Contrary to popular belief, not every rental car is an abuse victim. In fact, it's more likely that few of them are. Think about it. Have you rented a car? How did you drive it? Did you leave it in first gear and race around all day with the parking brake on? Probably not. Even if that is your preferred driving style, you probably only had the car for a day or two and put no more than 100 miles on the clock.
Of the other customers in the agency, how many looked like juvenile delinquents? Did Ma and Pa Kettle up from Pennsyltucky seem hellbent on entering a demolition derby? Did the nice German family look like a Yakuza drift racing gang? Again, probably not. Renters have to be at least 24 years old and have a credit card, ruling out many folks with poor decision making skills.
Cars today are not precious, jewel-like, precision instruments. They are robust machines designed to work in the hottest desert or coldest tundra, on the silky smooth pavements of Vancouver or the cobblestones of Mexico City. New cars are built to last a decade at the very least, and 200,000 miles is considered a normal lifespan. Old timers may complain that they can't work on new cars, but the truth is they should never have to. If a system fails, it's pulled out and a new one is installed. If something breaks, it's simply replaced.
A rental car is just like any other, only the rental agency is more motivated to keep it in tip-top shape. If the car isn't working, it isn't making money.
Most rental fleets keep cars in service for between ten and 18 months. When it comes time to dispose of the vehicle, it can be sold to a dealer, sold at auction, or sold by the agency itself. Fleet sales lots are often incredibly low-key, with set vehicle prices and salespeople tasked with assisting customers rather than selling cars.
There are many distinct advantages to buying from a rental fleet. The biggest is that the car will have had one owner and all service records will have been kept. The car will have been checked over and cleaned between every rental. Oil will have been changed regularly, fluids will have been topped off, tires will have been rotated, bulbs will have been changed, and everything is on paper to prove it.
Vehicle warranties still apply to rentals, and many companies will offer their own warranties for added peace of mind, or a 30-day money back guarantee. Another reassuring fact is that third party warranty companies do not charge extra to cover rental vehicles. Agencies will often offer CarFax or CarProof with the vehicle. It's important to note than some agencies carry their own insurance and collisions may not be noted on the vehicle's history.
As with buying any car, it's best to work with a reputable dealer. Buying a car from Fly By Night Rentals or Jalopies-R-Us is probably a bad idea, but no reasonable person would think otherwise. The national fleet agencies will stand behind the their products. In the case of a severely problematic vehicle, reputable agencies will be registered with the state and the consumer will have the same legal remedies as with any other car dealer.
As with any vehicle, it's critical for the consumer to do the research and know the market value of the car. Research the agencies and see who has the best reputation in the area.
It's important to know that the resale value may be lower on a former rental when it comes time for a new vehicle. Other than that downside, buying a rental from a reputable national agency is a great way to get a great car at a great price.
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