016
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	26,996	40,016
Financial Liabilities	'	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	75,182	67,036
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	-48,186	-27,020
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	26,996	40,016
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	26,996	40,016
Santander And Affiliates | Interest Rate Swap	'	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets	3,067	1,601
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	3,067	1,601
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	3,067	1,601
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	31,502	38,647
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	-9,707	-2,258
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	21,795	36,389
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	21,795	36,389
Santander And Affiliates | Interest Rate Caps	'	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets	27,018	9,342
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	27,018	9,342
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	27,018	9,342
Santander And Affiliates | Back To Back	'	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	27,018	9,342
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	-21,817	-9,342
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	5,201	'
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	5,201	'
Third Party | Interest Rate Caps	'	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets	16,581	18,932
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	16,581	18,932
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	16,581	18,932
Third Party | Back To Back	'	'
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	16,662	19,047
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	-16,662	-15,420
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	3,627
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	'
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	'	$3,627

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen5

Derivative Financial Instruments - Gross Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (Interest Rate Swap, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Designated as Cash Flow Hedges	'	'
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Gains (Losses) Recognized in Interest Expense	$138	'
Gross Gains (Losses) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	654	-505
Gross Gains (Losses) Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to Interest Expense	-2,664	-4,995
Not Designated As Hedges	'	'
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Gains (Losses) Recognized in Interest Expense	$5,189	$6,657

Other_Assets_Other_Assets_Deta

Other Assets - Other Assets (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Other Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Other assets	$521,693	$410,305
Upfront fee	'	'
Other Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Other assets	136,250	140,000
Inventory of repossessed vehicles	'	'
Other Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Other assets	137,648	129,323
Manufacturer subvention payments receivable	'	'
Other Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Other assets	111,075	55,579
Derivative Assets	'	'
Other Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Other assets	46,666	29,875
Indemnification payments recoverable	'	'
Other Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Other assets	8,603	8,603
Other	'	'
Other Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Other assets	$81,451	$46,925

Other_Assets_Other_Assets_Pare

Other Assets - Other Assets (Parenthetical) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Other Assets [Line Items]	'
Upfront fee	$150,000
Finance and other interest income amortization period	'10 years

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Income tax expense	$48,041	$152,798
Effective tax rate	37.10%	34.60%

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
				July Two Thousand Fifteen	July Two Thousand Seventeen	SBNA	SBNA	SBNA
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of outstanding	$0	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Letter of credit facility	500,000	500,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Letter of credit facility issued	0	0	'	'	'	'	'	'
Expiration of letter of credit facility commitments	31-Dec-14	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Unsecured revolving financing Initial term ending	30-Apr-20	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Commitment to sell loans	300,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Commitment to sell loans maturity Period	31-May-18	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Referral fee	'	'	'	'	'	9,000	'	'
Loan	'	'	'	'	'	'	347,247	202,494
Periodic retroactive adjustment	1,920	'	0	'	'	'	'	'
Indemnification of Leases	'	'	'	'	'	'	36,187	'
Purchase commitment	'Under terms of the new agreements, the Company has committed to purchase at least the lesser of $30,000 per month or 75% of the lending platform company’s near-prime originations through July 2015, and the lesser of $30,000 per month or 50% of the lending platform company’s near-prime originations thereafter through July 2017.	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Purchase commitment amount	'	'	'	$30,000	$30,000	'	'	'
Purchase commitment percent	'	'	'	75.00%	50.00%	'	'	'
Purchase commitment notice period	'90 days	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

RelatedParty_Transactions_Addi

Related-Party Transactions - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Dealer Loan Portfolio

Dealer Loan Portfolio

Serviced Auto Loan And Retail Installment

Serviced Auto Loan And Retail Installment

SHUSA

SBNA

SBNA

SBNA

Produban Servicios Informaticos Generales S.L

Produban Servicios Informaticos Generales S.L

Serviced Auto Loan And Retail Installment

Serviced Auto Loan And Retail Installment

Class Of Stock [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest expense on line of credit

$24,874

$6,494

'

'

'

'

'

$363

'

'

'

'

'

Accrued interest expense on line of credit

10,119

'

11,435

'

'

'

'

213

'

'

'

'

'

Letter of credit fees

125

144

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Accrued fees on letter of credit

125

'

128

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Notional

12,580,549

'

10,461,378

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative instrument interest expenses

8,881

4,874

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Receivables sold

'

'

'

'

222,384

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Servicing fee income on receivables sold

'

'

'

1,265

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Servicing fees receivables

'

'

'

464

'

'

'

'

3,685

'

'

'

'

Servicing fees receivable

'

'

'

997

817

-661

3,163

'

94

865

6,214

'

'

Expenses incurred

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

22

38

Reimbursed expenses

$0

$381

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

RelatedParty_Transactions_Info

Related-Party Transactions - Information on Dealer Loan Portfolio (Details) (Dealer Loan Portfolio, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dealer Loan Portfolio	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Total serviced portfolio	$676,856	$513,684
Cash collections due to owner	8,830	6,941
Servicing fees receivable	$997	$817

RelatedParty_Transactions_Info1

Related-Party Transactions - Information on Serviced Auto Loan and Retail Installment Contract Portfolio (Details) (Serviced Auto Loan And Retail Installment, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Serviced Auto Loan And Retail Installment	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Total serviced portfolio	$1,096,905	$1,175,566
Cash collections due to owner	32,698	32,831
Servicing fees receivable (refundable)	$661	($3,163)

RelatedParty_Transactions_Info2

Related-Party Transactions - Information on Consumer Vehicle Lease Portfolio Portfolio (Details) (Consumer Vehicle Lease, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Consumer Vehicle Lease	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'
Total serviced portfolio	$241,878
Cash collections due to owner	260
Servicing fees receivable	4,780
Lease originations receivable	$16,123

Computation_of_Basic_and_Dilut2

Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Schedule Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'
Employee stock option awards excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount	28,000

Computation_of_Basic_and_Dilut3

Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share - Summary of Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Earnings per common share	'	'
Net income attributable to SCUSA	$81,466	$290,402
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding before restricted participating shares	347,517,891	346,164,763
Weighted average number of participating restricted common shares outstanding	584,000	'
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	348,101,891	346,164,763
Earnings per common share	$0.23	$0.84
Earnings per common share - assuming dilution	'	'
Net income attributable to SCUSA	$81,466	$290,402
Weighted average common shares (basic)	348,101,891	346,164,763
Effect of employee stock-based awards	8,223,000	'
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - assuming dilution	356,325,036	346,164,763
Earnings per common share - assuming dilution	$0.23	$0.84

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Summary of Fair Value Estimates, Methods and Assumptions (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$112,835	$10,531	$4,023	$70,887
Receivables held for sale	171,466	82,503	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	21,087,173	20,219,609	'	'
Unsecured Consumer Loans	1,000,545	954,189	'	'
Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment	108,200	94,745	'	'
Restricted cash	1,830,392	1,563,613	'	'
Notes payable — credit facilities	9,573,726	8,099,773	'	'
Balance	15,783,587	15,195,887	'	'
Estimated Fair Value	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	112,835	10,531	'	'
Receivables held for sale	176,425	83,344	'	'
Retail installment contracts held for investment, net	21,644,945	21,465,236	'	'
Unsecured Consumer Loans	1,071,108	1,187,286	'	'
Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment	108,200	94,745	'	'
Restricted cash	1,830,392	1,563,613	'	'
Notes payable — credit facilities	9,573,726	8,099,773	'	'
Balance	$15,924,794	$15,565,013	'	'

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru3

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Total Return Swap	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Total Return Swap	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Total Return Swap	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Total Return Swap	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Interest Rate Caps	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	43,599	28,274
Interest Rate Caps | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Interest Rate Caps | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	43,599	28,274
Interest Rate Caps | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Interest Rate Swap	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	570	'
Liabilities	26,775	31,360
Interest Rate Swap | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Interest Rate Swap | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	570	'
Liabilities	26,775	31,360
Interest Rate Swap | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Trading Options for Interest Rate Caps	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Liabilities	43,680	28,389
Trading Options for Interest Rate Caps | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Trading Options for Interest Rate Caps | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Liabilities	43,680	28,389
Trading Options for Interest Rate Caps | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Designated as Cash Flow Hedges	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	2,497	1,601
Liabilities	4,727	7,287
Designated as Cash Flow Hedges | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Designated as Cash Flow Hedges | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	2,497	1,601
Liabilities	4,727	7,287
Designated as Cash Flow Hedges | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Liabilities	'	'

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru4

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Nonrecurring Basis (Details) (Inventory of repossessed vehicles, USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets — repossessed vehicle inventory	$137,648	$129,323
TDRs that have subsequently defaulted (Note 3)	49,502	40,619
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets — repossessed vehicle inventory	'	'
TDRs that have subsequently defaulted (Note 3)	'	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets — repossessed vehicle inventory	137,648	129,323
TDRs that have subsequently defaulted (Note 3)	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Assets — repossessed vehicle inventory	'	'
TDRs that have subsequently defaulted (Note 3)	$49,502	$40,619

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Additio

Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 23, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013
					Omnibus Incentive Plan	Omnibus Incentive Plan
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common shares stock awards available for grant	'	'	29,000,000	'	583,890	'
Percentage of equity invested in the Company for the stock awards available for grant	'	'	8.50%	'	'	'
Expiration Period	'	'10 years	'	'	'	'
Common stock , shares issued	85,242,042	348,770,333	'	346,763,261	'	5,192,640
Employee benefits and share-based compensation	'	'	'	'	$604	'
Stock vesting period	'	'5 years	'	'	'5 years	'
Common stock , par value	$24	$0.01	'	$0.01	'	'
Stock compensation expense	117,770	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based compensation to executives	'	33,845	'	'	'	'
Common stock, shares held in employee trust	'	$15,210	'	'	'	'

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Summary

Employee Benefit Plans - Summary of Stock Options and Related Activity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Options outstanding, shares	'	'
Options outstanding, Beginning balance	23,910,062	'
Granted	1,434,834	'
Exercised	-2,816,093	'
Expired	'	'
Forfeited	-333,177	'
Options outstanding, Ending balance	22,195,626	23,910,062
Options exercisable, Ending balance	15,745,500	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	'	'
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price, Beginning balance	$9.81	'
Granted	$24.03	'
Exercised	$9.55	'
Expired	'	'
Forfeited	$9.91	'
Options outstanding, Weighted average exercise price, Ending balance	$10.76	$9.81
Options exercisable, Weighted average exercise price, Ending balance	$9.87	'
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)	'	'
Options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term (Years)	'7 years 10 months 24 days	'8 years
Options exercisable, weighted average remaining contractual term (Years)	'7 years 9 months 18 days	'
Aggregate Intrinsic Value	'	'
Aggregate intrinsic value, Exercised	($40,918)	'
Options outstanding, aggregate intrinsic value	295,677	'
Options exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	$223,821	'

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Summary of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning balance	($2,853)	($9,164)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	412	-1,454
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	1,676	2,832
Ending balance	-765	-7,786
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning balance	-2,853	-12,416
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	412	-319
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	1,676	3,153
Ending balance	-765	-9,582
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments available for sale	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning balance	'	3,252
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	'	-1,135
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	'	-321
Ending balance	'	$1,796

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv3

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Reclassification of Amounts Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income On Derivatives [Line Items]	'	'
Tax expense (benefit)	($48,041)	($152,798)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income On Derivatives [Line Items]	'	'
Tax expense (benefit)	-988	-1,842
Net of tax	1,676	3,153
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges | Interest Expense | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income On Derivatives [Line Items]	'	'
Settlements of derivatives	2,664	4,995
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments available for sale | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income On Derivatives [Line Items]	'	'
Tax expense (benefit)	'	187
Net of tax	'	-321
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments available for sale | Interest Expense | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'	'
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income On Derivatives [Line Items]	'	'
Discount accretion	'	($508)

Subsequent_Events_Additional_I

Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Details) (Subsequent Event, USD $)	1 Months Ended
	2-May-14
Subsequent Event	'
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'
Cash dividend declared per share	$0.15
Dividend declared date	1-May-14
Dividend declared payment date	30-May-14
Dividend declared payment record date	12-May-14