Should You Buy a Used Rental Car?
Companies such as Avis, Enterprise, and Hertz sell their cars as they refresh their fleets. Our experts advise whether buying a rental is a smart move.
Buying a rental car might seem like a bad idea. For starters, it’s almost certainly been driven by people who may not have treated it with the same care they would if it were their own vehicle. But don’t rule out buying a used rental car just because of that.
Where to Go to Buy a Used Rental Car
Avis, Enterprise, Hertz, and other rental car companies have websites dedicated to car sales, which outline the terms of their programs and allow you to search inventory by brand, location, price, and other filters. Some may even deliver the car for an extra fee. Smaller rental car companies also sell their used inventory, but some don’t offer additional warranty protections or other perks.
“If you’re buying a used rental car, we recommend buying from one of the biggest companies for extra protection and the widest selection of models,” Crossen says. “But you still need to closely review the terms before you buy.”
Understanding Warranty Protection and Return Policies
Some cars may still be covered by the original factory warranty. For those that are not, many companies, including Avis, Enterprise, and Hertz, offer a 12-month/12,000-mile limited warranty from the time of purchase. “I wouldn’t buy from a company that doesn’t offer at least that much coverage,” Crossen says. “It shows that they stand behind the condition of the car.”
A year of roadside assistance is another common perk. Enterprise will buy the car back if you change your mind during the first seven days or 1,000 miles. Hertz allows you to rent the car for three days at a special rate for an extended test drive before you buy it.
Find the Best Used Rental Cars
Your best bet is to buy a reliable model recommended by Consumer Reports. Refer to Consumer Reports’ automobile ratings and reliability data to find the models that meet these criteria. The Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, and Toyota RAV4 are all reliable recommended models that are used in rental fleets and should be easy to find.
Some of the best used-car deals now can be found among electric vehicles, which rental fleets overestimated the demand for in recent years. Crossen says that before buying any used EV or hybrid, you should have the battery health checked by a specialist, and confirm that the battery warranty will still be in effect after purchase. “Used rental EVs may have been charged at DC fast chargers very frequently, which can be hard on the battery,” he says.
Which Rental Company Should You Buy a Car From?
Another factor to consider is the reputation of the rental company you’re considering buying from. One in four respondents in a Consumer Reports member survey said they’ve received rental cars with mechanical issues or other problems related to poor maintenance. Those complaints are reflected in rental companies’ overall satisfaction scores, along with other factors related to customer service and pricing.
In that survey, renters were the most satisfied with National. Enterprise, Alamo, and Hertz also received favorable ratings. Meanwhile, Dollar, Fox, and Thrifty had the lowest customer satisfaction scores. If you’d hesitate to rent a company’s cars, you may want to reconsider buying from its used fleet.
Before You Buy a Used Rental Car
Some rental car companies, such as Enterprise, provide a free vehicle history report for every car they sell. You should also request service records to make sure the car has been maintained regularly.
Crossen highly recommends having any used car inspected by an independent mechanic to spot potential problems before you buy. He also suggests making sure it comes with an owner’s manual, floor mats, and two sets of keys. Also, some rental car companies sell used cars that were not rentals. It helps to be aware of the car’s provenance.
Either way, a physical inspection and a thorough check of at least two different types of vehicle history report (to rule out potential omissions) is warranted. You can pay for a report from Carfax (a Consumer Reports partner) or AutoCheck, and you can get free VINCheck reports from the National Insurance Crime Bureau and Carsforsale.com, which use the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS).
Any recalls on either rental or nonrental cars should have been addressed. For an idea of how fair the price is, go to CR’s Car Value Estimator.
Editor’s Note: This article has been expanded from the version in the September 2024 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
