How to Buy Previous Rental Cars

Buying a used car instead of a new one can save you thousands of dollars. Buying from a rental company may save you even more. Although horror stories about the abuse of rental cars have been reported widely, the best way to avoid trouble is to buy from a reputable rental car company. This will ensure that the engine has been properly maintained, perhaps even more than if the car had been privately owned. Reputable rental companies tend to rotate their inventory, replacing them with new cars every one to two years. The result can be a decent vehicle for a fair price.

Instructions

1

Visit the websites of top rental car agencies. There are four top rental agency websites--Enterprise, Hertz, Budget and Avis--even though there are six national rental agencies. Enterprise owns Alamo and National. The websites will allow you to search by location, vehicle type and price. All of the websites offer details and mileage information about vehicles they are offering for sale.

2

Narrow your selection. Once you have decided on a make, model and price, contact the rental agency and schedule a test drive. Hertz offers a "Rent2Buy" option that allows you to take an extended test drive.

3

Be willing to sacrifice fully loaded for well-maintained. "The reality is that rental cars are clean, their entire maintenance history is documented, and their price can be quite attractive," according to Motortrend's Pre-Owned Buyer's Guide. Motortrend points out that most rental cars are only one or two years old when available for sale but may lack the value-added options available on most makes and models.

4

Ask about the history of the car. According to Edmunds, you should say, "Let me see the Carfax," which will tell, among other things, whether the car has been involved in a wreck. Also ask how much warranty remains on the car. On its website, Edmunds says: "In an Edmunds.com story, two editors went used car shopping. One of their stops was a rental agency used car lot. They found the prices to be competitive. Furthermore, the vehicles are only one year old, so the balance of the warranty is still in effect."

5

Do not hesitate. "One of the biggest advantages of buying a rental car is that they are often priced less than comparable models sold at a dealership or available through a private party," according to an MSN auto news report.