Santander Consumer USA (SC) 10-Q 29 Apr 15 2015 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Apr. 21, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-15
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	1580608
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		349,987,627

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$26,952	$33,157
Finance receivables held for sale	1,045,869	46,585
Finance receivables held for investment, net	24,650,372	23,915,551
Restricted cash - $42,570 and $44,805 held for affiliates, respectively	2,687,304	1,920,857
Accrued interest receivable	353,121	364,676
Leased vehicles, net	5,042,419	4,862,783
Furniture and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $48,996 and $45,768, respectively	45,353	41,218
Federal, state and other income taxes receivable	124,545	502,035
Related party taxes receivable	0	459
Deferred tax asset	19,367	21,244
Goodwill	74,056	74,056
Intangible assets	53,590	53,682
Due from affiliates	90,351	102,457
Other assets	452,272	403,416
Total assets	34,665,571	32,342,176
Liabilities:
Notes payable — credit facilities	7,338,550	6,402,327
Notes payable — secured structured financings	18,000,121	17,718,974
Notes payable — related party	4,375,000	3,690,000
Accrued interest payable	19,175	17,432
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	366,707	315,130
Federal, state and other income taxes payable	6,856	319
Deferred tax liabilities, net	509,428	492,303
Due to affiliates	47,812	48,688
Other liabilities	151,441	98,654
Total liabilities	30,815,090	28,783,827
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 5 and 10)
Equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value — 1,100,000,000 shares authorized; 350,010,317 and 349,029,766 shares issued and 349,958,176 and 348,977,625 shares outstanding, respectively	3,500	3,490
Additional paid-in capital	1,576,234	1,560,519
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-9,290	3,553
Retained earnings	2,280,037	1,990,787
Total stockholders’ equity	3,850,481	3,558,349
Total liabilities and equity	$34,665,571	$32,342,176

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Restricted cash held for affiliates	$42,570	$44,805
Accumulated depreciation	$48,996	$45,768
Common stock , par value (in usd per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock , shares authorized	1,100,000,000	1,100,000,000
Common stock , shares issued	350,010,317	349,029,766
Common stock , shares outstanding	349,958,176	348,977,625

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Interest on finance receivables and loans	$1,230,002	$1,140,329
Leased vehicle income	332,946	147,123
Other finance and interest income	7,341	250
Total finance and other interest income	1,570,289	1,287,702
Interest expense — Including $44,016 and $34,243 to affiliates, respectively	148,856	124,446
Leased vehicle expense	273,064	120,069
Net finance and other interest income	1,148,369	1,043,187
Provision for credit losses	605,981	698,594
Net finance and other interest income after provision for credit losses	542,388	344,593
Profit sharing	13,516	32,161
Net finance and other interest income after provision for credit losses and profit sharing	528,872	312,432
Investment gains, net	21,247	35,814
Servicing fee income — Including $5,024 and $2,224 from affiliates, respectively	24,803	10,405
Fees, commissions, and other — Including $5,849 and $3,910 from affiliates, respectively	101,133	89,304
Total other income	147,183	135,523
Salary and benefits expense	100,540	201,915
Repossession expense	58,826	48,431
Other operating costs — Including $371 and $295 to affiliates, respectively	86,013	68,102
Total operating expenses	245,379	318,448
Income before income taxes	430,676	129,507
Income tax expense	141,426	48,041
Net income	289,250	81,466
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of tax of $7,622 and $1,230	-12,843	2,088
Comprehensive income	$276,407	$83,554
Net income per common share (basic) (in usd per share)	$0.83	$0.23
Net income per common share (diluted) (in usd per share)	$0.81	$0.23
Weighted average common shares (basic)	349,421,960	348,101,891
Weighted average common shares (diluted)	356,654,466	356,325,036

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Interest expense to affiliates	$44,016	$34,243
Servicing fee income to affiliates	5,024	2,224
Fees, commissions and other to affiliates	5,849	3,910
Other operating costs to affiliates	371	295
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, tax	($7,622)	($1,230)

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (Unaudited) (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$2,686,832	$3,468	$1,409,463	($2,853)	$1,276,754
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013		346,760,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued in connection with employee incentive compensation plans, shares		2,007,000
Stock issued in connection with employee incentive compensation plans	16,410	20	16,390
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		348,767,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	3,558,349	3,490	1,560,519	3,553	1,990,787
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	348,977,625	348,978,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued in connection with employee incentive compensation plans, shares		980,000
Stock issued in connection with employee incentive compensation plans	11,650	10	11,640
Stock-based compensation expense	4,075		4,075
Net income	289,250				289,250
Other comprehensive income, net of taxes	-12,843			-12,843
Balance at Mar. 31, 2015	$3,850,481	$3,500	$1,576,234	($9,290)	$2,280,037
Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2015	349,958,176	349,958,000

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$289,250	$81,466
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Derivative mark to market	2,429	-5,058
Provision for credit losses	605,981	698,594
Depreciation and amortization	297,521	139,158
Accretion of discount, net of amortization of capitalized origination costs	-234,055	-197,943
Originations and purchases of receivables held for sale	-720,145	-1,267,304
Proceeds from sales of and repayments on receivables held for sale	537,462	1,187,745
Investment gains, net	-21,247	-35,814
Stock-based compensation	4,075	121,222
Deferred tax expense (benefit)	24,463	-27,128
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accrued interest receivable	6,512	2,176
Accounts receivable	-3,726	2,161
Federal income tax and other taxes	388,718	76,185
Other assets	7,063	-5,536
Accrued interest payable	1,744	1,379
Other liabilities	62,587	106,364
Due to/from affiliates	-5,435	-26,325
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,243,197	851,342
Cash flows from investing activities:
Originations of and disbursements on finance receivables held for investment	-4,986,961	-4,361,549
Collections on finance receivables held for investment	2,537,187	2,264,848
Proceeds from sale of loans held for investment	407,470	554,060
Leased vehicles purchased	-1,135,171	-1,212,312
Manufacturer incentives received	219,419	217,457
Proceeds from sale of leased vehicles	586,664	11,089
Change in revolving personal loans	-4,237	13,493
Purchases of furniture and equipment	-4,844	-7,443
Sales of furniture and equipment	188	714
Change in restricted cash	-766,447	-266,779
Other investing activities	-1,533	-4,391
Net cash used in investing activities	-3,148,265	-2,790,813
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from notes payable related to secured structured financings — net of debt issuance costs	3,056,950	2,734,093
Payments on notes payable related to secured structured financings	-2,780,640	-2,149,907
Proceeds from unsecured notes payable	1,690,000	1,740,000
Payments on unsecured notes payable	-1,005,000	-1,325,000
Proceeds from notes payable	6,195,553	6,721,716
Payments on notes payable	-5,259,330	-5,662,762
Proceeds from stock option exercises, gross	9,161	13,071
Repurchase of stock - employee tax withholding	-164	-5,908
Cash collateral posted on cash flow hedges	-7,667	-23,528
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,898,863	2,041,775
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-6,205	102,304
Cash — Beginning of period	33,157	10,531
Cash — End of period	26,952	112,835
Noncash investing and financing transactions:
Transfer of retail installment contracts to repossessed vehicles	$415,983	$361,732

Description_of_Business_Basis_

Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Significant Accounting Policies and Practices	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Significant Accounting Policies and Practices	Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Significant Accounting Policies and Practices
	Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., a Delaware Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “SCUSA” or “the Company”), is the holding company for Santander Consumer USA Inc., an Illinois corporation, and subsidiaries, a specialized consumer finance company focused on vehicle finance and personal lending products. 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 the Chrysler Agreement, a ten-year private label financing agreement with Chrysler Group 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, the Company has several relationships through which it provides personal loans, private label credit cards and other consumer finance products.
	As of March 31, 2015, the Company was owned approximately 60.3% by SHUSA, a subsidiary of Santander, approximately 29.6% by public shareholders, approximately 10.0% by DDFS LLC, an entity affiliated with Thomas G. Dundon, the Company’s Chairman and CEO and approximately 0.1% by other holders, primarily members of senior management.
	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, including certain Trusts, which are considered VIEs. The Company also 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, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP 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. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed on March 2, 2015.
	Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation; specifically, retail installment contracts held for investment, personal loans, receivables from dealers, and capital lease receivables, which previously were reported as separate line items in the condensed consolidated balance sheet, now are reported in aggregate in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as finance receivables held for investment, with disclosure of the components in Note 2 – Finance Receivables and Note 3 – Leases. Additionally, related-party assets and liabilities, which previously were disclosed separately within certain line items in the condensed consolidated balance sheet, are now reported as separate line items in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The classification of related-party assets and liabilities reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is as follows:
	Related-Party Assets and Liabilities Classification as of
	March 31, 2015	December 31, 2014
	Related party taxes receivable	Federal, state and other income taxes receivable
	Due from affiliates	Other assets
	Notes payable – related party	Notes payable – credit facilities
	Related party taxes payable	Federal, state and other income taxes payable
	Due to affiliates	Accrued interest payable
		Accounts payable and accrued expenses
		Other liabilities
	The reclassifications in the condensed consolidated balance sheets also are reflected in the corresponding categories in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that 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 credit 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 marine vehicles. It also includes the Company’s personal loan and point-of-sale financing operations.
	Accounting Policies
	The Company has identified the following significant accounting policies and estimates used by management in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements: finance receivables (which includes retail installment contracts, personal loans, receivables from dealers and capital lease receivables), provision for credit losses, leased vehicles, income taxes, and earnings per share. As of March 31, 2015, there have been no significant changes to the Company's accounting policies as disclosed in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014.
	Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
	In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-11, Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures. The standard requires entities to account for repurchase-to-maturity transactions as secured borrowings, eliminates accounting guidance on linked repurchase financing transactions, and expands disclosure requirements related to certain transfers of financial assets that are accounted for as secured borrowings. This guidance became effective for the Company January 1, 2015 and implementation did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which provides guidance on a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. This guidance currently is scheduled to become effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016; however, the FASB recently proposed a one-year deferral of the effective date, subject to due process. The Company does not expect the adoption to have a material impact to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
	In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award That a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. This standard affects entities that issue share-based payments when the terms of an award stipulate that a performance target could be achieved after an employee completes the requisite service period. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
	In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-01, Income Statement - Extraordinary and Unusual Items. This standard simplifies income statement classification by removing the concept of extraordinary items from U.S. GAAP, and as a result, items that are both unusual and infrequent no longer will be separately reported net of tax after continuing operations. This guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company does not expect the adoption to have a material impact to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
	In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. This ASU changes the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. This guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impacts of the adoption of this ASU.
	In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Imputation of Interest. This ASU requires that debt issuance costs, as well as discounts arising from the imputation of interest, be recorded as part of the basis of the related note, rather than as a separate asset or liability. The guidance should be applied retrospectively and will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015. The Company does not expect the adoption to have a material impact to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Finance_Receivables

Finance Receivables	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Receivables [Abstract]
Finance Receivables	Finance Receivables
	Finance receivables held for investment includes individually acquired retail installment contracts and loans, purchased receivables portfolios, and capital leases (see Note 3). The Company's portfolio of individually acquired retail installment contracts and loans held for investment was comprised of the following at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		March 31, 2015
		Retail Installment Contracts			Receivables from			Personal Loans
		Acquired			Dealers Held
		Individually			for Investment
	Unpaid principal balance	25,506,977			102,410			2,115,496
	Credit loss allowance (Note 4)	(2,822,712		)	(1,130		)	(352,878		)
	Discount	(606,576		)	—			(1,972		)
	Capitalized origination costs and fees	43,663			—			1,291
	Net carrying balance	$	22,121,352		$	101,280		$	1,761,937
		December 31, 2014
		Retail Installment Contracts			Receivables from			Personal Loans
		Acquired			Dealers Held
		Individually			for Investment
	Unpaid principal balance	$	24,555,106		$	100,164		$	2,128,769
	Credit loss allowance (Note 4)	(2,726,338		)	(674		)	(348,660		)
	Discount	(597,862		)	—			(1,356		)
	Capitalized origination costs and fees	39,680			—			1,024
	Net carrying balance	$	21,270,586		$	99,490		$	1,779,777
	Purchased receivables portfolios, which were acquired with deteriorated credit quality, were comprised of the following at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		March 31, 2015			December 31, 2014
	Unpaid principal balance	$	687,590		$	846,355
	Outstanding recorded investment	$	720,731		$	873,134
	Less: Impairment	(183,537		)	(189,275		)
	Outstanding recorded investment, net of impairment	$	537,194		$	683,859
	As of March 31, 2015, retail installment contracts and receivables from dealers held for sale totaled $1,044,781 and $1,088, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, retail installment contracts and receivables from dealers held for sale totaled $45,424 and $1,161, respectively. Sales of retail installment contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 included principal balance amounts of $919,078 and $1,685,723, respectively. The Company retains servicing of sold retail installment contracts and was servicing $7,498,092 and $7,372,884 as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, of contracts sold to unrelated third parties. Proceeds from sales of charged off assets for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were $38,376 and zero, respectively.
	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 5). Most of the creditors on the Company’s retail installment contracts are retail consumers; however, $876,888 and $816,100 of the unpaid principal balance represented fleet contracts with commercial borrowers as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.
	Borrowers on the Company’s retail installment contracts held for investment are located in Texas (18%), Florida (11%), California (9%), Georgia (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 with a third-party vehicle dealer and lender that operates in multiple states. The loan allowed committed borrowings of $50,000 at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and the unpaid principal balance of the facility was $50,000 at each of those dates. The term loan will mature on December 31, 2018.
	The remaining receivables from dealers held for investment are all Chrysler-related. Borrowers on these Chrysler dealer receivables are located in Ohio (31%), Virginia (21%), California (15%), New York (13%), Tennessee (8%), Louisiana (6%), and other states each individually representing less than 5% of the Company’s total.
	Borrowers on the Company’s personal loans are located in California (11%), New York (8%), Texas (8%), Florida (7%), 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
		March 31, 2015			March 31, 2014
	Balance — beginning of period	$	264,416		$	403,400
	Additions (loans acquired during the period)	—			—
	Accretion of accretable yield	(26,905		)	(65,046		)
	Reclassifications from nonaccretable difference	6,144			24,469
	Balance — end of period	$	243,655		$	362,823
	During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, 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.

Leases

Leases	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Leases [Abstract]
Leases	Leases
	The Company has both operating and capital leases, which are separately accounted for and recorded on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. Operating leases are reported as leased vehicles, net, while capital leases are included in finance receivables held for investment, net.
	Operating Leases
	Leased vehicles, net, which is comprised of leases originated under the Chrysler Agreement, consisted of the following as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		March 31,			December 31,
		2015			2014
	Leased vehicles	$	6,687,042		$	6,309,096
	Origination fees and other costs	7,704			4,190
	Manufacturer subvention payments	(660,638		)	(645,874		)
		6,034,108			5,667,412
	Less: accumulated depreciation	(991,689		)	(804,629		)
		$	5,042,419		$	4,862,783
	On March 31, 2015, the Company executed a bulk sale of Chrysler Capital leases with a depreciated net capitalized cost of $561,334 and a net book value of $488,919 to a third party. SCUSA retained servicing on the sold leases. Due to the accelerated depreciation permitted for tax purposes, this sale generated a large taxable gain that the Company has deferred through a qualified like-kind exchange program. In order to qualify for this deferral, the proceeds from the sale (along with the proceeds from recent lease terminations for which the Company also intends to defer the taxable gain) are held in a qualified exchange account, which is classified as restricted cash, until reinvested in new lease originations.
	The following summarizes the future minimum rental payments due to the Company as lessor under operating leases as of March 31, 2015:
	Remainder of 2015	$	752,063
	2016	869,056
	2017	405,463
	2018	40,153
	2019	56
	Thereafter	4
	Total	$	2,066,795
	Capital Leases
	Certain leases originated by the Company are accounted for as capital leases, as the contractual residual values are nominal amounts. Capital lease receivables, net consisted of the following as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		March 31,			December 31,
		2015			2014
	Gross investment in capital leases	$	212,898		$	137,543
	Origination fees and other	164			78
	Less unearned income	(69,271		)	(46,193		)
	Net investment in capital leases before allowance	143,791			91,428
	Less: allowance for lease losses	(15,182		)	(9,589		)
	Net investment in capital leases	$	128,609		$	81,839
	The following summarizes the future minimum lease payments due to the Company as lessor under capital leases as of March 31, 2015:
	Remainder of 2015	$	38,906
	2016	51,876
	2017	51,826
	2018	50,628
	2019	19,661
	Thereafter	1
	Total	$	212,898

Credit_Loss_Allowance_and_Cred

Credit Loss Allowance and Credit Quality	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Loans and Leases Receivable, Allowance [Abstract]
Credit Loss Allowance and Credit Quality	Credit Loss Allowance and Credit Quality
	Credit Loss Allowance
	The Company estimates credit losses on individually acquired retail installment contracts and personal 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 credit loss allowance for receivables from dealers based on risk ratings, and individually evaluates the loans for specific impairment as necessary. The credit loss allowance for receivables from dealers is comprised entirely of general allowances as none of these receivables have been determined to be individually impaired.
	The activity in the credit loss allowance for individually acquired loans for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2015											Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		Retail Installment				Receivables				Personal Loans			Retail Installment			Receivables			Personal Loans
		Contracts				from Dealers Held							Contracts			from Dealers Held
		Acquired				for Investment							Acquired			for Investment
		Individually											Individually
	Balance — beginning of period	$	2,726,338			$	674			$	348,660		$	2,132,634		$	1,090		$	179,350
	Provision for credit losses	507,148				456				97,703			656,706			(55		)	62,129
	Charge-offs	(926,993		)		—				(99,690		)	(752,565		)	—			(40,948		)
	Recoveries	543,336				—				6,205			407,777			—			2,659
	Transfers to held-for-sale	(27,117		)		—				—			—			—			—
	Balance — end of period	$	2,822,712			$	1,130			$	352,878		$	2,444,552		$	1,035		$	203,190
	The impairment activity related to purchased receivables portfolios for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2015				2014
	Balance — beginning of period	$	188,639			$	226,356
	Incremental provisions for purchased receivables portfolios	300				1,325
	Incremental reversal of provisions for purchased receivables portfolios	(5,402		)		(21,511		)
	Balance — end of period	$	183,537			$	206,170
	The Company estimates lease losses on the capital lease receivable portfolio based on delinquency status, loss experience to date, and consideration of similarity between this portfolio and individually acquired retail installment contracts as well as various economic factors. The activity in the lease loss allowance for capital leases for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was as follows:
	Balance — beginning of period	$	9,589
	Provision for lease losses	5,776
	Charge-offs	(1,997		)
	Recoveries	1,814
	Balance — end of period	$	15,182
	Delinquencies
	Retail installment contracts and personal amortizing term loans are classified as non-performing when they are greater than 60 days past due as to contractual principal or interest payments. Dealer receivables are classified as non-performing when they are greater than 90 days past due. At the time a loan is placed in non-performing status, previously accrued and uncollected interest is reversed against interest income. If an account is returned to a performing status, the Company returns to accruing interest on the contract. The accrual of interest on revolving personal loans continues until the loan is charged off. A summary of delinquencies as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is as follows:
		March 31, 2015
		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment											Personal
		Loans				Purchased				Total			Loans
		Acquired				Receivables
		Individually				Portfolios
	Principal, 31-60 days past due	$	1,716,139			$	83,607			$	1,799,746		$	58,389
	Delinquent principal over 60 days	729,274				43,414				772,688			140,636
	Total delinquent principal	$	2,445,413			$	127,021			$	2,572,434		$	199,025
		December 31, 2014
		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment											Personal
		Loans				Purchased				Total			Loans
		Acquired				Receivables
		Individually				Portfolios
	Principal, 31-60 days past due	$	2,319,203			$	131,634			$	2,450,837		$	52,452
	Delinquent principal over 60 days	1,030,580				72,473				1,103,053			138,400
	Total delinquent principal	$	3,349,783			$	204,107			$	3,553,890		$	190,852
	The balances in the above tables reflect total principal rather than net investment; the difference is considered insignificant. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, no receivables from dealers were 31 days or more delinquent.
	As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there were no receivables from dealers or receivables held for sale that were non-performing. Delinquencies on the capital lease portfolio, which began in 2014, were immaterial as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
	FICO® Distribution — A summary of the credit risk profile of the Company’s consumer loans by FICO® distribution, determined at origination, as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was as follows:
	March 31, 2015
	FICO Band		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment (a)		Personal Loans (b)
	<540		28.10%		3.20%
	540-599		34.20%		19.20%
	600-639		20.50%		21.10%
	>640		17.20%		56.50%
	December 31, 2014
	FICO Band		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment (a)		Personal Loans (b)
	<540		26.40%		3.30%
	540-599		32.60%		20.10%
	600-639		20.50%		21.40%
	>640		20.50%		55.20%
	(a)	Excluded from the FICO distribution is $3,414,726 and $2,945,297 as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, as the borrowers on these loans did not have FICO scores at origination.
	(b)	Excluded from the FICO distribution is an insignificant amount of loans to borrowers that did not have FICO scores at origination.
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.
As discussed in Note 2, the Company has $876,888 of fleet retail installment contracts with commercial consumers. The Company's risk department performs a commercial analysis and classifies certain loans over an internal threshold based on the classifications above. As of March 31, 2015, $908 of fleet loans were classified as Special Mention; the remaining fleet portfolio borrowers with balances over the classification threshold all were classified as Pass.
Commercial loan credit quality indicators for receivables from dealers held for investment as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows:
	March 31,				December 31,
	2015				2014
Pass	$	98,087			$	97,903
Special Mention	4,323				2,261
Substandard	—				—
Doubtful	—				—
Loss	—				—
	$	102,410			$	100,164
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 of future cash flows, or a combination thereof. A modification of finance receivable terms is considered a TDR if the Company grants a concession to a borrower for economic or legal reasons related to the debtor’s financial difficulties that 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. Additionally, restructurings through bankruptcy proceedings are deemed to be TDRs. For personal loans, restructurings due to credit counseling or hardship also are considered TDRs. The purchased receivables portfolio and operating and capital leases are excluded from the scope of the applicable guidance. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there were no receivables from dealers classified as a TDR.
The table below presents the Company’s TDRs as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
	March 31, 2015								December 31, 2014
	Retail Installment Contracts				Personal Loans				Retail Installment Contracts			Personal Loans
Outstanding recorded investment	$	4,616,216			$	17,261			$	4,207,037		$	17,356
Impairment	(878,278		)		(6,904		)		(797,240		)	(6,939		)
Outstanding recorded investment, net of impairment	$	3,737,938			$	10,357			$	3,409,797		$	10,417
A summary of the Company’s delinquent TDRs at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, is as follows:
	March 31, 2015								December 31, 2014
	Retail Installment Contracts				Personal Loans				Retail Installment Contracts			Personal Loans
Principal, 31-60 days past due	$	819,597			$	1,685			$	929,095		$	1,595
Delinquent principal over 60 days	400,790				5,245				515,235			5,131
Total delinquent TDR principal	$	1,220,387			$	6,930			$	1,444,330		$	6,726
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 returns 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
	March 31, 2015								March 31, 2014
	Retail Installment Contracts				Personal Loans				Retail Installment Contracts			Personal Loans
Average outstanding recorded investment in TDRs	$	3,573,868			$	10,387			$	2,707,637		$	8,996
Interest income recognized	$	196,976			$	589			$	120,451		$	329
TDR Impact on Allowance for Credit Losses
For loans not classified as TDRs, the Company generally estimates an appropriate allowance for credit losses 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, it is assessed for impairment based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's original effective interest rate considering all available evidence.
The following table summarizes the financial effects of TDRs that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2015								March 31, 2014
	Retail Installment Contracts				Personal Loans				Retail Installment Contracts			Personal Loans
Outstanding recorded investment before TDR	$	875,809			$	5,394			$	624,009		$	11,495
Outstanding recorded investment after TDR	$	874,371			$	5,356			$	581,053		$	11,336
Number of contracts	52,319				4,468				39,229			14,829
A TDR is considered to have subsequently defaulted upon charge off, which for retail installment contracts is at the earlier of the date of repossession or 120 days past due and for revolving personal loans is generally the month in which the receivable becomes 180 days past due. Loan restructurings accounted for as TDRs within the previous twelve months that subsequently defaulted during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 are summarized in the following table:
	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2015						March 31, 2014
	Retail Installment Contracts				Personal Loans		Retail Installment Contracts				Personal Loans
Recorded investment in TDRs that subsequently defaulted	$	158,518			$1,411		$	11,389			(a)
Number of contracts	11,654				1,411		1,348				(a)
(a)	Subsequent defaults on personal loan TDRs were insignificant for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Debt

Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	Debt
	Revolving Credit Facilities
	The following table presents information regarding credit facilities as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		March 31, 2015
		Maturity Date(s)	Utilized Balance		Committed Amount		Effective Rate	Assets Pledged		Restricted Cash Pledged
	Warehouse line	Jun-15	$	388,435	$	500,000	0.98%	$	558,135	$	—
	Warehouse line (a)	Various	890,965		1,247,302		1.00%	1,305,875		32,484
	Warehouse line (b)	Jun-16	2,465,041		4,300,000		0.93%	3,719,820		85,180
	Warehouse line	Dec-16	1,575,977		2,500,000		1.05%	2,222,916		46,853
	Warehouse line	Jul-15	—		500,000		—	—		—
	Warehouse line (c)	Sep-15	199,980		200,000		2.00%	351,512		15,926
	Repurchase facility (d)	Various	892,571		892,571		1.64%	—		32,936
	Warehouse line (e)	Mar-16	—		750,000		—	—		—
	Warehouse line (f)	Nov-16	175,000		175,000		1.73%	—		—
	Warehouse line (c)	Oct-16	249,987		250,000		2.05%	308,279		19,139
	Warehouse line (f)	Nov-16	250,000		250,000		1.73%	—		2,500
	Repurchase facility (g)	May-15	250,594		250,594		1.02%	—		—
	Total facilities with third parties		7,338,550		11,815,467			8,466,537		235,018
	Lines of credit with Santander and related subsidiaries (h):
	Line of credit	Dec-16	500,000		500,000		2.47%	1,074		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18	250,000		500,000		3.23%	—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-16	1,750,000		1,750,000		2.36%	—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18	1,575,000		1,750,000		2.82%	7,076		—
	Line of credit	Mar-17	300,000		300,000		1.72%	—		—
	Total facilities with Santander and related subsidiaries		4,375,000		4,800,000			8,150		—
	Total revolving credit facilities		$	11,713,550	$	16,615,467		$	8,474,687	$	235,018
	(a)	Half of the outstanding balance on this facility matures in April 2015 and half in March 2016. On April 20, 2015, this facility was extended such that half matures in March 2016 and half matures in March 2017.
	(b)	This line is held exclusively for Chrysler Capital retail loan and lease financing.
	(c)	This line is held exclusively for personal term loans.
	(d)	The repurchase facility is collateralized by securitization notes payable retained by the Company. This facility has rolling 30-day and 90-day maturities.
	(e)	On April 1, 2015, the maturity date of this facility was extended to March 2017.
	(f)	This line is collateralized by residuals retained by the Company.
	(g)	This line is collateralized by securitization notes payable retained by the Company.
	(h)	These lines are also collateralized by securitization notes payable and residuals retained by the Company. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, $2,680,814 and $2,152,625, respectively, of the aggregate outstanding balances on these facilities were unsecured.
		December 31, 2014
		Maturity Date(s)	Utilized Balance		Committed Amount		Effective Rate	Assets Pledged		Restricted Cash Pledged
	Warehouse line	Jun-15	$	243,736	$	500,000	1.17%	$	344,822	$	—
	Warehouse line	Various	397,452		1,244,318		1.26%	589,529		20,661
	Warehouse line	Jun-16	2,201,511		4,300,000		0.98%	3,249,263		65,414
	Warehouse line	Jun-16	1,051,777		2,500,000		1.06%	1,481,135		28,316
	Warehouse line	Jul-15	—		500,000		—	—		—
	Warehouse line	Sep-15	199,980		200,000		1.96%	351,755		13,169
	Repurchase facility	Various	923,225		923,225		1.63%	—		34,184
	Warehouse line	Dec-15	468,565		750,000		0.93%	641,709		16,467
	Warehouse line	Nov-16	175,000		175,000		1.71%	—		—
	Warehouse line	Oct-16	240,487		250,000		2.02%	299,195		17,143
	Warehouse line	Nov-16	250,000		250,000		1.71%	—		2,500
	Warehouse line	Mar-15	250,594		250,594		0.98%	—		—
	Total facilities with third parties		6,402,327		11,843,137			6,957,408		197,854
	Lines of credit with Santander and related subsidiaries:
	Line of credit	Dec-16	500,000		500,000		2.46%	1,340		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18	—		500,000		—	—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-16	1,750,000		1,750,000		2.33%	—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18	1,140,000		1,750,000		2.85%	9,701		—
	Line of credit	Mar-17	300,000		300,000		1.71%	—		—
	Total facilities with Santander and related subsidiaries		3,690,000		4,800,000			11,041		—
	Total revolving credit facilities		$	10,092,327	$	16,643,137		$	6,968,449	$	197,854
	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), leased vehicles (Note 3), securitization notes payables and residuals retained by the Company.
	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 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 December 31, 2018, respectively. 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, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
	March 31, 2015
	Original Estimated Maturity Date(s)	Balance		Initial Note Amounts Issued		Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	Collateral		Restricted Cash
2011 Securitizations	June 2016 -September 2017	$	340,146	$	3,536,550	1.21% - 2.02%	$	591,769	$	118,104
2012 Securitizations	November 2017 - December 2018	1,963,264		8,023,840		0.92% - 1.68%	2,622,237		325,228
2013 Securitizations	January 2019 - January 2021	3,031,810		6,689,700		0.89% - 1.59%	3,762,550		334,321
2014 Securitizations	August 2018 - January 2021	4,579,011		6,800,420		1.16% - 1.72%	5,553,720		403,805
2015 Securitizations	April 2021 - July 2022	1,919,496		1,962,380		1.39% - 1.97%	2,346,548		119,978
Public securitizations (a)		11,833,727		27,012,890			14,876,824		1,301,436
2010 Private issuances (b)	Jun-11	156,859		516,000		1.29%	287,477		8,468
2011 Private issuances	Dec-18	701,700		1,700,000		1.46%	1,160,946		56,333
2012 Private issuances	May-16	2,698		70,308		1.07%	8,904		995
2013 Private issuances (c)	September 2018 - September 2020	2,487,845		2,693,754		1.13% - 1.38%	3,487,720		121,222
2014 Private issuances	November 2015 - December 2021	2,324,876		3,519,049		1.05% - 1.85%	3,177,351		120,187
2015 Private issuances	Mar-18	492,416		493,750		1.44%	692,871		15,601
Privately issued amortizing notes		6,166,394		8,992,861			8,815,269		322,806
Total secured structured financings		$	18,000,121	$	36,005,751		$	23,692,093	$	1,624,242
(a)	Securitizations executed under Rule 144A of the Securities Act are included within this balance.
(b)	This securitization was amended in May 2014 resulting in additional borrowings and an extended maturity date of May 2015.
(c)	In March 2015, the Company advanced an additional $609,571 on private issuances originally executed in 2013.
	December 31, 2014
	Original Estimated Maturity Date(s)	Balance		Initial Note Amounts Issued		Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	Collateral		Restricted Cash
2010 Securitizations	Nov-17	$	81,907	$	1,632,420	1.04%	$	234,706	$	58,740
2011 Securitizations	June 2016 - September 2017	421,315		3,536,550		1.21%-2.80%	699,875		115,962
2012 Securitizations	November 2017 - December 2018	2,296,687		8,023,840		0.92%-1.68%	3,006,426		318,373
2013 Securitizations	January 2019 - January 2021	3,426,242		6,689,700		0.89%-1.59%	4,231,006		320,182
2014 Securitizations	August 2018 - January 2021	5,211,346		6,800,420		1.16%-1.72%	6,173,229		370,790
Public securitizations (a)		11,437,497		26,682,930			14,345,242		1,184,047
2010 Private issuances	Jun-11	172,652		516,000		1.29%	303,361		8,009
2011 Private issuances	Dec-18	859,309		1,700,000		1.46%-1.80%	1,316,903		52,524
2012 Private issuances	May-16	5,682		70,308		1.07%	11,760		1,086
2013 Private issuances	September 2018 - September 2020	2,629,278		2,693,754		1.13%-1.38%	3,703,685		98,063
2014 Private issuances	November 2015 - December 2021	2,614,556		3,519,049		1.05%-1.85%	3,779,288		121,356
Privately issued amortizing notes		6,281,477		8,499,111			9,114,997		281,038
Total secured structured financings		$	17,718,974	$	35,182,041		$	23,460,239	$	1,465,085
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. The Company’s securitizations and private issuances generally are collateralized by vehicle retail installment contracts and loans; however, private issuances also may be collateralized by vehicle leases.
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. For securitizations, the term takes into consideration the expected execution of the contractual call option, if applicable. 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, 2015 and 2014 was $60,852 and $59,862, respectively.

Variable_Interest_Entities

Variable Interest Entities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Variable Interest Entity Disclosure [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entities	Variable Interest Entities
	The Company transfers retail installment contracts and leased vehicles into newly formed Trusts that then issue one or more classes of notes payable backed by the collateral. The Company’s continuing involvement with these Trusts is in the form of servicing the assets and, except for the Chrysler Capital securitizations, through holding residual interests in the Trusts. These transactions are structured without recourse. The Trusts are considered VIEs under U.S. GAAP and, except for Chrysler Capital securitizations, are consolidated because the Company has: (a) power over the significant activities of each entity as servicer of its financial assets and (b) through 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 each VIE which are potentially significant to the VIE. The Company does not retain any debt or equity interests in its Chrysler Capital securitizations, and records these transactions as sales of the associated retail installment contracts.
	Revolving credit facilities generally also utilize Trusts that are considered VIEs. The collateral, borrowings under credit facilities and securitization notes payable of the Company's consolidated VIEs remain on the condensed 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 credit 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 Company also uses a titling trust to originate and hold its leased vehicles and the associated leases, in order to facilitate the pledging of leases to financing facilities or the sale of leases to other parties without incurring the costs and administrative burden of retitling the leased vehicles. The titling trust, and each SUBI in the titling trust, such as those formed to facilitate the transfer of leased vehicles to financing facilities or other parties, is considered a VIE.
	On-balance sheet variable interest entities
	The following table summarizes the assets and liabilities related to VIEs included in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2015		2014
	Restricted cash	$	1,852,825	$	1,626,257
	Finance receivables held for investment, net	21,823,803		21,366,121
	Leased vehicles, net	5,042,419		4,862,783
	Various other assets	2,393,301		1,301,992
	Notes payable	29,695,230		27,796,999
	Various other liabilities	2,086		—
	Certain amounts shown above are greater than the amounts shown in the corresponding line items in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets due to intercompany eliminations between the VIEs and other entities consolidated by the Company. For example, for most of its securitizations, the Company retains one or more of the lowest tranches of bonds. Rather than showing investment in bonds as an asset and the associated debt as a liability, these amounts are eliminated in consolidation as required by U.S. GAAP.
	The Company retains servicing 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, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company was servicing $26,187,346 and $24,611,624, respectively, of gross retail installment contracts that have been transferred to consolidated Trusts. The remainder of the Company’s retail installment contracts remain unpledged.
	A summary of the cash flows received from consolidated securitization trusts during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, is as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2015		March 31, 2014
	Assets securitized	$	3,981,855	$	3,316,248
	Net proceeds from new securitizations (a)	$	3,060,862	$	2,734,093
	Cash received for servicing fees (b)	159,802		145,772
	Cash received upon release from reserved and restricted cash accounts (b)	—		749
	Net distributions from Trusts (b)	300,487		320,861
	Total cash received from Trusts	$	3,521,151	$	3,201,475
	(a)	Includes additional advances on existing securitizations.
	(b)	These amounts are not reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of cash flows because the cash flows are between the VIEs and other entities included in the consolidation.
	Off-balance sheet variable interest entities
	The Company has completed sales to VIEs that met sale accounting treatment in accordance with the applicable guidance. Due to the nature, purpose, and activity of the transactions, the Company determined for consolidation purposes that it either does not hold potentially significant variable interests or is not the primary beneficiary as a result of the Company's limited further involvement with the financial assets. For such transactions, the transferred financial assets are removed from the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. In certain situations, the Company remains the servicer of the financial assets and receives servicing fees that represent adequate compensation. The Company also recognizes a gain or loss for the difference between the cash proceeds and carrying value of the assets sold.
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company sold $774,183 of gross retail installment contracts to a VIE in an off-balance sheet securitization for a gain of $32,538. The Company executed no off-balance sheet securitizations during the three months ended March 31, 2015. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company was servicing $1,936,169 and $2,157,808, respectively, of gross retail installment contracts that have been sold in this and other off-balance sheet Chrysler Capital securitizations. Other than repurchases of sold assets due to standard representations and warranties, the Company has no exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with these VIEs.
	A summary of the cash flows received from off-balance sheet securitization trusts during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 is as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2015		March 31, 2014
	Receivables securitized	$	—	$	774,183
	Net proceeds from new securitizations	$	—	$	815,850
	Cash received for servicing fees	5,304		2,788
	Total cash received from securitization trusts	$	5,304	$	818,638

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen

Derivative Financial Instruments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivative Financial Instruments	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 order 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, 2015 and December 31, 2014, were as follows:
		March 31, 2015						December 31, 2014
		Notional			Fair Value			Notional			Fair Value
	Interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges	$	7,995,000		$	(16,415	)	$	8,020,000		$	3,827
	Interest rate swap agreements not designated as hedges	2,939,000			(14,767		)	3,206,000			(12,175		)
	Interest rate cap agreements	8,098,762			31,585			7,541,385			49,762
	Options for interest rate cap agreements	8,098,762			(31,614		)	7,541,385			(49,806		)
	Total return swap	250,594			(1,422		)	250,594			(1,736		)
	See Note 13 for additional disclosure of fair value and balance sheet location of the Company's derivative financial instruments.
	In March 2014, the Company entered into a financing arrangement with a third party whereby the Company pledged certain bonds retained in its own securitizations in exchange for $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 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 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, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
	The Company enters into legally enforceable master netting agreements that 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, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		Offsetting of Financial Assets
											Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
											Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
		Gross			Gross Amounts			Net Amounts of Assets Presented			Financial			Cash		Net
		Amounts of			Offset in the Condensed			in the			Instruments			Collateral		Amount
		Recognized			Consolidated			Condensed Consolidated						Received
		Assets			Balance Sheet			Balance Sheet
	March 31, 2015
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	$	111		$	—		$	111		$	—		$	—	$	111
	Interest rate swaps - third party	—			—			—			—			—		—
	Interest rate caps - Santander & affiliates	22,310			—			22,310			—			—		22,310
	Interest rate caps - third party	9,275			—			9,275			—			—		9,275
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	31,696			—			31,696			—			—		31,696
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	—			—			—			—			—		—
	Total derivative assets	$	31,696		$	—		$	31,696		$	—		$	—	$	31,696
	Total financial assets	$	31,696		$	—		$	31,696		$	—		$	—	$	31,696
	December 31, 2014
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	$	5,208		$	—		$	5,208		$	—		$	—	$	5,208
	Interest rate swaps - third party	2,946			—			2,946			—			—		2,946
	Interest rate caps - Santander & affiliates	35,602			—			35,602			—			—		35,602
	Interest rate caps - third party	14,160			—			14,160			—			—		14,160
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	57,916			—			57,916			—			—		57,916
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	—			—			—			—			—		—
	Total derivative assets	$	57,916		$	—		$	57,916		$	—		$	—	$	57,916
	Total financial assets	$	57,916		$	—		$	57,916		$	—		$	—	$	57,916
		Offsetting of Financial Liabilities
											Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
											Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
		Gross			Gross Amounts			Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented			Financial			Cash		Net
		Amounts of			Offset in the Condensed			in the Condensed			Instruments			Collateral		Amount
		Recognized			Consolidated			Consolidated						Pledged
		Liabilities			Balance Sheet			Balance Sheet
	March 31, 2015
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	$	22,063		$	(13,480	)	$	8,583		$	—		$	—	$	8,583
	Interest rate swaps - third party	9,230			(5,091		)	$	4,139		$	—		$	—	$	4,139
	Back to back - Santander & affiliates	22,310			(22,310		)	$	—		—			—		—
	Back to back - third party	9,304			(9,304		)	$	—		—			—		—
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	$	62,907		$	(50,185	)	$	12,722		$	—		$	—	$	12,722
	Total return swap	$	1,422		$	(1,422	)	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	$	1,422		$	(1,422	)	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—
	Total derivative liabilities	$	64,329		$	(51,607	)	$	12,722		$	—		$	—	$	12,722
	Total financial liabilities	$	64,329		$	(51,607	)	$	12,722		$	—		$	—	$	12,722
	December 31, 2014
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	15,783			(4,308		)	11,475			—			—		11,475
	Interest rate swaps - third party	719			(191		)	528			—			—		528
	Back to back - Santander & affiliates	35,602			(35,602		)	—			—			—		—
	Back to back - third party	14,204			(14,204		)	—			—			—		—
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	66,308			(54,305		)	12,003			—			—		12,003
	Total return swap	1,736			(1,736		)	—			—			—		—
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	1,736			(1,736		)	—			—			—		—
Total derivative liabilities	68,044			(56,041		)	12,003			—			—		12,003
Total financial liabilities	68,044			(56,041		)	12,003			—			—		12,003
The gross gains (losses) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to net income, and gains (losses) recognized in net income, are included as components of interest expense. The impacts on the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2015
	Gains (Losses)			Gross Gains (Losses) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Gross Gains (Losses) Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to Interest Expense
	Recognized in
	Interest Expense
Interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges	$	223		$	(31,536	)	$	(11,071	)
Derivative instruments not designated as hedges	$	(2,429	)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2014
	Gains (Losses)			Gross Gains (Losses) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Gross Gains (Losses) Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to Interest Expense
	Recognized in
	Interest Expense
Interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges	$	138		$	654		$	(2,664	)
Derivative instruments not designated as hedges	$	5,189
The ineffectiveness related to the interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges was insignificant for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

Other_Assets

Other Assets	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Other Assets [Abstract]
Other Assets	Other Assets
	Other assets were comprised as follows:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2015		2014
	Upfront fee (a)	$	121,250	$	125,000
	Vehicles (b)	159,613		134,926
	Manufacturer subvention payments receivable (a)	101,551		70,213
	Accounts receivable	22,166		18,440
	Prepaids	36,175		35,906
	Derivative assets (Note 7)	9,275		17,106
	Other	2,242		1,825
		$	452,272	$	403,416
	(a)	These amounts relate to the Chrysler Agreement. The Company paid a $150,000 upfront fee upon the May 2013 inception of the agreement. The fee is being amortized into finance and other interest income over a ten-year term. As the preferred financing provider for Chrysler, the Company is entitled to subvention payments on loans and leases with below-market customer payments.
	(b)	Includes vehicles obtained through repossession as well as vehicles obtained due to lease terminations.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes
	The Company recorded income tax expense of $141,426 (32.8% effective tax rate) and $48,041 (37.1% effective tax rate) during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The decrease in effective tax rate year over year is primarily due to discrete adjustments related to stock compensation, state rate changes due to geographic earnings mix, and laws guiding state apportionment.
	The Company is a party to a tax sharing agreement requiring that the unitary state tax liability among affiliates included in unitary state tax returns be allocated using the hypothetical separate company tax calculation method. At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had a net receivable from affiliates under the tax sharing agreement of zero and $459, respectively, which was included in related party taxes receivable in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
	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. Management does not believe the outcome of any uncertain tax position, individually or combined, will have a material effect on the results of operations. The reserve for uncertain tax positions, as well as associated penalties and interest, is a component of the income tax provision.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies
	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. SCUSA also is obligated to make total return settlement payments to this third-party originator in 2016 and 2017 if returns on the purchased pools are greater than originally expected.
	The Company has extended revolving lines of credit to certain auto dealers. Under this arrangement, the Company is committed to lend up to each dealer's established credit limit.
	Under terms of agreements with a peer-to-peer personal lending platform company, 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" (as that term is defined in the agreements) 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 canceled with 90 days’ notice.
	The Company committed to purchase certain new advances on personal 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 and renewing through April 2022 at the retailer's option. Each customer account generated under the agreements generally is approved with a credit limit higher than the amount of the initial purchase, with each subsequent purchase automatically approved as long as it does not cause the account to exceed its limit and the customer is in good standing. As these credit lines do not have a specified maturity, but rather can be terminated at any time in the event of adverse credit changes or lack of use, the Company has not recorded an allowance for unfunded commitments. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company was obligated to purchase $6,431 and $7,706, respectively, in receivables that had been originated by the retailer but not yet purchased by SCUSA. The Company also is required to make a profit-sharing payment to the retailer each month if performance exceeds a specified return threshold.
	Under terms of an application transfer agreement with an OEM, the Company has the first opportunity to review for its own portfolio any credit applications turned down by the OEM's captive finance company. The agreement does not require the Company to originate any loans, but for each loan originated the Company will pay the OEM a referral fee, comprised of a volume bonus fee and a loss betterment bonus fee. The loss betterment bonus fee will be calculated annually and is based on the amount by which losses on loans originated under the agreement are lower than an established percentage threshold.
	The Company 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 to inception of the contract. There were downward adjustments of $147 and $1,920 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
	In connection with the sale of retail installment contracts through securitizations and other sales, 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 to on- or off-balance sheet trusts or other third parties. As of March 31, 2015, 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.
	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.
	Under terms of the agreement with Chrysler, the Company must make revenue sharing payments to Chrysler and also must make gain-sharing payments when residual gains on leased vehicles exceed a specified threshold.
	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 2018. The Company retains servicing on all sold loans and may receive or pay a servicer performance payment based on an agreed-upon formula if performance on the sold loans is better or worse, respectively, than expected performance at time of sale.
	The Company has sold loans to CBP under terms of a flow agreement and predecessor sale agreements. The Company retains servicing on the sold loans and will owe CBP a loss-sharing payment capped at 0.5% of the original pool balance if losses exceed a specified threshold, established on a pool-by-pool basis.
	The Company provides SBNA with the first right to review and approve consumer vehicle lease applications, subject to volume constraints, under terms of a flow agreement. The Company has indemnified SBNA for potential credit and residual losses on $48,226 of leases that had been originated by SBNA under this program but were subsequently determined not to meet SBNA’s underwriting requirements. This indemnification agreement is supported by an equal amount of cash collateral posted by the Company in an SBNA bank account. The collateral account balance is included in restricted cash in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company additionally has agreed to indemnify SBNA for residual losses, up to a cap, on certain leases originated under the flow agreement since September 24, 2014 for which SBNA and the Company had differing residual value expectations at lease inception.
	In connection with the bulk sale of Chrysler Capital leases (Note 3), the Company is obligated to make quarterly payments to the purchaser sharing residual losses for lease terminations with losses over a specific percentage threshold. The estimated fair value of this guarantee was $1,992 as of March 31, 2015 (Note 13).
	On March 31, 2015, the Company executed a forward flow asset sale agreement with a third party under terms of which the Company is committed to selling at least $200,000 of charged off loan receivables in bankruptcy status.
	Legal Proceedings
	Periodically, the Company is party to or otherwise involved in various lawsuits and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. On August 26, 2014, a purported securities class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York. On October 6, 2014, another purported securities class action lawsuit was filed in the District Court of Dallas County, Texas and was subsequently removed to the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas. Both lawsuits were filed against the Company, certain of its current and former directors and executive officers and certain institutions that served as underwriters in the Company's initial public offering. Each lawsuit was brought by a purported stockholder of the Company seeking to represent a class consisting of all those who purchased or otherwise acquired securities pursuant and/or traceable to SCUSA's Registration Statement and Prospectus issued in connection with the initial public offering. Each complaint alleges that the Registration Statement and Prospectus contained misleading statements concerning the Company’s auto lending business and underwriting practices. Each lawsuit asserts claims under Section 11 and Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and seeks damages and other relief. On February 17, 2015, the purported class action lawsuit pending in the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice.
	Further, the Company is party to or are otherwise involved periodically in reviews, investigations, and proceedings (both formal and informal), and information-gathering requests, by government and self-regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve, the CFPB, the DOJ, the SEC, the FTC and various state regulatory agencies. Currently, such proceedings include a civil subpoena from the DOJ under FIRREA requesting the production of documents and communications that, among other things, relate to the underwriting and securitization of nonprime auto loans since 2007. Additionally, on October 28, 2014, the Company received a preservation letter and request for documents from the Commission requesting the preservation and production of documents and communications that, among other things, relate to the underwriting and securitization of auto loans since January 1, 2011. The Company also has received civil subpoenas from various state Attorneys General requesting similar documents and communications. The Company is complying with the requests for information and document preservation.
	On February 25, 2015, the Company entered into a consent order with the DOJ, approved by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, that resolves the DOJ's claims against the Company that certain of its repossession and collection activities during the period of time between January 2008 and February 2013 violated the SCRA. The consent order requires SCUSA to pay a civil fine in the amount of $55, as well as at least $9,360 to affected service members consisting of $10 plus compensation for any lost equity (with interest) for each repossession by SCUSA and $5 for each instance where SCUSA sought to collect repossession-related fees on accounts where a repossession was conducted by a prior account holder, as well as requires the Company to undertake additional remedial measures.
	The Company does not believe that there are any proceedings, threatened or pending, that, if determined adversely, 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, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related-Party Transactions	Related-Party Transactions
	Related-party transactions not otherwise disclosed in these footnotes to the condensed consolidated financial statements include the following:
	Interest expense, including unused fees, for affiliate lines/letters of credit for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2015		March 31, 2014
	Line of credit agreement with Santander - New York Branch (Note 5)	$	25,484	$	24,874
	Line of credit agreement with SHUSA (Note 5)	1,290		363
	Letter of credit facility with Santander - New York Branch	—		125
	Accrued interest for affiliate lines/letters of credit at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, was as follows:
		March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
	Line of credit agreement with Santander - New York Branch (Note 5)	$	8,670	$	7,750
	Line of credit agreement with SHUSA (Note 5)	230		242
	Letter of credit facility with Santander - New York Branch	—		128
	The Company has derivative financial instruments with Santander and affiliates with outstanding notional amounts of $15,865,525 and $16,330,771 at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively (Note 7). The Company had a collateral overage on derivative liabilities with Santander and affiliates of $41,360 and $32,118 at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Interest expense on these agreements includes amounts totaling $17,242 and $8,881 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
	Until October 1, 2014, the Company had an agreement with SBNA whereby the Company provided SBNA with the first right to review and assess Chrysler dealer lending opportunities and, if SBNA elected, to provide the proposed financing. The Company provided servicing on all loans originated under this arrangement and was eligible to receive a servicer performance payment based on performance of the serviced loans. The Company also provided servicing on dealer loans sold to SBNA that were not subject to the servicer performance payment. Servicing fee income recognized on receivables from dealers sold to SBNA or originated by SBNA totaled $801 for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and the Company received $464 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 in servicer performance payments.
	Effective October 1, 2014, the origination and servicing agreements were terminated and replaced with revised agreements requiring SCUSA to permit SBNA first right to review and assess Chrysler Capital dealer lending opportunities and requiring SBNA to pay SCUSA a Relationship Management Fee based upon the performance and yields of Chrysler Capital dealer loans held by SBNA. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had relationship management fees receivable from SBNA of $472 and $450, respectively. The Company recognized $1,623 of relationship management fee income for the three months ended March 31, 2015. These agreements also transferred the servicing of all Chrysler Capital receivables from dealers, including receivables held by SBNA and by SCUSA, from SCUSA to SBNA. Servicing fee expense under this new agreement totaled $86 for the three months ended March 31, 2015. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had $30 and $28, respectively, of servicing fees payable to SBNA.
	The Company received a $9,000 referral fee in connection with the original arrangement and was amortizing the fee into income over the ten-year term of the agreement. The remaining balance of the referral fee SBNA paid to SCUSA in connection with the original sourcing and servicing agreement is considered a referral fee in connection with the new agreements and will continue to be amortized into income through the July 1, 2022 termination date of the new agreements. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the unamortized fee balance was $7,425 and $7,650, respectively. The Company recognized $225 of income related to the referral fee for each of the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.
	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 $1,944 and $865 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Other information on the serviced auto loan and retail installment contract portfolios for SBNA as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is as follows:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2015		2014
	Total serviced portfolio	$	843,475	$	896,300
	Cash collections due to owner	22,874		21,415
	Servicing fees receivable	2,073		2,171
	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. Pursuant to the Chrysler Agreement, the Company pays Chrysler on behalf of SBNA for residual gains and losses on the flowed leases. The Company also services leases it sold to SBNA in 2014. Origination and servicing fee income recognized on leases originated and serviced for SBNA totaled $5,624 and $1,457, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and $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, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is as follows:
		March 31,		December 31, 2014
		2015
	Total serviced portfolio	$	2,328,240	$	1,989,967
	Lease fundings due from owner	6,038		3,365
	Origination and servicing fees receivable	3,169		10,345
	Revenue share reimbursement receivable	3,345		1,694
	On June 30, 2014, the Company entered into an indemnification agreement with SBNA whereby SCUSA indemnifies SBNA for any credit or residual losses on a pool of $48,226 in leases originated under the flow agreement. The covered leases are non-conforming units because they did not meet SBNA’s credit criteria at origination. At time of the agreement, SCUSA established a $48,226 collateral account with SBNA in restricted cash that will be released over time to SBNA, in the case of losses, and SCUSA, in the case of payments and sale proceeds. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the balance in the collateral account was $42,570 and $44,805, respectively.
	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 $102 and $22 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
	During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company originated $7,626 and $704, respectively, in personal revolving loans under terms of an MSA with a company in which it has a cost method investment of $6,000 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 certain expenses incurred by the Company's Chairman and CEO in the operation of a private plane in which he owns a partial interest when used for SCUSA business within the contiguous 48 states. Under this practice, payment is based on a set flight time hourly rate, and the amount of reimbursement is not subject to a maximum cap per fiscal year. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company paid $183 and $273, respectively, to Meregrass, Inc., the company managing the plane's operations, with an average rate of $5.8 per hour.
	The following members of management have a minority equity investment in a property in which the Company leases 373,000 square feet as its corporate headquarters: Chairman and CEO, President and Chief Financial Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors who is also a Santander employee. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company paid $522 and zero in lease payments on this property. Future minimum lease payments for the 12 year term of the lease total $83,033.
	The Company is party to certain agreements with a third party retailer whereby the Company is committed to purchase receivables originated by the retailer for an initial term ending in April 2020 and renewable through April 2022 at the retailer's option. In November 2014, Capmark, a company of which affiliates of Centerbridge own an approximately 32% interest, acquired the retailer. Prior to SCUSA's IPO in January 2014, Centerbridge had a 7% indirect ownership interest in SCUSA. Immediately after the IPO, Centerbridge had an approximately 1% interest in SCUSA, which had decreased to less than 1% by December 31, 2014 and further decreased to zero in the first quarter of 2015. Further, a member of SCUSA's board of directors is a member of Centerbridge management and also serves on the board of directors of Capmark. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company advanced $158,229 to, and received $277,360 in payments on, receivables originated under its agreements with the retailer.
	At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had tax indemnification payments receivable of $5,472 and $5,504, respectively, representing reimbursement of tax indemnification payments made to the original equity investors in two investment partnerships now owned by the Company. One of the investors, Centerbridge, also was an investor in SCUSA until the first quarter of 2015. These payments are expected to be recovered through tax refunds passed through to the Company as the original investors recognize tax losses related to the investments.

Computation_of_Basic_and_Dilut

Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share	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.
	For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the calculation of earnings per share excludes 1,512,091 employee stock option awards as the effect of those securities would be anti-dilutive.
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2015		2014
	Earnings per common share
	Net income	$	289,250	$	81,466
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding before restricted participating shares (in thousands)	348,955		347,518
	Weighted average number of participating restricted common shares outstanding (in thousands)	467		584
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands)	349,422		348,102
	Earnings per common share	$	0.83	$	0.23
	Earnings per common share - assuming dilution
	Net income	$	289,250	$	81,466
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands)	349,422		348,102
	Effect of employee stock-based awards (in thousands)	7,232		8,223
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - assuming dilution (in thousands)	356,654		356,325
	Earnings per common share - assuming dilution	$	0.81	$	0.23

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	Fair value measurement requires that valuation techniques maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and also establishes a fair value hierarchy that categorizes into three levels the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value as follows:
	Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that can be accessed as of the measurement date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
	Level 2 inputs are those other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
	Level 3 inputs are those that are unobservable for the asset or liability and are used to measure fair value to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available.
	Fair value estimates, methods, and assumptions are as follows:
			March 31, 2015							December 31, 2014
		Level	Carrying			Estimated				Carrying			Estimated
			Value			Fair Value				Value			Fair Value
	Cash and cash equivalents (a)	1	$	26,952		$	26,952			$	33,157		$	33,157
	Receivables held for sale (b)	2	1,045,869			1,102,620				46,585			46,585
	Finance receivables held for investment, net (c)	3	24,650,372			26,390,127				23,915,551			25,576,337
	Restricted cash (a)	1	2,687,304			2,687,304				1,920,857			1,920,857
	Notes payable — credit facilities (d)	3	7,338,550			7,338,550				6,402,327			6,402,327
	Notes payable — secured structured financings (e)	2	18,000,121			18,104,855				17,718,974			17,810,062
	Notes payable — related party (f)	3	4,375,000			4,375,000				3,690,000			3,690,000
	(a)	Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash — The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, is at an approximated fair value as the instruments mature within 90 days or less and bear interest at market rates.
	(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 usually in the following month.
	(c)	Finance receivables held for investment, net — The carrying value and estimated fair value of finance receivables held for investment, net are reported at the aggregate carrying value and estimated fair value of the following financial instruments:
	•	Retail installment contracts held for investment — Retail installment contracts held for investment are carried at amortized cost, net of credit loss allowance. The estimated fair value is calculated based on estimated market rates for similar contracts with similar credit risks.
	•	Personal loans, net — Personal loans are carried at amortized cost, net of credit loss allowance. The estimated fair value is calculated based on estimated market rates for similar loans with similar credit risks.
	•	Receivables from dealers held for investment, net — Receivables from dealers held for investment are carried at amortized cost, net of credit loss allowance. The estimated fair value is calculated based on estimated market rates for similar receivables with similar credit risks.
	•	Capital lease receivables, net — Capital lease receivables are carried at amortized cost, net of the allowance for lease losses. The estimated fair value is calculated based on estimated market rates for similar contracts with similar credit risks.
	(d)	Notes payable — credit facilities — The carrying amount of notes payable related to revolving credit facilities is estimated to approximate fair value. Management believes that the terms of these credit agreements approximate market terms for similar credit agreements.
	(e)	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.
	(f)	Notes payable — related party — The carrying amount of notes payable to a related party is estimated to approximate fair value. Management believes that the terms of these credit agreements approximate market terms for similar credit agreements.
	The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy:
		Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2015
		Total			Quoted Prices				Significant			Significant
					in Active				Other			Unobservable
					Markets for				Observable			Inputs
					Identical Assets				Inputs			(Level 3)
					(Level 1)				(Level 2)
	Other assets — trading interest rate caps (a)	$	9,275		$	—			$	9,275		$	—
	Due from affiliates — trading interest rate caps (a)	22,310			—				22,310			—
	Due from affiliates — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	111			—				111			—
	Other liabilities — trading options for interest rate caps (a)	9,304			—				9,304			—
	Due to affiliates — trading options for interest rate caps (a)	22,310			—				22,310			—
	Other liabilities — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	5,716			—				5,716			—
	Due to affiliates — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	10,810			—				10,810			—
	Other liabilities — trading interest rate swaps (a)	3,514			—				3,514			—
	Due to affiliates — trading interest rate swaps (a)	11,253			—				11,253			—
	Other liabilities — total return swap (b)	1,422			—				1,422			—
	Residual guarantee liability (Note 10)	1,992			—				—			1,992
		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014
		Total			Quoted Prices			Significant			Significant
					in Active			Other			Unobservable
					Markets for			Observable			Inputs
					Identical Assets			Inputs			(Level 3)
					(Level 1)			(Level 2)
	Other assets — trading interest rate caps (a)	$	14,160		—			14,160			—
	Due from affiliates — trading interest rate caps (a)	35,602			—			35,602			—
	Other assets — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	2,796			—			2,796			—
	Due from affiliates — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	4,823			—			4,823			—
	Other assets — trading interest rate swaps (a)	150			—			150			—
	Due from affiliates — trading interest rate swaps (a)	385			—			385			—
	Other liabilities — trading options for interest rate caps (a)	14,204			—			14,204			—
	Due to affiliates — trading options for interest rate caps (a)	35,602			—			35,602			—
	Other liabilities — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	443			—			476			—
	Due to affiliates — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	3,316			—			3,316			—
	Other liabilities — trading interest rate swaps (a)	276			—			243			—
	Due to affiliates — trading interest rate swaps (a)	12,467			—			12,467			—
	Other liabilities — total return swap (b)	1,736			—			1,736			—
	(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. The Company utilizes 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.
There were no amounts transferred into or out of Level 3 during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy:
	Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2015
	Total			Quoted Prices				Significant			Significant
				in Active				Other			Unobservable
				Markets for				Observable			Inputs
				Identical Assets				Inputs			(Level 3)
				(Level 1)				(Level 2)
Other assets — vehicles	$	159,613		$	—			$	159,613		$	—
	Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014
	Total			Quoted Prices				Significant			Significant
				in Active				Other			Unobservable
				Markets for				Observable			Inputs
				Identical Assets				Inputs			(Level 3)
				(Level 1)				(Level 2)
Other assets — vehicles	$	134,926		$	—			$	134,926		$	—
The Company estimates the fair value of its vehicles, which are obtained either through repossession or lease termination, using historical auction rates and current market levels of used car prices.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	Employee Benefit Plans
	SCUSA Compensation Plan — Beginning in 2012, the Company granted stock options to certain executives, other employees, and independent directors under the MEP. The Plan was administered by the Board of Directors and enabled 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. The MEP expired on January 31, 2015, and accordingly, no further awards will be made under this plan. In December 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.
	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 Shareholders Agreement 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.
	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 Company 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 each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 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. Also, in connection with the IPO, the Company granted additional stock options under the Plan to certain executives, other employees, and an independent director with an estimated compensation cost of $10,216, which is being recognized over the awards' vesting period of five years for the employees and three years for the director. Additional stock option grants have been made during the three months ended March 31, 2015 to employees; the estimated compensation costs associated with these additional grants is $1,074 and will be recognized over the vesting periods of the awards.
	A summary of the Company’s stock options and related activity as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2015 is as follows:
		Shares		Weighted		Weighted	Aggregate
				Average		Average	Intrinsic
				Exercise		Remaining	Value
				Price		Contractual
						Term (Years)
	Options outstanding at January 1, 2015	21,357,911		$	10.82	7.2	$	187,637
	Granted	126,684		22.72
	Exercised	(964,865	)	9.57			11,332
	Expired	—		—
	Forfeited	(87,808	)	14.84
	Options outstanding at March 31, 2015	20,431,922		10.94		6.9	249,262
	Options exercisable at March 31, 2015	16,150,877		10.08		6.8	210,968
	In connection with compensation restrictions imposed on certain executive officers and other employees by the European Central Bank under the Capital Requirements Directive IV prudential rules, which require a portion of such officers' and employees' variable compensation to be paid in the form of equity, the Company granted RSUs in February and April 2015. A portion of the RSUs vested immediately upon grant, and a portion will vest annually over the next three years. After vesting, the stock obtained must be held for one year.

Shareholders_Equity

Shareholders' Equity	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Equity [Abstract]
Shareholders' Equity	Shareholders' Equity
	Treasury Stock
	The Company had 52,141 shares of treasury stock outstanding with a cost of $983 as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. Prior to the IPO, the Company repurchased 3,154 shares as a result of an employee leaving the company. Additionally, 48,987 shares were withheld in December 2014 to cover income taxes related to the vesting of RSUs awarded to certain executive officers. The value of the treasury stock is immaterial and included within additional paid-in-capital.
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	A summary of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 is as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2015			Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	Beginning balance, unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	$	3,553		$	(2,853	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before	(19,791		)	412
	reclassifications
	Amounts reclassified out of accumulated	6,948			1,676
	other comprehensive income (loss) (a)
	Ending balance, unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	$	(9,290	)	$	(765	)
	(a)	Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consist of the following:
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2015					Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	Reclassification	Amount reclassified			Income statement line item		Amount reclassified			Income statement line item
	Cash flow hedges:
	Settlements of derivatives	$	11,071		Interest expense		$	2,664		Interest expense
	Tax expense (benefit)	(4,123		)			(988		)
	Net of tax	$	6,948				$	1,676
	Dividend Restrictions
	The Dodd-Frank Act requires certain banks and bank holding companies, including SHUSA, to perform a stress test and submit a capital plan to the Federal Reserve on an annual basis. On March 11, 2015, the FRB informed SHUSA that, based on qualitative concerns, the FRB objected to SHUSA’s capital plan pursuant to CCAR that SHUSA had previously submitted to the FRB. This objection followed the FRB's objection to the capital plan submitted the previous year, following which objection SHUSA had entered into a written agreement with the FRB memorializing discussions under which, among other things, SHUSA is prohibited from allowing its non-wholly-owned nonbank subsidiaries, including the Company, to declare or pay any dividend, or to make any capital distribution, until such time as SHUSA has submitted to the FRB a capital plan and the FRB has issued a written non-objection to the plan, or the FRB otherwise issues its written non-objection to the proposed capital action. The Company will not pay any future dividends until such time as the FRB issues a written non-objection to a capital plan submitted by SHUSA or the FRB otherwise issues its written non-objection to the payment of a dividend by the Company.

Description_of_Business_Basis_1

Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Significant Accounting Policies and Practices (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, including certain Trusts, which are considered VIEs. The Company also 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, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP 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. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed on March 2, 2015.
	Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation; specifically, retail installment contracts held for investment, personal loans, receivables from dealers, and capital lease receivables, which previously were reported as separate line items in the condensed consolidated balance sheet, now are reported in aggregate in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as finance receivables held for investment, with disclosure of the components in Note 2 – Finance Receivables and Note 3 – Leases. Additionally, related-party assets and liabilities, which previously were disclosed separately within certain line items in the condensed consolidated balance sheet, are now reported as separate line items in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The classification of related-party assets and liabilities reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is as follows:
	Related-Party Assets and Liabilities Classification as of
	March 31, 2015	December 31, 2014
	Related party taxes receivable	Federal, state and other income taxes receivable
	Due from affiliates	Other assets
	Notes payable – related party	Notes payable – credit facilities
	Related party taxes payable	Federal, state and other income taxes payable
	Due to affiliates	Accrued interest payable
		Accounts payable and accrued expenses
		Other liabilities
	The reclassifications in the condensed consolidated balance sheets also are reflected in the corresponding categories in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that 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 credit 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 marine vehicles. It also includes the Company’s personal loan and point-of-sale financing operations.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
	In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-11, Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures. The standard requires entities to account for repurchase-to-maturity transactions as secured borrowings, eliminates accounting guidance on linked repurchase financing transactions, and expands disclosure requirements related to certain transfers of financial assets that are accounted for as secured borrowings. This guidance became effective for the Company January 1, 2015 and implementation did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which provides guidance on a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. This guidance currently is scheduled to become effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016; however, the FASB recently proposed a one-year deferral of the effective date, subject to due process. The Company does not expect the adoption to have a material impact to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
	In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award That a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. This standard affects entities that issue share-based payments when the terms of an award stipulate that a performance target could be achieved after an employee completes the requisite service period. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
	In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-01, Income Statement - Extraordinary and Unusual Items. This standard simplifies income statement classification by removing the concept of extraordinary items from U.S. GAAP, and as a result, items that are both unusual and infrequent no longer will be separately reported net of tax after continuing operations. This guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company does not expect the adoption to have a material impact to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
	In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. This ASU changes the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. This guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impacts of the adoption of this ASU.
	In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Imputation of Interest. This ASU requires that debt issuance costs, as well as discounts arising from the imputation of interest, be recorded as part of the basis of the related note, rather than as a separate asset or liability. The guidance should be applied retrospectively and will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015. The Company does not expect the adoption to have a material impact to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Finance_Receivables_Tables

Finance Receivables (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Receivables [Abstract]
Summary of Finance Receivables Held for Investment	Finance receivables held for investment includes individually acquired retail installment contracts and loans, purchased receivables portfolios, and capital leases (see Note 3). The Company's portfolio of individually acquired retail installment contracts and loans held for investment was comprised of the following at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		March 31, 2015
		Retail Installment Contracts			Receivables from			Personal Loans
		Acquired			Dealers Held
		Individually			for Investment
	Unpaid principal balance	25,506,977			102,410			2,115,496
	Credit loss allowance (Note 4)	(2,822,712		)	(1,130		)	(352,878		)
	Discount	(606,576		)	—			(1,972		)
	Capitalized origination costs and fees	43,663			—			1,291
	Net carrying balance	$	22,121,352		$	101,280		$	1,761,937
		December 31, 2014
		Retail Installment Contracts			Receivables from			Personal Loans
		Acquired			Dealers Held
		Individually			for Investment
	Unpaid principal balance	$	24,555,106		$	100,164		$	2,128,769
	Credit loss allowance (Note 4)	(2,726,338		)	(674		)	(348,660		)
	Discount	(597,862		)	—			(1,356		)
	Capitalized origination costs and fees	39,680			—			1,024
	Net carrying balance	$	21,270,586		$	99,490		$	1,779,777
	Purchased receivables portfolios, which were acquired with deteriorated credit quality, were comprised of the following at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		March 31, 2015			December 31, 2014
	Unpaid principal balance	$	687,590		$	846,355
	Outstanding recorded investment	$	720,731		$	873,134
	Less: Impairment	(183,537		)	(189,275		)
	Outstanding recorded investment, net of impairment	$	537,194		$	683,859
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
		March 31, 2015			March 31, 2014
	Balance — beginning of period	$	264,416		$	403,400
	Additions (loans acquired during the period)	—			—
	Accretion of accretable yield	(26,905		)	(65,046		)
	Reclassifications from nonaccretable difference	6,144			24,469
	Balance — end of period	$	243,655		$	362,823

Leases_Tables

Leases (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Leases [Abstract]
Summary of Leased Vehicles	Leased vehicles, net, which is comprised of leases originated under the Chrysler Agreement, consisted of the following as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		March 31,			December 31,
		2015			2014
	Leased vehicles	$	6,687,042		$	6,309,096
	Origination fees and other costs	7,704			4,190
	Manufacturer subvention payments	(660,638		)	(645,874		)
		6,034,108			5,667,412
	Less: accumulated depreciation	(991,689		)	(804,629		)
		$	5,042,419		$	4,862,783
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, 2015:
	Remainder of 2015	$	752,063
	2016	869,056
	2017	405,463
	2018	40,153
	2019	56
	Thereafter	4
	Total	$	2,066,795
Schedule of Capital Lease Receivable	Capital lease receivables, net consisted of the following as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		March 31,			December 31,
		2015			2014
	Gross investment in capital leases	$	212,898		$	137,543
	Origination fees and other	164			78
	Less unearned income	(69,271		)	(46,193		)
	Net investment in capital leases before allowance	143,791			91,428
	Less: allowance for lease losses	(15,182		)	(9,589		)
	Net investment in capital leases	$	128,609		$	81,839
Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments Receivable for Capital Leases	The following summarizes the future minimum lease payments due to the Company as lessor under capital leases as of March 31, 2015:
	Remainder of 2015	$	38,906
	2016	51,876
	2017	51,826
	2018	50,628
	2019	19,661
	Thereafter	1
	Total	$	212,898

Credit_Loss_Allowance_and_Cred1

Credit Loss Allowance and Credit Quality (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Loans and Leases Receivable, Allowance [Abstract]
Summary of Activity in Loan Loss Allowance	The activity in the credit loss allowance for individually acquired loans for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2015											Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		Retail Installment				Receivables				Personal Loans			Retail Installment			Receivables			Personal Loans
		Contracts				from Dealers Held							Contracts			from Dealers Held
		Acquired				for Investment							Acquired			for Investment
		Individually											Individually
	Balance — beginning of period	$	2,726,338			$	674			$	348,660		$	2,132,634		$	1,090		$	179,350
	Provision for credit losses	507,148				456				97,703			656,706			(55		)	62,129
	Charge-offs	(926,993		)		—				(99,690		)	(752,565		)	—			(40,948		)
	Recoveries	543,336				—				6,205			407,777			—			2,659
	Transfers to held-for-sale	(27,117		)		—				—			—			—			—
	Balance — end of period	$	2,822,712			$	1,130			$	352,878		$	2,444,552		$	1,035		$	203,190
	The activity in the lease loss allowance for capital leases for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was as follows:
	Balance — beginning of period	$	9,589
	Provision for lease losses	5,776
	Charge-offs	(1,997		)
	Recoveries	1,814
	Balance — end of period	$	15,182
Summary of Activity in Loan Loss Allowance Related to Purchased Receivables Portfolios	The impairment activity related to purchased receivables portfolios for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2015				2014
	Balance — beginning of period	$	188,639			$	226,356
	Incremental provisions for purchased receivables portfolios	300				1,325
	Incremental reversal of provisions for purchased receivables portfolios	(5,402		)		(21,511		)
	Balance — end of period	$	183,537			$	206,170
Summary of Delinquencies	A summary of delinquencies as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is as follows:
		March 31, 2015
		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment											Personal
		Loans				Purchased				Total			Loans
		Acquired				Receivables
		Individually				Portfolios
	Principal, 31-60 days past due	$	1,716,139			$	83,607			$	1,799,746		$	58,389
	Delinquent principal over 60 days	729,274				43,414				772,688			140,636
	Total delinquent principal	$	2,445,413			$	127,021			$	2,572,434		$	199,025
		December 31, 2014
		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment											Personal
		Loans				Purchased				Total			Loans
		Acquired				Receivables
		Individually				Portfolios
	Principal, 31-60 days past due	$	2,319,203			$	131,634			$	2,450,837		$	52,452
	Delinquent principal over 60 days	1,030,580				72,473				1,103,053			138,400
	Total delinquent principal	$	3,349,783			$	204,107			$	3,553,890		$	190,852
Summary of Credit Risk Profile	A summary of the credit risk profile of the Company’s consumer loans by FICO® distribution, determined at origination, as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was as follows:
	March 31, 2015
	FICO Band		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment (a)		Personal Loans (b)
	<540		28.10%		3.20%
	540-599		34.20%		19.20%
	600-639		20.50%		21.10%
	>640		17.20%		56.50%
	December 31, 2014
	FICO Band		Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment (a)		Personal Loans (b)
	<540		26.40%		3.30%
	540-599		32.60%		20.10%
	600-639		20.50%		21.40%
	>640		20.50%		55.20%
	(a)	Excluded from the FICO distribution is $3,414,726 and $2,945,297 as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, as the borrowers on these loans did not have FICO scores at origination.
	(b)	Excluded from the FICO distribution is an insignificant amount of loans to borrowers that did not have FICO scores at origination.
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, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows:
		March 31,				December 31,
		2015				2014
	Pass	$	98,087			$	97,903
	Special Mention	4,323				2,261
	Substandard	—				—
	Doubtful	—				—
	Loss	—				—
		$	102,410			$	100,164
Summary of Company's TDRs	The table below presents the Company’s TDRs as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		March 31, 2015								December 31, 2014
		Retail Installment Contracts				Personal Loans				Retail Installment Contracts			Personal Loans
	Outstanding recorded investment	$	4,616,216			$	17,261			$	4,207,037		$	17,356
	Impairment	(878,278		)		(6,904		)		(797,240		)	(6,939		)
	Outstanding recorded investment, net of impairment	$	3,737,938			$	10,357			$	3,409,797		$	10,417
Summary of Performing and Nonperforming TDRs	A summary of the Company’s delinquent TDRs at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, is as follows:
		March 31, 2015								December 31, 2014
		Retail Installment Contracts				Personal Loans				Retail Installment Contracts			Personal Loans
	Principal, 31-60 days past due	$	819,597			$	1,685			$	929,095		$	1,595
	Delinquent principal over 60 days	400,790				5,245				515,235			5,131
	Total delinquent TDR principal	$	1,220,387			$	6,930			$	1,444,330		$	6,726
Average Recorded Investment and Income Recognized on TDR Loans	Average recorded investment and income recognized on TDR loans are as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2015								March 31, 2014
		Retail Installment Contracts				Personal Loans				Retail Installment Contracts			Personal Loans
	Average outstanding recorded investment in TDRs	$	3,573,868			$	10,387			$	2,707,637		$	8,996
	Interest income recognized	$	196,976			$	589			$	120,451		$	329
Summary of Loan Modification Accounted as TDRs	The following table summarizes the financial effects of TDRs that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2015								March 31, 2014
		Retail Installment Contracts				Personal Loans				Retail Installment Contracts			Personal Loans
	Outstanding recorded investment before TDR	$	875,809			$	5,394			$	624,009		$	11,495
	Outstanding recorded investment after TDR	$	874,371			$	5,356			$	581,053		$	11,336
	Number of contracts	52,319				4,468				39,229			14,829
Summary of Defaults in Loan Modifications Accounted as TDRs	Loan restructurings accounted for as TDRs within the previous twelve months that subsequently defaulted during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 are summarized in the following table:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2015						March 31, 2014
		Retail Installment Contracts				Personal Loans		Retail Installment Contracts				Personal Loans
	Recorded investment in TDRs that subsequently defaulted	$	158,518			$1,411		$	11,389			(a)
	Number of contracts	11,654				1,411		1,348				(a)
	(a)	Subsequent defaults on personal loan TDRs were insignificant for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Credit Facilities	The following table presents information regarding credit facilities as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		March 31, 2015
		Maturity Date(s)	Utilized Balance		Committed Amount		Effective Rate	Assets Pledged		Restricted Cash Pledged
	Warehouse line	Jun-15	$	388,435	$	500,000	0.98%	$	558,135	$	—
	Warehouse line (a)	Various	890,965		1,247,302		1.00%	1,305,875		32,484
	Warehouse line (b)	Jun-16	2,465,041		4,300,000		0.93%	3,719,820		85,180
	Warehouse line	Dec-16	1,575,977		2,500,000		1.05%	2,222,916		46,853
	Warehouse line	Jul-15	—		500,000		—	—		—
	Warehouse line (c)	Sep-15	199,980		200,000		2.00%	351,512		15,926
	Repurchase facility (d)	Various	892,571		892,571		1.64%	—		32,936
	Warehouse line (e)	Mar-16	—		750,000		—	—		—
	Warehouse line (f)	Nov-16	175,000		175,000		1.73%	—		—
	Warehouse line (c)	Oct-16	249,987		250,000		2.05%	308,279		19,139
	Warehouse line (f)	Nov-16	250,000		250,000		1.73%	—		2,500
	Repurchase facility (g)	May-15	250,594		250,594		1.02%	—		—
	Total facilities with third parties		7,338,550		11,815,467			8,466,537		235,018
	Lines of credit with Santander and related subsidiaries (h):
	Line of credit	Dec-16	500,000		500,000		2.47%	1,074		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18	250,000		500,000		3.23%	—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-16	1,750,000		1,750,000		2.36%	—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18	1,575,000		1,750,000		2.82%	7,076		—
	Line of credit	Mar-17	300,000		300,000		1.72%	—		—
	Total facilities with Santander and related subsidiaries		4,375,000		4,800,000			8,150		—
	Total revolving credit facilities		$	11,713,550	$	16,615,467		$	8,474,687	$	235,018
	(a)	Half of the outstanding balance on this facility matures in April 2015 and half in March 2016. On April 20, 2015, this facility was extended such that half matures in March 2016 and half matures in March 2017.
	(b)	This line is held exclusively for Chrysler Capital retail loan and lease financing.
	(c)	This line is held exclusively for personal term loans.
	(d)	The repurchase facility is collateralized by securitization notes payable retained by the Company. This facility has rolling 30-day and 90-day maturities.
	(e)	On April 1, 2015, the maturity date of this facility was extended to March 2017.
	(f)	This line is collateralized by residuals retained by the Company.
	(g)	This line is collateralized by securitization notes payable retained by the Company.
	(h)	These lines are also collateralized by securitization notes payable and residuals retained by the Company. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, $2,680,814 and $2,152,625, respectively, of the aggregate outstanding balances on these facilities were unsecured.
		December 31, 2014
		Maturity Date(s)	Utilized Balance		Committed Amount		Effective Rate	Assets Pledged		Restricted Cash Pledged
	Warehouse line	Jun-15	$	243,736	$	500,000	1.17%	$	344,822	$	—
	Warehouse line	Various	397,452		1,244,318		1.26%	589,529		20,661
	Warehouse line	Jun-16	2,201,511		4,300,000		0.98%	3,249,263		65,414
	Warehouse line	Jun-16	1,051,777		2,500,000		1.06%	1,481,135		28,316
	Warehouse line	Jul-15	—		500,000		—	—		—
	Warehouse line	Sep-15	199,980		200,000		1.96%	351,755		13,169
	Repurchase facility	Various	923,225		923,225		1.63%	—		34,184
	Warehouse line	Dec-15	468,565		750,000		0.93%	641,709		16,467
	Warehouse line	Nov-16	175,000		175,000		1.71%	—		—
	Warehouse line	Oct-16	240,487		250,000		2.02%	299,195		17,143
	Warehouse line	Nov-16	250,000		250,000		1.71%	—		2,500
	Warehouse line	Mar-15	250,594		250,594		0.98%	—		—
	Total facilities with third parties		6,402,327		11,843,137			6,957,408		197,854
	Lines of credit with Santander and related subsidiaries:
	Line of credit	Dec-16	500,000		500,000		2.46%	1,340		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18	—		500,000		—	—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-16	1,750,000		1,750,000		2.33%	—		—
	Line of credit	Dec-18	1,140,000		1,750,000		2.85%	9,701		—
	Line of credit	Mar-17	300,000		300,000		1.71%	—		—
	Total facilities with Santander and related subsidiaries		3,690,000		4,800,000			11,041		—
	Total revolving credit facilities		$	10,092,327	$	16,643,137		$	6,968,449	$	197,854
Summary of Secured Structured Financings	The following table presents information regarding secured structured financings as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		March 31, 2015
		Original Estimated Maturity Date(s)	Balance		Initial Note Amounts Issued		Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	Collateral		Restricted Cash
	2011 Securitizations	June 2016 -September 2017	$	340,146	$	3,536,550	1.21% - 2.02%	$	591,769	$	118,104
	2012 Securitizations	November 2017 - December 2018	1,963,264		8,023,840		0.92% - 1.68%	2,622,237		325,228
	2013 Securitizations	January 2019 - January 2021	3,031,810		6,689,700		0.89% - 1.59%	3,762,550		334,321
	2014 Securitizations	August 2018 - January 2021	4,579,011		6,800,420		1.16% - 1.72%	5,553,720		403,805
	2015 Securitizations	April 2021 - July 2022	1,919,496		1,962,380		1.39% - 1.97%	2,346,548		119,978
	Public securitizations (a)		11,833,727		27,012,890			14,876,824		1,301,436
	2010 Private issuances (b)	Jun-11	156,859		516,000		1.29%	287,477		8,468
	2011 Private issuances	Dec-18	701,700		1,700,000		1.46%	1,160,946		56,333
	2012 Private issuances	May-16	2,698		70,308		1.07%	8,904		995
	2013 Private issuances (c)	September 2018 - September 2020	2,487,845		2,693,754		1.13% - 1.38%	3,487,720		121,222
	2014 Private issuances	November 2015 - December 2021	2,324,876		3,519,049		1.05% - 1.85%	3,177,351		120,187
	2015 Private issuances	Mar-18	492,416		493,750		1.44%	692,871		15,601
	Privately issued amortizing notes		6,166,394		8,992,861			8,815,269		322,806
	Total secured structured financings		$	18,000,121	$	36,005,751		$	23,692,093	$	1,624,242
	(a)	Securitizations executed under Rule 144A of the Securities Act are included within this balance.
	(b)	This securitization was amended in May 2014 resulting in additional borrowings and an extended maturity date of May 2015.
	(c)	In March 2015, the Company advanced an additional $609,571 on private issuances originally executed in 2013.
		December 31, 2014
		Original Estimated Maturity Date(s)	Balance		Initial Note Amounts Issued		Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	Collateral		Restricted Cash
	2010 Securitizations	Nov-17	$	81,907	$	1,632,420	1.04%	$	234,706	$	58,740
	2011 Securitizations	June 2016 - September 2017	421,315		3,536,550		1.21%-2.80%	699,875		115,962
	2012 Securitizations	November 2017 - December 2018	2,296,687		8,023,840		0.92%-1.68%	3,006,426		318,373
	2013 Securitizations	January 2019 - January 2021	3,426,242		6,689,700		0.89%-1.59%	4,231,006		320,182
	2014 Securitizations	August 2018 - January 2021	5,211,346		6,800,420		1.16%-1.72%	6,173,229		370,790
	Public securitizations (a)		11,437,497		26,682,930			14,345,242		1,184,047
	2010 Private issuances	Jun-11	172,652		516,000		1.29%	303,361		8,009
	2011 Private issuances	Dec-18	859,309		1,700,000		1.46%-1.80%	1,316,903		52,524
	2012 Private issuances	May-16	5,682		70,308		1.07%	11,760		1,086
	2013 Private issuances	September 2018 - September 2020	2,629,278		2,693,754		1.13%-1.38%	3,703,685		98,063
	2014 Private issuances	November 2015 - December 2021	2,614,556		3,519,049		1.05%-1.85%	3,779,288		121,356
	Privately issued amortizing notes		6,281,477		8,499,111			9,114,997		281,038
	Total secured structured financings		$	17,718,974	$	35,182,041		$	23,460,239	$	1,465,085

Variable_Interest_Entities_Tab

Variable Interest Entities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Variable Interest Entity Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Assets and Liabilities Related to VIEs	The following table summarizes the assets and liabilities related to VIEs included in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2015		2014
	Restricted cash	$	1,852,825	$	1,626,257
	Finance receivables held for investment, net	21,823,803		21,366,121
	Leased vehicles, net	5,042,419		4,862,783
	Various other assets	2,393,301		1,301,992
	Notes payable	29,695,230		27,796,999
	Various other liabilities	2,086		—
Summary of Cash Flows Received from Securitization Trusts	A summary of the cash flows received from consolidated securitization trusts during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, is as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2015		March 31, 2014
	Assets securitized	$	3,981,855	$	3,316,248
	Net proceeds from new securitizations (a)	$	3,060,862	$	2,734,093
	Cash received for servicing fees (b)	159,802		145,772
	Cash received upon release from reserved and restricted cash accounts (b)	—		749
	Net distributions from Trusts (b)	300,487		320,861
	Total cash received from Trusts	$	3,521,151	$	3,201,475
	(a)	Includes additional advances on existing securitizations.
	(b)	These amounts are not reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of cash flows because the cash flows are between the VIEs and other entities included in the consolidation.
	A summary of the cash flows received from off-balance sheet securitization trusts during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 is as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2015		March 31, 2014
	Receivables securitized	$	—	$	774,183
	Net proceeds from new securitizations	$	—	$	815,850
	Cash received for servicing fees	5,304		2,788
	Total cash received from securitization trusts	$	5,304	$	818,638

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen1

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Underlying Notional Amounts and Aggregate Fair Values	The underlying notional amounts and aggregate fair values of these agreements at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, were as follows:
		March 31, 2015						December 31, 2014
		Notional			Fair Value			Notional			Fair Value
	Interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges	$	7,995,000		$	(16,415	)	$	8,020,000		$	3,827
	Interest rate swap agreements not designated as hedges	2,939,000			(14,767		)	3,206,000			(12,175		)
	Interest rate cap agreements	8,098,762			31,585			7,541,385			49,762
	Options for interest rate cap agreements	8,098,762			(31,614		)	7,541,385			(49,806		)
	Total return swap	250,594			(1,422		)	250,594			(1,736		)
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, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
		Offsetting of Financial Assets
											Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
											Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
		Gross			Gross Amounts			Net Amounts of Assets Presented			Financial			Cash		Net
		Amounts of			Offset in the Condensed			in the			Instruments			Collateral		Amount
		Recognized			Consolidated			Condensed Consolidated						Received
		Assets			Balance Sheet			Balance Sheet
	March 31, 2015
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	$	111		$	—		$	111		$	—		$	—	$	111
	Interest rate swaps - third party	—			—			—			—			—		—
	Interest rate caps - Santander & affiliates	22,310			—			22,310			—			—		22,310
	Interest rate caps - third party	9,275			—			9,275			—			—		9,275
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	31,696			—			31,696			—			—		31,696
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	—			—			—			—			—		—
	Total derivative assets	$	31,696		$	—		$	31,696		$	—		$	—	$	31,696
	Total financial assets	$	31,696		$	—		$	31,696		$	—		$	—	$	31,696
	December 31, 2014
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	$	5,208		$	—		$	5,208		$	—		$	—	$	5,208
	Interest rate swaps - third party	2,946			—			2,946			—			—		2,946
	Interest rate caps - Santander & affiliates	35,602			—			35,602			—			—		35,602
	Interest rate caps - third party	14,160			—			14,160			—			—		14,160
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	57,916			—			57,916			—			—		57,916
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	—			—			—			—			—		—
	Total derivative assets	$	57,916		$	—		$	57,916		$	—		$	—	$	57,916
	Total financial assets	$	57,916		$	—		$	57,916		$	—		$	—	$	57,916
		Offsetting of Financial Liabilities
											Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
											Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
		Gross			Gross Amounts			Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented			Financial			Cash		Net
		Amounts of			Offset in the Condensed			in the Condensed			Instruments			Collateral		Amount
		Recognized			Consolidated			Consolidated						Pledged
		Liabilities			Balance Sheet			Balance Sheet
	March 31, 2015
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	$	22,063		$	(13,480	)	$	8,583		$	—		$	—	$	8,583
	Interest rate swaps - third party	9,230			(5,091		)	$	4,139		$	—		$	—	$	4,139
	Back to back - Santander & affiliates	22,310			(22,310		)	$	—		—			—		—
	Back to back - third party	9,304			(9,304		)	$	—		—			—		—
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	$	62,907		$	(50,185	)	$	12,722		$	—		$	—	$	12,722
	Total return swap	$	1,422		$	(1,422	)	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	$	1,422		$	(1,422	)	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—
	Total derivative liabilities	$	64,329		$	(51,607	)	$	12,722		$	—		$	—	$	12,722
	Total financial liabilities	$	64,329		$	(51,607	)	$	12,722		$	—		$	—	$	12,722
	December 31, 2014
	Interest rate swaps - Santander & affiliates	15,783			(4,308		)	11,475			—			—		11,475
	Interest rate swaps - third party	719			(191		)	528			—			—		528
	Back to back - Santander & affiliates	35,602			(35,602		)	—			—			—		—
	Back to back - third party	14,204			(14,204		)	—			—			—		—
	Total derivatives subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	66,308			(54,305		)	12,003			—			—		12,003
	Total return swap	1,736			(1,736		)	—			—			—		—
	Total derivatives not subject to a master netting arrangement or similar arrangement	1,736			(1,736		)	—			—			—		—
	Total derivative liabilities	68,044			(56,041		)	12,003			—			—		12,003
	Total financial liabilities	68,044			(56,041		)	12,003			—			—		12,003
Gross Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	The impacts on the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2015
		Gains (Losses)			Gross Gains (Losses) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Gross Gains (Losses) Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to Interest Expense
		Recognized in
		Interest Expense
	Interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges	$	223		$	(31,536	)	$	(11,071	)
	Derivative instruments not designated as hedges	$	(2,429	)
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2014
		Gains (Losses)			Gross Gains (Losses) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Gross Gains (Losses) Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to Interest Expense
		Recognized in
		Interest Expense
	Interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges	$	138		$	654		$	(2,664	)
	Derivative instruments not designated as hedges	$	5,189

Other_Assets_Tables

Other Assets (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Other Assets [Abstract]
Other Assets	Other assets were comprised as follows:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2015		2014
	Upfront fee (a)	$	121,250	$	125,000
	Vehicles (b)	159,613		134,926
	Manufacturer subvention payments receivable (a)	101,551		70,213
	Accounts receivable	22,166		18,440
	Prepaids	36,175		35,906
	Derivative assets (Note 7)	9,275		17,106
	Other	2,242		1,825
		$	452,272	$	403,416
	(a)	These amounts relate to the Chrysler Agreement. The Company paid a $150,000 upfront fee upon the May 2013 inception of the agreement. The fee is being amortized into finance and other interest income over a ten-year term. As the preferred financing provider for Chrysler, the Company is entitled to subvention payments on loans and leases with below-market customer payments.
	(b)	Includes vehicles obtained through repossession as well as vehicles obtained due to lease terminations.

RelatedParty_Transactions_Tabl

Related-Party Transactions (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Information on Related Party Transactions	Accrued interest for affiliate lines/letters of credit at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, was as follows:
		March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
	Line of credit agreement with Santander - New York Branch (Note 5)	$	8,670	$	7,750
	Line of credit agreement with SHUSA (Note 5)	230		242
	Letter of credit facility with Santander - New York Branch	—		128
	Interest expense, including unused fees, for affiliate lines/letters of credit for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2015		March 31, 2014
	Line of credit agreement with Santander - New York Branch (Note 5)	$	25,484	$	24,874
	Line of credit agreement with SHUSA (Note 5)	1,290		363
	Letter of credit facility with Santander - New York Branch	—		125
	Other information on the consumer vehicle lease portfolio serviced for SBNA as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is as follows:
		March 31,		December 31, 2014
		2015
	Total serviced portfolio	$	2,328,240	$	1,989,967
	Lease fundings due from owner	6,038		3,365
	Origination and servicing fees receivable	3,169		10,345
	Revenue share reimbursement receivable	3,345		1,694
	Other information on the serviced auto loan and retail installment contract portfolios for SBNA as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is as follows:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2015		2014
	Total serviced portfolio	$	843,475	$	896,300
	Cash collections due to owner	22,874		21,415
	Servicing fees receivable	2,073		2,171

Computation_of_Basic_and_Dilut1

Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Summary of Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2015		2014
	Earnings per common share
	Net income	$	289,250	$	81,466
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding before restricted participating shares (in thousands)	348,955		347,518
	Weighted average number of participating restricted common shares outstanding (in thousands)	467		584
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands)	349,422		348,102
	Earnings per common share	$	0.83	$	0.23
	Earnings per common share - assuming dilution
	Net income	$	289,250	$	81,466
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands)	349,422		348,102
	Effect of employee stock-based awards (in thousands)	7,232		8,223
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - assuming dilution (in thousands)	356,654		356,325
	Earnings per common share - assuming dilution	$	0.81	$	0.23

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Summary of Fair Value Estimates, Methods and Assumptions	Fair value estimates, methods, and assumptions are as follows:
			March 31, 2015							December 31, 2014
		Level	Carrying			Estimated				Carrying			Estimated
			Value			Fair Value				Value			Fair Value
	Cash and cash equivalents (a)	1	$	26,952		$	26,952			$	33,157		$	33,157
	Receivables held for sale (b)	2	1,045,869			1,102,620				46,585			46,585
	Finance receivables held for investment, net (c)	3	24,650,372			26,390,127				23,915,551			25,576,337
	Restricted cash (a)	1	2,687,304			2,687,304				1,920,857			1,920,857
	Notes payable — credit facilities (d)	3	7,338,550			7,338,550				6,402,327			6,402,327
	Notes payable — secured structured financings (e)	2	18,000,121			18,104,855				17,718,974			17,810,062
	Notes payable — related party (f)	3	4,375,000			4,375,000				3,690,000			3,690,000
	(a)	Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash — The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, is at an approximated fair value as the instruments mature within 90 days or less and bear interest at market rates.
	(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 usually in the following month.
	(c)	Finance receivables held for investment, net — The carrying value and estimated fair value of finance receivables held for investment, net are reported at the aggregate carrying value and estimated fair value of the following financial instruments:
	•	Retail installment contracts held for investment — Retail installment contracts held for investment are carried at amortized cost, net of credit loss allowance. The estimated fair value is calculated based on estimated market rates for similar contracts with similar credit risks.
	•	Personal loans, net — Personal loans are carried at amortized cost, net of credit loss allowance. The estimated fair value is calculated based on estimated market rates for similar loans with similar credit risks.
	•	Receivables from dealers held for investment, net — Receivables from dealers held for investment are carried at amortized cost, net of credit loss allowance. The estimated fair value is calculated based on estimated market rates for similar receivables with similar credit risks.
	•	Capital lease receivables, net — Capital lease receivables are carried at amortized cost, net of the allowance for lease losses. The estimated fair value is calculated based on estimated market rates for similar contracts with similar credit risks.
	(d)	Notes payable — credit facilities — The carrying amount of notes payable related to revolving credit facilities is estimated to approximate fair value. Management believes that the terms of these credit agreements approximate market terms for similar credit agreements.
	(e)	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.
	(f)	Notes payable — related party — The carrying amount of notes payable to a related party is estimated to approximate fair value. Management believes that the terms of these credit agreements approximate market terms for similar credit agreements.
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, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy:
		Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2015
		Total			Quoted Prices				Significant			Significant
					in Active				Other			Unobservable
					Markets for				Observable			Inputs
					Identical Assets				Inputs			(Level 3)
					(Level 1)				(Level 2)
	Other assets — trading interest rate caps (a)	$	9,275		$	—			$	9,275		$	—
	Due from affiliates — trading interest rate caps (a)	22,310			—				22,310			—
	Due from affiliates — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	111			—				111			—
	Other liabilities — trading options for interest rate caps (a)	9,304			—				9,304			—
	Due to affiliates — trading options for interest rate caps (a)	22,310			—				22,310			—
	Other liabilities — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	5,716			—				5,716			—
	Due to affiliates — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	10,810			—				10,810			—
	Other liabilities — trading interest rate swaps (a)	3,514			—				3,514			—
	Due to affiliates — trading interest rate swaps (a)	11,253			—				11,253			—
	Other liabilities — total return swap (b)	1,422			—				1,422			—
	Residual guarantee liability (Note 10)	1,992			—				—			1,992
		Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014
		Total			Quoted Prices			Significant			Significant
					in Active			Other			Unobservable
					Markets for			Observable			Inputs
					Identical Assets			Inputs			(Level 3)
					(Level 1)			(Level 2)
	Other assets — trading interest rate caps (a)	$	14,160		—			14,160			—
	Due from affiliates — trading interest rate caps (a)	35,602			—			35,602			—
	Other assets — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	2,796			—			2,796			—
	Due from affiliates — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	4,823			—			4,823			—
	Other assets — trading interest rate swaps (a)	150			—			150			—
	Due from affiliates — trading interest rate swaps (a)	385			—			385			—
	Other liabilities — trading options for interest rate caps (a)	14,204			—			14,204			—
	Due to affiliates — trading options for interest rate caps (a)	35,602			—			35,602			—
	Other liabilities — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	443			—			476			—
	Due to affiliates — cash flow hedging interest rate swaps (a)	3,316			—			3,316			—
	Other liabilities — trading interest rate swaps (a)	276			—			243			—
	Due to affiliates — trading interest rate swaps (a)	12,467			—			12,467			—
	Other liabilities — total return swap (b)	1,736			—			1,736			—
	(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. The Company utilizes 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, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy:
		Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2015
		Total			Quoted Prices				Significant			Significant
					in Active				Other			Unobservable
					Markets for				Observable			Inputs
					Identical Assets				Inputs			(Level 3)
					(Level 1)				(Level 2)
	Other assets — vehicles	$	159,613		$	—			$	159,613		$	—

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Tables

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
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, 2015 is as follows:
		Shares		Weighted		Weighted	Aggregate
				Average		Average	Intrinsic
				Exercise		Remaining	Value
				Price		Contractual
						Term (Years)
	Options outstanding at January 1, 2015	21,357,911		$	10.82	7.2	$	187,637
	Granted	126,684		22.72
	Exercised	(964,865	)	9.57			11,332
	Expired	—		—
	Forfeited	(87,808	)	14.84
	Options outstanding at March 31, 2015	20,431,922		10.94		6.9	249,262
	Options exercisable at March 31, 2015	16,150,877		10.08		6.8	210,968

Shareholders_Equity_Tables

Shareholders' Equity (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015										Mar. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
Summary of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	A summary of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 is as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2015			Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	Beginning balance, unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	$	3,553		$	(2,853	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before	(19,791		)	412
	reclassifications
	Amounts reclassified out of accumulated	6,948			1,676
	other comprehensive income (loss) (a)
	Ending balance, unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	$	(9,290	)	$	(765	)
	(a)	Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consist of the following:
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2015					Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	Reclassification	Amount reclassified			Income statement line item		Amount reclassified			Income statement line item
	Cash flow hedges:
	Settlements of derivatives	$	11,071		Interest expense		$	2,664		Interest expense
	Tax expense (benefit)	(4,123		)			(988		)
	Net of tax	$	6,948				$	1,676
Reclassification of Amounts Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)											Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consist of the following:
												Three Months Ended March 31, 2015				Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
											Reclassification	Amount reclassified			Income statement line item	Amount reclassified			Income statement line item
											Cash flow hedges:
											Settlements of derivatives	$	11,071		Interest expense	$	2,664		Interest expense
											Tax expense (benefit)	(4,123		)		(988		)
											Net of tax	$	6,948			$	1,676

Description_of_Business_Basis_2

Description of Business, Basis of Presentation, and Significant Accounting Policies and Practices - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
	segment
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments	1
SHUSA
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Ownership percentage held by third parties	60.30%
DDFS LLC
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Ownership percentage held by third parties	10.00%
Public Shareholders
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Ownership percentage held by third parties	29.60%
Other Related Parties
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Ownership percentage held by third parties	0.10%
Chrysler Group
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Financing contract term	10 years

Finance_Receivables_Additional

Finance Receivables - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts held for sale	$1,044,781,000		$45,424,000
Principal amount sold on loans securitized	919,078,000	1,685,723,000
Servicing of sold retail installment contracts	7,498,092,000		7,372,884,000
Proceeds from sale of charged off assets	38,376,000	0
Unpaid principal balance of fleet contracts with commercial consumers	876,888,000		816,100,000
Utilized Balance	7,338,550,000		6,402,327,000
Texas
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts held for investment	18.00%
Percentage of unsecured consumer loans	8.00%
Florida
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts held for investment	11.00%
Percentage of unsecured consumer loans	7.00%
California
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts held for investment	9.00%
Percentage of remaining receivable from dealers held for investment	15.00%
Percentage of unsecured consumer loans	11.00%
Georgia
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts held for investment	5.00%
Other States (less than 5%)
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts held for investment	5.00%
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	31.00%
Virginia
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]
Percentage of remaining receivable from dealers held for investment	21.00%
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%
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	6.00%
Receivables From Dealers
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts held for sale	1,088,000		1,161,000
Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment
Schedule Of Financing Receivables [Line Items]
Committed amount	50,000,000		50,000,000
Utilized Balance	$50,000,000		$50,000,000

Finance_Receivables_Summary_of

Finance Receivables - Summary of Finance Receivables Held for Investment (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid principal balance	$687,590	$846,355
Outstanding recorded investment	720,731	873,134
Less: Impairment	-183,537	-189,275
Outstanding recorded investment, net of impairment	537,194	683,859
Retail Installment Contracts Acquired Individually
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	22,121,352	21,270,586
Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	101,280	99,490
Personal Loans
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	1,761,937	1,779,777
Unpaid Principal Balance | Retail Installment Contracts Acquired Individually
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	25,506,977	24,555,106
Unpaid Principal Balance | Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	102,410	100,164
Unpaid Principal Balance | Personal Loans
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	2,115,496	2,128,769
Credit Loss Allowance | Retail Installment Contracts Acquired Individually
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	-2,822,712	-2,726,338
Credit Loss Allowance | Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	-1,130	-674
Credit Loss Allowance | Personal Loans
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	-352,878	-348,660
Discount | Retail Installment Contracts Acquired Individually
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	-606,576	-597,862
Discount | Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	0	0
Discount | Personal Loans
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	-1,972	-1,356
Capitalized Origination Costs and Fees | Retail Installment Contracts Acquired Individually
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	43,663	39,680
Capitalized Origination Costs and Fees | Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	0	0
Capitalized Origination Costs and Fees | Personal Loans
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Retail installment contracts and loans held for investment	$1,291	$1,024

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, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Certain Loans Acquired in Transfer Not Accounted for as Debt Securities, Accretable Yield Movement Schedule [Roll Forward]
Balance — beginning of period	$264,416	$403,400
Additions (loans acquired during the period)	0	0
Accretion of accretable yield	-26,905	-65,046
Reclassifications from nonaccretable difference	6,144	24,469
Balance — end of period	$243,655	$362,823

Leases_Summary_of_Leased_Vehic

Leases - Summary of Leased Vehicles (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property Subject To Or Available For Operating Lease [Line Items]
Leased vehicles	$6,687,042	$6,309,096
Origination fees and other costs	7,704	4,190
Manufacturer subvention payments	-660,638	-645,874
Leased vehicles, gross	6,034,108	5,667,412
Less: accumulated depreciation	-991,689	-804,629
Leased vehicles, net	5,042,419	4,862,783
Chrysler Group
Property Subject To Or Available For Operating Lease [Line Items]
Leased vehicles, net	561,334
Net book value	$488,919

Leases_Future_Minimum_Rental_P

Leases - Future Minimum Rental Payments Due to Lessor under Operating Leases (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Leases [Abstract]
Remainder of 2015	$752,063
2016	869,056
2017	405,463
2018	40,153
2019	56
Thereafter	4
Total	$2,066,795

Leases_Summary_of_Capital_Leas

Leases - Summary of Capital Lease Receivables (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Leases [Abstract]
Gross investment in capital leases	$212,898	$137,543
Origination fees and other	164	78
Less unearned income	-69,271	-46,193
Net investment in capital leases before allowance	143,791	91,428
Less: allowance for lease losses	-15,182	-9,589
Net investment in capital leases	$128,609	$81,839

Leases_Future_Minimum_Rental_R

Leases - Future Minimum Rental Receivable under Capital Leases (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Leases [Abstract]
Remainder of 2015	$38,906
2016	51,876
2017	51,826
2018	50,628
2019	19,661
Thereafter	1
Total	$212,898

Credit_Loss_Allowance_and_Cred2

Credit Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items]
Receivables that were 31 days or more delinquent	$2,572,434,000	$3,553,890,000
Unpaid principal balance of fleet contracts with commercial consumers	876,888,000	816,100,000
Receivables From Dealers
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items]
Receivables that were 31 days or more delinquent	0	0
Receivables that were non-performing	0	0
Receivables classified as a TDR	0	0
Fleet Contract Receivables | Special Mention
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items]
Fleet loans classified as Special Mention	$908,000

Credit_Loss_Allowance_and_Cred3

Credit Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Activity in Credit Loss Allowance (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Retail Installment Contracts Acquired Individually
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Balance — beginning of period	$2,726,338	$2,132,634
Provision for credit losses	507,148	656,706
Charge-offs	-926,993	-752,565
Recoveries	543,336	407,777
Transfers to held-for-sale	-27,117	0
Balance — end of period	2,822,712	2,444,552
Receivables from Dealers Held for Investments
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Balance — beginning of period	674	1,090
Provision for credit losses	456	-55
Charge-offs	0	0
Recoveries	0	0
Transfers to held-for-sale	0	0
Balance — end of period	1,130	1,035
Personal Loans
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Balance — beginning of period	348,660	179,350
Provision for credit losses	97,703	62,129
Charge-offs	-99,690	-40,948
Recoveries	6,205	2,659
Transfers to held-for-sale	0	0
Balance — end of period	352,878	203,190
Capital Lease Receivable
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Balance — beginning of period	9,589
Provision for credit losses	5,776
Charge-offs	-1,997
Recoveries	1,814
Balance — end of period	$15,182

Credit_Loss_Allowance_and_Cred4

Credit Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Activity in Credit Loss Allowance Related to Purchased Receivables Portfolios (Details) (Purchased Receivables Portfolios, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Purchased Receivables Portfolios
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Balance — beginning of period	$188,639	$226,356
Incremental provisions for purchased receivables portfolios	300	1,325
Incremental reversal of provisions for purchased receivables portfolios	-5,402	-21,511
Balance — end of period	$183,537	$206,170

Credit_Loss_Allowance_and_Cred5

Credit Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Delinquencies (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Principal, 31-60 days past due	$1,799,746,000	$2,450,837,000
Delinquent principal over 60 days	772,688,000	1,103,053,000
Total delinquent principal	2,572,434,000	3,553,890,000
Loans Acquired Individually
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Principal, 31-60 days past due	1,716,139,000	2,319,203,000
Delinquent principal over 60 days	729,274,000	1,030,580,000
Total delinquent principal	2,445,413,000	3,349,783,000
Purchased Receivables Portfolios
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Principal, 31-60 days past due	83,607,000	131,634,000
Delinquent principal over 60 days	43,414,000	72,473,000
Total delinquent principal	127,021,000	204,107,000
Personal Loans
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Principal, 31-60 days past due	58,389,000	52,452,000
Delinquent principal over 60 days	140,636,000	138,400,000
Total delinquent principal	$199,025,000	$190,852,000

Credit_Loss_Allowance_and_Cred6

Credit Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Credit Risk Profile (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Retail Installment Contracts
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Consumer loans without FICO scores	$3,414,726	$2,945,297
FICO Band 540
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment	28.10%	26.40%
Personal Loans	3.20%	3.30%
FICO Band 540-599
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment	34.20%	32.60%
Personal Loans	19.20%	20.10%
FICO Band 600-639
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment	20.50%	20.50%
Personal Loans	21.10%	21.40%
FICO Band 640
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Retail Installment Contracts Held for Investment	17.20%	20.50%
Personal Loans	56.50%	55.20%

Credit_Loss_Allowance_and_Cred7

Credit Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators for Receivables from Dealers Held for Investment (Details) (Receivables From Dealers, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators	$102,410	$100,164
Pass
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators	98,087	97,903
Special Mention
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators	4,323	2,261
Substandard
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators	0	0
Doubtful
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators	0	0
Loss
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Commercial Loan Credit Quality Indicators	$0	$0

Credit_Loss_Allowance_and_Cred8

Credit Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Company's TDRs (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Retail Installment Contracts
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]
Outstanding recorded investment	$4,616,216	$4,207,037
Impairment	-878,278	-797,240
Outstanding recorded investment, net of impairment	3,737,938	3,409,797
Personal Loans
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]
Outstanding recorded investment	17,261	17,356
Impairment	-6,904	-6,939
Outstanding recorded investment, net of impairment	$10,357	$10,417

Credit_Loss_Allowance_and_Cred9

Credit Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Performing and Non-performing TDRs (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Retail Installment Contracts
Troubled Debt Restructuring Debtor Current Period [Line Items]
Principal, 31-60 days past due	$819,597	$929,095
Delinquent principal over 60 days	400,790	515,235
Total delinquent TDR principal	1,220,387	1,444,330
Personal Loans
Troubled Debt Restructuring Debtor Current Period [Line Items]
Principal, 31-60 days past due	1,685	1,595
Delinquent principal over 60 days	5,245	5,131
Total delinquent TDR principal	$6,930	$6,726

Recovered_Sheet1

Credit 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, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Retail Installment Contracts
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]
Average outstanding recorded investment in TDRs	$3,573,868	$2,707,637
Interest income recognized	196,976	120,451
Personal Loans
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]
Average outstanding recorded investment in TDRs	10,387	8,996
Interest income recognized	$589	$329

Recovered_Sheet2

Credit Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Loan Modification Accounted as TDRs (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
	contract	contract
Retail Installment Contracts
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]
Outstanding recorded investment before TDR	$875,809	$624,009
Outstanding recorded investment after TDR	874,371	581,053
Number of contracts	52,319,000	39,229,000
Personal Loans
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]
Outstanding recorded investment before TDR	5,394	11,495
Outstanding recorded investment after TDR	$5,356	$11,336
Number of contracts	4,468,000	14,829,000

Recovered_Sheet3

Credit Loss Allowance and Credit Quality - Summary of Defaults in Loan Modifications Accounted as TDRs (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
	contract	contract
Retail Installment Contracts
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]
Recorded investment in TDRs that subsequently defaulted	$158,518	$11,389
Number of contracts	11,654,000	1,348,000
Personal Loans
Financing Receivable Modifications [Line Items]
Recorded investment in TDRs that subsequently defaulted	$1,411
Number of contracts	1,411,000

Debt_Schedule_of_Credit_Facili

Debt - Schedule of Credit Facilities (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Utilized Balance	$7,338,550,000	$6,402,327,000
Unsecured Debt
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Utilized Balance	2,680,814,000	2,152,625,000
Warehouse line, due June 2015
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	2015-06	2015-06
Utilized Balance	388,435,000	243,736,000
Committed Amount	500,000,000	500,000,000
Effective Rate	0.98%	1.17%
Assets Pledged	558,135,000	344,822,000
Restricted Cash Pledged	0	0
Warehouse line, due Various
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	Various	Various
Utilized Balance	890,965,000	397,452,000
Committed Amount	1,247,302,000	1,244,318,000
Effective Rate	1.00%	1.26%
Assets Pledged	1,305,875,000	589,529,000
Restricted Cash Pledged	32,484,000	20,661,000
Warehouse line, due June 2016
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	2016-06	2016-06
Utilized Balance	2,465,041,000	2,201,511,000
Committed Amount	4,300,000,000	4,300,000,000
Effective Rate	0.93%	0.98%
Assets Pledged	3,719,820,000	3,249,263,000
Restricted Cash Pledged	85,180,000	65,414,000
Warehouse line, due June 2016
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date		2016-06
Utilized Balance		1,051,777,000
Committed Amount		2,500,000,000
Effective Rate		1.06%
Assets Pledged		1,481,135,000
Restricted Cash Pledged		28,316,000
Warehouse line, due December 2016
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	2016-12
Utilized Balance	1,575,977,000
Committed Amount	2,500,000,000
Effective Rate	1.05%
Assets Pledged	2,222,916,000
Restricted Cash Pledged	46,853,000
Warehouse line, due July 2015
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	2015-07	2015-07
Utilized Balance	0	0
Committed Amount	500,000,000	500,000,000
Effective Rate	0.00%	0.00%
Assets Pledged	0	0
Restricted Cash Pledged	0	0
Warehouse line, due September 2015
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	2015-09	2015-09
Utilized Balance	199,980,000	199,980,000
Committed Amount	200,000,000	200,000,000
Effective Rate	2.00%	1.96%
Assets Pledged	351,512,000	351,755,000
Restricted Cash Pledged	15,926,000	13,169,000
Repurchase facility, due Various
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	Various	Various
Utilized Balance	892,571,000	923,225,000
Committed Amount	892,571,000	923,225,000
Effective Rate	1.64%	1.63%
Assets Pledged	0	0
Restricted Cash Pledged	32,936,000	34,184,000
Warehouse line, due December 2015
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date		2015-12
Utilized Balance		468,565,000
Committed Amount		750,000,000
Effective Rate		0.93%
Assets Pledged		641,709,000
Restricted Cash Pledged		16,467,000
Warehouse line, due March 2016
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	2016-03
Utilized Balance	0
Committed Amount	750,000,000
Effective Rate	0.00%
Assets Pledged	0
Restricted Cash Pledged	0
Warehouse line, due November 2016
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	2016-11	2016-11
Utilized Balance	175,000,000	175,000,000
Committed Amount	175,000,000	175,000,000
Effective Rate	1.73%	1.71%
Assets Pledged	0	0
Restricted Cash Pledged	0	0
Warehouse line, due October 2016
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date		2016-10
Utilized Balance	249,987,000	240,487,000
Committed Amount	250,000,000	250,000,000
Effective Rate	2.05%	2.02%
Assets Pledged	308,279,000	299,195,000
Restricted Cash Pledged	19,139,000	17,143,000
Warehouse line, due November 2016
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	2016-11	2016-11
Utilized Balance	250,000,000	250,000,000
Committed Amount	250,000,000	250,000,000
Effective Rate	1.73%	1.71%
Assets Pledged	0	0
Restricted Cash Pledged	2,500,000	2,500,000
Repurchase facility, due May 2015
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	2015-05
Utilized Balance	250,594,000
Committed Amount	250,594,000
Effective Rate	1.02%
Assets Pledged	0
Restricted Cash Pledged	0
Warehouse line, due March 2015
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date		2015-03
Utilized Balance		250,594,000
Committed Amount		250,594,000
Effective Rate		0.98%
Assets Pledged		0
Restricted Cash Pledged		0
Total facilities with third parties
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Utilized Balance	7,338,550,000	6,402,327,000
Committed Amount	11,815,467,000	11,843,137,000
Assets Pledged	8,466,537,000	6,957,408,000
Restricted Cash Pledged	235,018,000	197,854,000
Line of credit, due December 2016
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	2016-12	2016-12
Utilized Balance	500,000,000	500,000,000
Committed Amount	500,000,000	500,000,000
Effective Rate	2.47%	2.46%
Assets Pledged	1,074,000	1,340,000
Restricted Cash Pledged	0	0
Line of credit, due December 2018
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	2018-12	2018-12
Utilized Balance	250,000,000	0
Committed Amount	500,000,000	500,000,000
Effective Rate	3.23%	0.00%
Assets Pledged	0	0
Restricted Cash Pledged	0	0
Line of credit, due December 2016
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	2016-12	2016-12
Utilized Balance	1,750,000,000	1,750,000,000
Committed Amount	1,750,000,000	1,750,000,000
Effective Rate	2.36%	2.33%
Assets Pledged	0	0
Restricted Cash Pledged	0	0
Line of credit, due December 2018
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	2018-12	2018-12
Utilized Balance	1,575,000,000	1,140,000,000
Committed Amount	1,750,000,000	1,750,000,000
Effective Rate	2.82%	2.85%
Assets Pledged	7,076,000	9,701,000
Restricted Cash Pledged	0	0
Line of credit, due March 2017
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity Date	2017-03	2017-03
Utilized Balance	300,000,000	300,000,000
Committed Amount	300,000,000	300,000,000
Effective Rate	1.72%	1.71%
Assets Pledged	0	0
Restricted Cash Pledged	0	0
Total facilities with Santander and related subsidiaries
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Utilized Balance	4,375,000,000	3,690,000,000
Committed Amount	4,800,000,000	4,800,000,000
Assets Pledged	8,150,000	11,041,000
Restricted Cash Pledged	0	0
Repurchase Facilities with Maturity up to 30 Days
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt term	30 days
Repurchase Facilities with Maturity up to 90 Days
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt term	90 days
Revolving credit facilities
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Utilized Balance	11,713,550,000	10,092,327,000
Committed Amount	16,615,467,000	16,643,137,000
Assets Pledged	8,474,687,000	6,968,449,000
Restricted Cash Pledged	$235,018,000	$197,854,000

Debt_Summary_of_Secured_Struct

Debt - Summary of Secured Structured Financings (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance	$17,718,974	18,000,121	$18,000,121
Initial Note Amounts Issued	6,402,327	7,338,550	7,338,550
Secured Structured Financings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance	17,718,974	18,000,121	18,000,121
Initial Note Amounts Issued	35,182,041	36,005,751	36,005,751
Collateral	23,460,239	23,692,093	23,692,093
Restricted Cash	1,465,085	1,624,242	1,624,242
Secured Structured Financings | 2010 Securitizations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	2017-11
Balance	81,907
Initial Note Amounts Issued	1,632,420
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.04%
Collateral	234,706
Restricted Cash	58,740
Secured Structured Financings | 2011 Securitizations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance	421,315	340,146	340,146
Initial Note Amounts Issued	3,536,550	3,536,550	3,536,550
Collateral	699,875	591,769	591,769
Restricted Cash	115,962	118,104	118,104
Secured Structured Financings | 2011 Securitizations | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	2016-06	2016-06
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.21%	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%	2.02%	2.02%
Secured Structured Financings | 2012 Securitizations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance	2,296,687	1,963,264	1,963,264
Initial Note Amounts Issued	8,023,840	8,023,840	8,023,840
Collateral	3,006,426	2,622,237	2,622,237
Restricted Cash	318,373	325,228	325,228
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%	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%	1.68%
Secured Structured Financings | 2013 Securitizations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance	3,426,242	3,031,810	3,031,810
Initial Note Amounts Issued	6,689,700	6,689,700	6,689,700
Collateral	4,231,006	3,762,550	3,762,550
Restricted Cash	320,182	334,321	334,321
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%	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%	1.59%
Secured Structured Financings | 2014 Securitizations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance	5,211,346	4,579,011	4,579,011
Initial Note Amounts Issued	6,800,420	6,800,420	6,800,420
Collateral	6,173,229	5,553,720	5,553,720
Restricted Cash	370,790	403,805	403,805
Secured Structured Financings | 2014 Securitizations | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	2018-08	2018-08
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.16%	1.16%	1.16%
Secured Structured Financings | 2014 Securitizations | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	2021-01	2021-01
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.72%	1.72%	1.72%
Secured Structured Financings | 2015 Securitizations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance		1,919,496	1,919,496
Initial Note Amounts Issued		1,962,380	1,962,380
Collateral		2,346,548	2,346,548
Restricted Cash		119,978	119,978
Secured Structured Financings | 2015 Securitizations | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Estimated Maturity Dates		2021-04
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate		1.39%	1.39%
Secured Structured Financings | 2015 Securitizations | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Estimated Maturity Dates		2022-07
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate		1.97%	1.97%
Secured Structured Financings | Public Securitizations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance	11,437,497	11,833,727	11,833,727
Initial Note Amounts Issued	26,682,930	27,012,890	27,012,890
Collateral	14,345,242	14,876,824	14,876,824
Restricted Cash	1,184,047	1,301,436	1,301,436
Secured Structured Financings | 2010 Private Issuances
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	2011-06	2011-06
Balance	172,652	156,859	156,859
Initial Note Amounts Issued	516,000	516,000	516,000
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.29%	1.29%	1.29%
Collateral	303,361	287,477	287,477
Restricted Cash	8,009	8,468	8,468
Secured Structured Financings | 2011 Private Issuances
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	2018-12	2018-12
Balance	859,309	701,700	701,700
Initial Note Amounts Issued	1,700,000	1,700,000	1,700,000
Collateral	1,316,903	1,160,946	1,160,946
Restricted Cash	52,524	56,333	56,333
Secured Structured Financings | 2011 Private Issuances | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.46%	1.46%	1.46%
Secured Structured Financings | 2011 Private Issuances | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.80%
Secured Structured Financings | 2012 Private Issuances
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	2016-05	2016-05
Balance	5,682	2,698	2,698
Initial Note Amounts Issued	70,308	70,308	70,308
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.07%	1.07%	1.07%
Collateral	11,760	8,904	8,904
Restricted Cash	1,086	995	995
Secured Structured Financings | 2013 Private Issuances
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance	2,629,278	2,487,845	2,487,845
Initial Note Amounts Issued	2,693,754	2,693,754	2,693,754
Collateral	3,703,685	3,487,720	3,487,720
Restricted Cash	98,063	121,222	121,222
Advances on private issuance			609,571
Secured Structured Financings | 2013 Private Issuances | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	2018-09	2018-09
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.13%	1.13%	1.13%
Secured Structured Financings | 2013 Private Issuances | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	2020-09	2020-09
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.38%	1.38%	1.38%
Secured Structured Financings | 2014 Private Issuances
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance	2,614,556	2,324,876	2,324,876
Initial Note Amounts Issued	3,519,049	3,519,049	3,519,049
Collateral	3,779,288	3,177,351	3,177,351
Restricted Cash	121,356	120,187	120,187
Secured Structured Financings | 2014 Private Issuances | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	2015-11	2015-11
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.05%	1.05%	1.05%
Secured Structured Financings | 2014 Private Issuances | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Estimated Maturity Dates	2021-12	2021-12
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.85%	1.85%	1.85%
Secured Structured Financings | 2015 Private Issuances
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Estimated Maturity Dates		2018-03
Balance		492,416	492,416
Initial Note Amounts Issued		493,750	493,750
Initial Weighted Average Interest Rate		1.44%	1.44%
Collateral		692,871	692,871
Restricted Cash		15,601	15,601
Secured Structured Financings | Privately Issued Amortizing Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance	6,281,477	6,166,394	6,166,394
Initial Note Amounts Issued	8,499,111	8,992,861	8,992,861
Collateral	9,114,997	8,815,269	8,815,269
Restricted Cash	$281,038	322,806	$322,806

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 06, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable — credit facilities	$7,338,550,000		$6,402,327,000
Interest expense on secured structured financing	60,852,000	59,862,000
Maturity Year One
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt term	3 years
Credit facility maturity date	31-Dec-16
Maturity Year Two
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt term	5 years
Credit facility maturity date	31-Dec-18
Total facilities with Santander and related subsidiaries
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Committed amount	4,500,000,000
Line of Credit Facility Five
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Committed amount				$300,000,000

Variable_Interest_Entities_Sum

Variable Interest Entities - Summary of Assets and Liabilities Related to VIEs (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Securitization Financial Asset For Which Transfer Is Accounted As Sale [Line Items]
Restricted cash	$2,687,304	$1,920,857
Various other assets	452,272	403,416
Notes payable	7,338,550	6,402,327
Various other liabilities	151,441	98,654
Variable Interest Entities
Securitization Financial Asset For Which Transfer Is Accounted As Sale [Line Items]
Restricted cash	1,852,825	1,626,257
Finance receivables held for investment, net	21,823,803	21,366,121
Leased vehicles, net	5,042,419	4,862,783
Various other assets	2,393,301	1,301,992
Notes payable	29,695,230	27,796,999
Various other liabilities	$2,086	$0

Variable_Interest_Entities_Sum1

Variable Interest Entities - Summary of Cash Flows Received from Securitization Trusts (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Assets securitized	$3,981,855	$3,316,248
Net proceeds from new securitizations	3,060,862	2,734,093
Cash received for servicing fees	159,802	145,772
Cash received upon release from reserved and restricted cash accounts	0	749
Net distributions from Trusts	300,487	320,861
Total cash received from Trusts	3,521,151	3,201,475
VIE, Not Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Assets securitized	0	774,183
Net proceeds from new securitizations	0	815,850
Cash received for servicing fees	5,304	2,788
Total cash received from Trusts	$5,304	$818,638

Variable_Interest_Entities_Add

Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Securitization Financial Asset For Which Transfer Is Accounted As Sale [Line Items]
Gross retail installment contracts transferred		$26,187,346,000	$24,611,624,000
Chrysler Capital | VIE, Not Primary Beneficiary
Securitization Financial Asset For Which Transfer Is Accounted As Sale [Line Items]
Gross retail installment contracts transferred		1,936,169,000	2,157,808,000
Retail installment contracts gross	774,183,000
Gain on retail installment contracts	32,538,000
Maximum exposure to loss, involvement with the VIE		$0

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen2

Derivative Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Company pledged bonds retained in its own securitizations in exchange	250,594,000
Warrant
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Estimated fair value of warrant		$0	$0
Three-Month LIBOR
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Variable rate of three-month LIBOR plus basis points	0.75%

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen3

Derivative Financial Instruments - Summary of Underlying Notional Amounts and Aggregate Fair Values (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Interest Rate Swap | Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional	$7,995,000	$8,020,000
Fair Value	-16,415	3,827
Interest Rate Swap | Not Designated As Hedges
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional	2,939,000	3,206,000
Fair Value	-14,767	-12,175
Interest Rate Cap
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional	8,098,762	7,541,385
Fair Value	31,585	49,762
Options for Interest Rate Cap
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional	8,098,762	7,541,385
Fair Value	-31,614	-49,806
Total Return Swap
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional	250,594	250,594
Fair Value	($1,422)	($1,736)

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen4

Derivative Financial Instruments - Offsetting of Derivative Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Interest Rate Swaps | Santander and Affiliates
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets	$111	$5,208
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	111	5,208
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	111	5,208
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	22,063	15,783
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	-13,480	-4,308
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	8,583	11,475
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	8,583	11,475
Interest Rate Swaps | Third Party
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets	0	2,946
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	2,946
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	2,946
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	9,230	719
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	-5,091	-191
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	4,139	528
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	4,139	528
Interest Rate Caps | Santander and Affiliates
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets	22,310	35,602
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	22,310	35,602
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	22,310	35,602
Interest Rate Caps | Third Party
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets	9,275	14,160
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	9,275	14,160
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	9,275	14,160
Derivative Assets Subject to Master Netting Arrangement
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets	31,696	57,916
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	31,696	57,916
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	31,696	57,916
Derivative Assets Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets	0	0
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Derivative Assets
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets	31,696	57,916
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	31,696	57,916
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	31,696	57,916
Financial Assets
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets	31,696	57,916
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	31,696	57,916
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Received, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	31,696	57,916
Back to Back | Santander and Affiliates
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	22,310	35,602
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	-22,310	-35,602
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Back to Back | Third Party
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	9,304	14,204
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	-9,304	-14,204
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Derivative Liabilities Subject to Master Netting Arrangement
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	62,907	66,308
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	-50,185	-54,305
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	12,722	12,003
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	12,722	12,003
Total Return Swap
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	1,422	1,736
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	-1,422	-1,736
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Derivative Liabilities Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	1,422	1,736
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	-1,422	-1,736
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Derivative Liabilities
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	64,329	68,044
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	-51,607	-56,041
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	12,722	12,003
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	12,722	12,003
Financial Liabilities
Derivatives Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities	64,329	68,044
Gross Amounts Offset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	-51,607	-56,041
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet	12,722	12,003
Financial Instruments, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Cash Collateral Pledged, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	0	0
Net Amount, Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet	$12,722	$12,003

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen5

Derivative Financial Instruments - Gross Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (Interest Rate Swaps, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) Recognized in Interest Expense	$223	$138
Gross Gains (Losses) Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	-31,536	654
Gross Gains (Losses) Reclassified From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to Interest Expense	-11,071	-2,664
Not Designated As Hedges
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) Recognized in Interest Expense	($2,429)	$5,189

Other_Assets_Details

Other Assets (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	31-May-13	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Other Assets [Line Items]
Other assets		$452,272	$403,416
Upfront fee	150,000
Finance and other interest income amortization period	10 years
Upfront Fee
Other Assets [Line Items]
Other assets		121,250	125,000
Vehicles
Other Assets [Line Items]
Other assets		159,613	134,926
Manufacturer Subvention Payments Receivable
Other Assets [Line Items]
Other assets		101,551	70,213
Accounts Receivable
Other Assets [Line Items]
Other assets		22,166	18,440
Prepaids
Other Assets [Line Items]
Other assets		36,175	35,906
Derivative Assets
Other Assets [Line Items]
Other assets		9,275	17,106
Other
Other Assets [Line Items]
Other assets		$2,242	$1,825

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income tax expense	$141,426	$48,041
Effective tax rate	32.80%	37.10%
Related party taxes receivable	$0		$459

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Feb. 25, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]
Purchase commitment	Under terms of agreements with a peer-to-peer personal lending platform company, 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" (as that term is defined in the agreements) 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 notice period	90 days
Unsecured revolving financing initial term ending	30-Apr-20
Purchase obligation	$6,431,000			$7,706,000
Servicing fees adjustment	147,000	1,920,000
Outstanding repurchase requests	0
Estimated fair value of the guarantee	1,992,000
Violation of Servicemembers Civil Relief Act | Civil Fine
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]
Civil fine, amount			55,000
Violation of Servicemembers Civil Relief Act | Civil Fine to Affected Service Members | Minimum
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]
Civil fine, amount			9,360,000
Violation of Servicemembers Civil Relief Act | Lost Equity for Each Repossession
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]
Civil fine, amount			10,000
Violation of Servicemembers Civil Relief Act | Sought to Collect Repossession-related Fees
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]
Civil fine, amount			5,000
NCEP, LLC
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]
Commitments to sell charged off loan receivables in bankruptcy status	200,000
CBP
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]
Loans servicing, loss-sharing payment ratio	0.50%
SBNA
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]
Indemnification of leases	48,226,000
Bank of America
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]
Commitment to sell loans	300,000,000
Commitment to sell loans, maturity period	31-May-18
Jul-15
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]
Purchase commitment amount	30,000,000
Purchase commitment percent	75.00%
Jul-17
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]
Purchase commitment amount	$30,000,000
Purchase commitment percent	50.00%

RelatedParty_Transactions_Addi

Related-Party Transactions - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Nov. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 23, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Origination in unsecured revolving loans	$4,237,000	($13,493,000)
Cost method investment	6,000,000
Average hourly rate (in usd per hour)	5,800
Capmark
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Ownership percentage by affiliate of noncontrolling interest owner			32.00%
Centerbridge
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners (less than)	0.00%			1.00%	1.00%	7.00%
Bluestem
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Advances on receivables originated under the agreement	158,229,000
Proceeds from receivables originated under the agreement	277,360,000
Santander and Affiliates
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Notional	15,865,525,000			16,330,771,000
Collateral coverage on derivative liabilities	41,360,000			32,118,000
Derivative instrument interest expenses	17,242,000	8,881,000
SBNA
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Servicing fee income on receivables sold	1,457,000	94,000
Referral fee	9,000,000
Referral fee, amortization period	10 years
Unamortized fee balance	7,425,000			7,650,000
Referral fee income	225,000	225,000
Origination income	5,624,000	3,685,000
SBNA | Restricted Cash
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Credit loss indemnification of leases	42,570,000			44,805,000			48,226,000
Produban Servicios Informaticos Generales S.L
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Expenses incurred	102,000	22,000
Cost Method Investment
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Origination in unsecured revolving loans	7,626,000	704,000
Original Equity Investors
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Tax indemnification payments receivable	5,472,000			5,504,000
Chairman and CEO, President and CFO and Board Member
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Area of leased property (in square foot)	373,000
Lease payments	522,000	0
Lease term	12 years
Future minimum payment of lease	83,033,000
Dealer Loan Portfolio | SBNA
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Servicing fee income on receivables sold		801,000
Servicer performance payments		464,000
Relationship management fees receivable	472,000			450,000
Relationship management fee income	1,623,000
Servicing fee expense	86,000
Servicing fees payable	30,000			28,000
Serviced Auto Loan and Retail Installment | SBNA
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Servicing fee income on receivables sold	1,944,000	865,000
Expenses Paid for Use of CEO Private Plane | Chairman and CEO
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Related party, amount of transaction	$183,000	$273,000

Related_Party_Transactions_Int

Related Party Transactions - Interest Expense and Accrued Interest (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Santander
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Line of credit agreement, interest expense (Note 5)	$25,484	$24,874
Letter of credit facility with Santander - New York Branch, interest expense	0	125
Line of credit agreement, accrued interest (Note 5)	8,670		7,750
Letter of credit facility with Santander - New York Branch, accrued interest	0		128
SHUSA
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Line of credit agreement, interest expense (Note 5)	1,290	363
Line of credit agreement, accrued interest (Note 5)	$230		$242

RelatedParty_Transactions_Info

Related-Party Transactions - Information on Serviced Auto Loan and Retail Installment Contract Portfolio (Details) (Serviced Auto Loan and Retail Installment, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Serviced Auto Loan and Retail Installment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total serviced portfolio	$843,475	$896,300
Cash collections due to owner	22,874	21,415
Servicing fees receivable	$2,073	$2,171

RelatedParty_Transactions_Info1

Related-Party Transactions - Information on Consumer Vehicle Lease Portfolio (Details) (SBNA, Consumer Vehicle Lease, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
SBNA | Consumer Vehicle Lease
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Total serviced portfolio	$2,328,240	$1,989,967
Lease fundings due from owner	6,038	3,365
Origination and servicing fees receivable	3,169	10,345
Revenue share reimbursement receivable	$3,345	$1,694

Computation_of_Basic_and_Dilut2

Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Employee stock option awards excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount	1,512,091

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, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings per common share
Net income	$289,250	$81,466
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding before restricted participating shares	348,955,000	347,518,000
Weighted average number of participating restricted common shares outstanding	467,000	584,000
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	349,421,960	348,101,891
Earnings per common share (in usd per share)	$0.83	$0.23
Earnings per common share - assuming dilution
Net income	$289,250	$81,466
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	349,421,960	348,101,891
Effect of employee stock-based awards (in shares)	7,232,000	8,223,000
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - assuming dilution	356,654,466	356,325,036
Earnings per common share - assuming dilution (in usd per share)	$0.81	$0.23

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Summary of Fair Value Estimates, Methods and Assumptions (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$26,952	$33,157	$112,835	$10,531
Finance receivables held for sale	1,045,869	46,585
Finance receivables held for investment, net	24,650,372	23,915,551
Restricted cash	2,687,304	1,920,857
Notes payable — credit facilities	7,338,550	6,402,327
Notes payable — secured structured financings	18,000,121	17,718,974
Notes payable — related party	4,375,000	3,690,000
Carrying Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	26,952	33,157
Finance receivables held for sale	1,045,869	46,585
Finance receivables held for investment, net	24,650,372	23,915,551
Restricted cash	2,687,304	1,920,857
Notes payable — credit facilities	7,338,550	6,402,327
Notes payable — secured structured financings	18,000,121	17,718,974
Notes payable — related party	4,375,000	3,690,000
Estimated Fair Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	26,952	33,157
Finance receivables held for sale	1,102,620	46,585
Finance receivables held for investment, net	26,390,127	25,576,337
Restricted cash	2,687,304	1,920,857
Notes payable — credit facilities	7,338,550	6,402,327
Notes payable — secured structured financings	18,104,855	17,810,062
Notes payable — related party	$4,375,000	$3,690,000

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru3

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Residual guarantee liability	$1,992,000
Transfers out of Level 3	0	0
Total Return Swap
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other liabilities	1,422,000		1,736,000
Interest Rate Caps
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets	9,275,000		14,160,000
Due from affiliates	22,310,000		35,602,000
Interest Rate Swaps
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets			150,000
Due from affiliates			385,000
Other liabilities	3,514,000		276,000
Due to affiliates	11,253,000		12,467,000
Interest Rate Swaps | Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets			2,796,000
Due from affiliates	111,000		4,823,000
Other liabilities	5,716,000		443,000
Due to affiliates	10,810,000		3,316,000
Trading Options for Interest Rate Caps
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other liabilities	9,304,000		14,204,000
Due to affiliates	22,310,000		35,602,000
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Residual guarantee liability	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Total Return Swap
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other liabilities	0		0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Interest Rate Caps
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets	0		0
Due from affiliates	0		0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Interest Rate Swaps
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets			0
Due from affiliates			0
Other liabilities	0		0
Due to affiliates	0		0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Interest Rate Swaps | Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets			0
Due from affiliates	0		0
Other liabilities	0		0
Due to affiliates	0		0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Trading Options for Interest Rate Caps
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other liabilities	0		0
Due to affiliates	0		0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Residual guarantee liability	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Total Return Swap
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other liabilities	1,422,000		1,736,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Interest Rate Caps
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets	9,275,000		14,160,000
Due from affiliates	22,310,000		35,602,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Interest Rate Swaps
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets			150,000
Due from affiliates			385,000
Other liabilities	3,514,000		243,000
Due to affiliates	11,253,000		12,467,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Interest Rate Swaps | Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets			2,796,000
Due from affiliates	111,000		4,823,000
Other liabilities	5,716,000		476,000
Due to affiliates	10,810,000		3,316,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Trading Options for Interest Rate Caps
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other liabilities	9,304,000		14,204,000
Due to affiliates	22,310,000		35,602,000
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Residual guarantee liability	1,992,000
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Total Return Swap
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other liabilities	0		0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Interest Rate Caps
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets	0		0
Due from affiliates	0		0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Interest Rate Swaps
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets			0
Due from affiliates			0
Other liabilities	0		0
Due to affiliates	0		0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Interest Rate Swaps | Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets			0
Due from affiliates	0		0
Other liabilities	0		0
Due to affiliates	0		0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Trading Options for Interest Rate Caps
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other liabilities	0		0
Due to affiliates	$0		$0

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru4

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Nonrecurring Basis (Details) (Vehicles, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets — vehicles	$159,613	$134,926
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets — vehicles	0	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets — vehicles	159,613	134,926
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other assets — vehicles	$0	$0

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Additio

Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 23, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 28, 2013
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common shares stock awards available for grant			29,000,000
Percentage of equity invested in the Company for the stock awards available for grant			8.50%
Common stock , shares issued	85,242,042	350,010,317			349,029,766
Expiration period		10 years
Common stock , par value (in usd per share)	$24	$0.01			$0.01
Stock compensation expense	$117,770
Share-based compensation to executives	33,845
Fair value of options granted in period	10,216	1,074
RSUs
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock vesting period		3 years
Award holding period		1 year
Employees
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock vesting period	5 years
Director
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock vesting period	3 years
Omnibus Incentive Plan
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common shares stock awards available for grant							583,890
Common stock , shares issued						5,192,640
Stock vesting period		5 years
Employee benefits and share-based compensation		$604		$604

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Summary

Employee Benefit Plans - Summary of Stock Options and Related Activity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Options outstanding, shares
Options outstanding, Beginning balance (in shares)	21,357,911,000
Granted (in shares)	126,684,000
Exercised (in shares)	-964,865,000
Expired (in shares)	0
Forfeited (in shares)	-87,808,000
Options outstanding, Ending balance (in shares)	20,431,922,000	21,357,911,000
Options exercisable, Ending balance (in shares)	16,150,877,000
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price
Options outstanding, Weighted average exercise price, Beginning balance (in usd per share)	$10.82
Granted (in usd per share)	$22.72
Exercised (in usd per share)	$9.57
Expired (in usd per share)	$0
Forfeited (in usd per share)	$14.84
Options outstanding, Weighted average exercise price, Ending balance (in usd per share)	$10.94	$10.82
Options exercisable, Weighted average exercise price, Ending balance (in usd per share)	$10.08
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
Options outstanding, Weighted average remaining contractual term (Years)	6 years 10 months 24 days	7 years 2 months 12 days
Options exercisable, Weighted average remaining contractual term (Years)	6 years 9 months 18 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Options outstanding, Aggregate intrinsic value	$249,262	$187,637
Aggregate intrinsic value, Exercised	11,332
Options exercisable, Aggregate intrinsic value	$210,968

Shareholders_Equity_Treasury_S

Shareholders' Equity - Treasury Stock (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
Treasury stock shares		52,141	52,141
Treasury stock value		$983	$983
Number of shares repurchased prior to the IPO	3,154
Number of shares withheld to cover income taxes related to vesting of RSUs			48,987

Shareholders_Equity_Summary_of

Shareholders' Equity - Summary of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Increase (Decrease) in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges			$3,553
Ending balance, unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	-9,290		3,553
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges
Increase (Decrease) in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	3,553	-2,853
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	-19,791	412
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	6,948	1,676
Ending balance, unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	($9,290)	($765)

Shareholders_Equity_Reclassifi

Shareholders' Equity - Reclassification of Amounts Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income On Derivatives [Line Items]
Tax expense (benefit)	$141,426	$48,041
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income On Derivatives [Line Items]
Tax expense (benefit)	-4,123	-988
Net of tax	6,948	1,676
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges | Interest Expense | Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income On Derivatives [Line Items]
Settlements of derivatives	$11,071	$2,664