| **Committed Credit Facility with Caterpillar Unaudited** | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
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| **Committed Credit Facility with Caterpillar**           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| Committed Credit Facility with Caterpillar               | 11.Committed Credit Facility with Caterpillar During January of 2011, we entered into a $2.0 billion committed credit facility with Caterpillar, which expires in February 2019.  Under this agreement, we receive a fee from Caterpillar based on amounts drawn under the credit facility and a commitment fee for the undrawn amounts under the credit facility. |

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| - Details**Name:**cfsc_CommittedCreditFacilityWithCaterpillar**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
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| - Definition
During January of 2011, we entered into a $2.0 billion committed credit facility with Caterpillar, which expires in February 2019. Under this agreement, we receive a fee from Caterpillar based on amounts drawn under the credit facility and a commitment fee for the undrawn amounts under the credit facility.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_CommittedCreditFacilityWithCaterpillarFootnote**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc**Data Type:**us-types:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |