Purchasing used car through a rental company

[Anonymous]

We are looking for a gently used car (2018 or new, 40k miles max, no more than $20k). We've been looking around at various dealerships and CarMax, but someone suggested that car rental agencies would be a good option, given that some of them are having financial issues (Hertz, Avis), and may be willing to sell for a good price. After browsing quickly, Hertz and Avis are pretty competitive with CarMax. Does anyone have expirence buying a used car through a rental company?

[Anonymous]

Each car was driven by hundreds, really probably thousands of drivers. Only god knows what those cars have been through.

[Anonymous]

If you look at the vehicle history with car fax many of their cars were bought through rentals or auctions. I've heard really good things. I looked at Enterprise as they have a store on the pike and staff were really great but ended up going something different. I would buy through them if they had what i wanted.

[Anonymous]

I looked at the prices and they are like $200 under KBB. But then they charge this and that fee so the deals are not that good.

[Anonymous]

Hertz went bankrupt. They are selling hundreds of thousands of cars. You can get a great deal on a low/mid priced car.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of deals on new cars right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Each car was driven by hundreds, really probably thousands of drivers. Only god knows what those cars have been through.

Not necessarily. A lot of cars that are owned by rental companies are actually longer-term rental cars that are corporate cars. I believe you can specifically purchase these cars.

[Anonymous]

"Gently used" is not a term that mixes with rental car. I drive rentals more than I drive my own car due to work travel and I can tell you I've picked up cars with 6 miles on them and I definitely did not give them the loving break-in you're supposed to.

[Anonymous]

Hertz went bankrupt. They are selling hundreds of thousands of cars. You can get a great deal on a low/mid priced car

Can anyone else say what they think about this? They aren't necessarily out of business.

[Anonymous]

Are you paying cash or financing? It'll probably be cheaper to finance a new car with all the 0% and other incentives being offered now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you paying cash or financing? It'll probably be cheaper to finance a new car with all the 0% and other incentives being offered now.

OP here: paying cash, which is why the used car route is attractive.

[Anonymous]

Most rental companies dump cars at the 3 year mark, So you’ll probably find a lot of 2017 cars. Agree with the previous poster that you won’t even know that it’s a rental car unless if you look at carFax, but it’s still a good car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most rental companies dump cars at the 3 year mark, So you’ll probably find a lot of 2017 cars. Agree with the previous poster that you won’t even know that it’s a rental car unless if you look at carFax, but it’s still a good car.

I think you are better off buying it from a rental agency and trying to get an extended warranty vs. carmax as a lot of the car max are rentals.

Many are 2018-19, they dump some pretty quickly and keeps others longer. I looked heavily last fall but couldn't find what I want.

[Anonymous]

Hertz is selling tons of extremely low mile cars for way less than car max.

For folks not in the know I used to go to Auto Auctions and Hertz off lease cars always sold for more than private party cars. They are kept spotless and all maint is performed. They are turn key. Private owner cars not as much.

[Anonymous]

"Gently used" is terrible for the buyer. You are paying a very high price for a used car with significantly diminished warranty protection. Compared to "gently used" it is almost always better to buy brand new. There are, of course, exceptions.