re: Thoughts on buying used rental car from hertz

Rental places not only sell their rental cars, but also supplement with auction sales, so, buyer beware!

Depends on where they're pricing them at. Not only are they driven a lot but the rental company's like most corporations are making cuts every where they can. Very minimal care except making the inside look and smell nice.

Rental cars are ABUSED! and not maintained well...I would reconsider.

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for my daughter

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I would consider whichever car in my price range had the overall best safety eating.

I would look for a private-party Honda or Toyota.

I would also try to upsize to a mid-sized car.

A rental car, especially in that class, would not be on my list of purchase options.

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Car Fax isn't exactly the most trust worthy source

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Agree, it is a little bit better than nothing.

OP should run the VIN of the car he is buying at the manufacturer's dealership.


This will show if there is any warranty left and if any work has been performed. It may also indicate bodywork, but not usually.

I was looking for a Toyota Avalon a few years ago and found several 1 year old ones for sale at dealerships. I asked if they were former rentals, and a dealer said, yep, there was an auction in Dallas, and many area dealers bought them.

I bought a low-mileage one, and it has been excellent. I struggled with the wisdom of buying a rental, but the price was good, and I figured most folks who rent an Avalon are probably more mature and less abusive than those who get the smaller, cheaper cars.

I have been very happy with the car.

Excellent post and I agree with your thoughts.

The more upscale you go, the less risk there is.

The good news is that you still had factory warranty remaining.

Working in the rental industry I can tell you at least at my company (not Hertz) we only sell the best cars to the public. Ones with a history of on time service and maintenance and no history of accidents. The rest get sold off to dealerships or through auction. Many people buy former rentals without even knowing it.

I don't work with that side of the business so I don't care one way or the other. Not trying to advocate buying rentals, just sharing what I know from the inside.

A friend works as a driver for Enterprise. She and a bunch of mainly retired folks spend every day driving retired rental cars all over LA and AR to deliver them to car dealerships, who then sell them on their used car lots.

There are tons of them out there.