Thoughts on Purchasing a Rental Vehicle

Anyone have any luck or experience with this?
The one(s) I'm looking at are 2020 Toyota's with less than 10k miles. Figure I could purchase an extended warranty from Wolverine as an insurance policy and still come out ahead.

I think I know the answer to this question but figured I'd ask and get input.

 

What kind of cars go over speed bumps the fastest?

Rental cars.

 

I am going through the same decision right now. My daughter is 17 and ready to get her first car. She wants a VW Beetle. Rental companies have just dumped a bunch of them on the market so the availability and prices are good. However, the ones available from the dealers, who bought them from the rental companies at auction, sells for about $1,000 more than when I buy from the rental company directly.
So there are two concerns: 1. Is it okay to buy a used rental vehicle, and then 2. Do I buy direct and save $1,000 or buy certified pre-owned from a dealer for $1,000 more but get CPO warranty?

 

Personally....I would/do always steer clear of rental owned vehicles. There are a VERY small handful of people that care for those. Most people are power breaking, power stopping, burnouts, hard stops/take offs, speed bump abusing, etc, etc, etc. Under 10k miles, I'm sure the truck could handle it. But it has most likely been abused worse than a $2 prost....ah, nevermind. You get what I'm saying. I keep my vehicles a while and drive my family around in it A LOT, so I'm not risking it. Again, just my personal opinion/beliefs. Am I wrong?.....well, I am married. So most likely.

 

My take on it, since I am going through it myself now: I would never buy a "performance" car i,e, mustang, camaro etc. if I knew it was a rental. Trucks might fall in the same category. Non-performance plain-jane cars that people rented just to get from airport to hotel etc.. might be safe to buy.

Rental companies are dumping loads of cars right now due to Covid impact and Uber impact on their business, so good deals are out there.

 

@Boerseun , yes thats a tough question. The reason I am looking at Toyotas is because I know and understand the warranty process (have even had to use it once before, so know how it works at the dealer as well)

 

Personally I would never purchase a rental car. The OCD of all the times it may or not have been bagged isn't worth saving a grand or two for me.

 

If u knew how I drove a rental you would steer clear! I hate admitting it, but it's true..

 

I have driven many rental cars and have always treated them like I would my own, so I am just hoping that there are more people who do that. But I hear you - I am sure there is a lot of abuse also - there sure is a reason for the popular saying of "drive it like a rental".

Not aimed at you @vl184009 , just a general comment; it is sad that people have the mentality that they can f%&k things up just because it is not theirs.

 

Like others said, there is a reason for “drive it like you rented it”.

 

Not sure if anyone read the Tucker Max story about the time he rented a RV.. But, apparently that $10 per day full coverage insurance from the rental company does in fact work

 

As a former auto appraiser who has researched this extensively, you can get a good deal on a rental vehicle. A thorough inspection will tell the full story and the cost savings can provide the cash reserve needed for any additional repair/maintenance needed. There used to be a company in Texas called Lemonbusters that would inspect vehicles for about $125 and they were incredibly thorough (even more than most local mechanics). Unfortunately, they're no longer in business. (edit: just did a google search and it appears they're in business. Google "lemon busters" in your area and a similar company might be available).

Company cars, rental vehicles, and cars with salvage titles are all opportunities to save significant money, if you're willing to take on the added risk (sometimes it's only a perceived risk).

 

This post just reminded me of a friend who always buys his vehicles as rental returns, so I gave him a quick call to ask about it.
He has bought his last 6 vehicles as rental returns. All of them were 2 years old, or less, always less than 30,000 miles except one that was at 35,000, so typically still a little bit of factory warranty left. He was always able to get it for at least $1,000 cheaper than a similar car at a dealer (he buys directly from the Avis car sales rather than auctioned rental cars at a dealer). He has never had any issues, at least not anything that could be rental related, so if he adds the $1,000 per vehicle times 6 vehicles he is well ahead, even if something goes wrong on the next one.
His comment was: look at it this way; with any used car you buy you have no idea how it was driven. Some people abuse their own vehicles just as much as others abuse rentals.

 

Figured I’d search one of my dream vehicles. SixT car sales has five land cruiser for sale at $76K. Depending on your negotiating skills that could be a huge saving over buying new from a dealer. But then Again, if you can afford 76k, what’s another 10

 

There was a thread similar to this awhile back ..this was my post in there and I still believe the same.

" I don't think it's stupid to be honest. If the price is good and you have the ability to go check it out then do it. You know for sure it got it's oil changed regularly at least that's a plus.

And to all the people saying "people who rent cars drive them like they stole em, buy a 1 owner truck, etc." Well first, not all people that rent cars are @$$holes. Let's say it's been abused 60% of the time it was rented...well that's still better than buying my 1 owner Tundra when I decide to trade it in because I drive the hell out of it and abuse it 100% of the time."

 

To paraphrase my compadre, Hugo;

"Nothing runs like a rental."

Several years ago we bought a vehicle from a dealership that had been leased for 3 years ~ I feel like we got a decent buy on the vehicle.
It must have been owned by a petite businesswoman ~ the driver's side seat looked as if no one had sat in it for the 40K miles it had on the odometer.
The paint was like new ~ no door dings etc. It was as if the vehicle had been in a bubble the whole time.
However, a rental car is a completely different kind of beast. Just be careful with your selection.

 

How big are the savings with choosing a rental? Back when my wife and I were shopping for her Rav4 the 2 year old rental units were only a few thousand less than a brand new one. It was a no brainer for us. We got a new one at 0.9% APR, and a full warranty.

 

I thought I always drove rentals like crazy. But after thinking about it, only the sports cars and jeeps are the ones I tried to break. Also, I’ve heard of people buying a warranty for their vehicles through their loan company, my credit union offered me one after I bought one for twice the price through Toyota. Just a thought.

 

It depends a lot on the vehicle - Toyotas that keep their value; you might pay almost the same for a 2-yr old vehicle as a new one. In my case I am looking at a VW Beetle for my daughter. They have stopped making them this year, so new ones are not available anymore. If available, they started at $21,000. I can get a 2019 with 30,000 miles for $15,000.

 

Bagged or banged in?

 

When I rent it is usually to avoid putting big moles on my own truck and I am going a distance in the rental where it makes no sense at all to me to drive it hard?
I have also wrecked 2 of them in the last few years both times by getting hit by others while at a complete stop and I can assure yo that I buy ALL of the insurance I can every time I rent and when I return the cars it is exactly the same as if nothing bad had taken place at all......buy the insurance!

On the other hand one of my clients who always pays for my rental when working for him says,"Its a Rental dont be Gentle!" Words that he seems to live by and I would not want one that he rented and I have a feeling many are just like he is!?!

Also Enterprise Car Rental for one shows clearly which of the cars they sell were Rentals or Leased vehicles and I would in general be a lot more comfortable with a single owner leased car than a rental every day of the week!

 

Eww

 

It's a rental...that is probably the least of people's worries if they buy one to save a few bucks.

 

I was recently told by a rental vehicle G.M. that short term rental vehicles are often rented for parts swap.

Need a new batter? alternator? power steering pump etc?

Rent a vehicle at 29.95 per day and enjoy the harvest! Just saying...

 

I bought a Yellow 2008 New Beetle with 41,000 miles last year for my daughter, $7000 (Dealer). She wanted the rounder, older version.

 

I bought a 91 Gran Prix from Enterprise that was 1 year old and 26k miles. It was a good car for the times. the 3.1 V6 blew a head gasket at 135k, Sold it to U-Pull-It.

 

I know the Beetles have a cult following but if she wants an impractical convertible, get her a Miata. Much better and reliable. Insurance sucks though

 

No offense taken, just telling the truth

 

Truth.