Buy a car from a rental fleet

Is it a good idea to buy a car from a rental fleet?

In the current vehicle shortage era, buying a used car is becoming the preferred option for many people. Rental car fleets are a good source of used cars.

There are many myths surrounding this option for purchasing a second-hand car, and some of them are true while others are not. It is ultimately a matter that depends on several factors, and we must decide for ourselves if it interests us or not. Let’s look at the pros and cons we can encounter.

Cons:

Let’s start with the downsides.

Multiple drivers:

This is the main inconvenience you will encounter. Rental cars generally pass through many hands during their commercial life. Each driver has their own driving style, habits, and adaptation period to the car, and not all drivers will be equally careful.

Basic models:

Rental fleets, especially those of large companies, usually consist of basic models from each range. The goal is to make money from the car, which means investing as little as possible when acquiring it. However, this is gradually changing. When it comes to selling the car, it is easier to sell a unit with some equipment rather than a basic one. Therefore, rental companies are investing more in purchasing vehicles, especially smaller companies that try to differentiate themselves from larger ones by offering better-finished and higher-quality models.

Lack of customization:

This applies to any used car. We have to settle for what’s available and cannot customize the car with the various extras that we can choose when buying new. However, in this regard, we can give credit to rental companies because they have multiple units of each model, allowing us to find one that better suits our preferences.

Increased exposure:

Rental cars are generally used for vacation periods, and usually, people don’t seek a garage to store the car during that time (although some do have garages and store the car). This means that the car spends a lot of time on the street, which exposes it to potential dents, corrosion, especially if it operates in a beach area.

Worn exterior:

Rental cars, in addition to being exposed to the elements and possible scratches, are usually washed almost every week using automated car washes with rollers. Regardless of the quality of the rollers, this accelerates the wear of the paint or lacquer.

In reality, despite popular belief, there aren’t many more disadvantages when purchasing a car from a rental fleet.

Advantages:

Up-to-date (or nearly up-to-date) maintenance:

This is one of the biggest myths surrounding rental cars. Contrary to belief, rental cars do receive their scheduled maintenance. Of course, it depends on the company and their car care policies. However, in the vast majority of cases, rental cars are well-maintained. Small companies, in particular, cannot risk losing a customer due to a car failure that could have been prevented by regular maintenance. Ensuring customer satisfaction is vital for small businesses.

Lower prices:

Generally, cars from rental fleets are slightly below market value. Rental companies are aware of the difficulties involved in selling these cars, so they offer them at competitive prices.

Low mileage:

Most rental cars have relatively low mileage compared to cars from private individuals or dealerships. Especially those intended for beach areas, as they pass through many hands and usually don’t undertake long journeys, resulting in fewer accumulated kilometers. You can find units with less than 12,000 km per year.

Cleanliness:

Rental cars are cleaned almost every week. While this negatively affects the exterior, the interior benefits as it remains in a newer condition for a longer period.

Warranty:

Rental companies, being companies, are obliged to offer a one-year warranty on the car. Therefore, if you are going to buy a car from a rental fleet, they must offer you this guarantee.

How can you know if the car you’re buying is from a rental fleet?

This is quite easy. Until 2018, rental cars were required to undergo their first ITV (MOT) inspection after 2 years. Therefore, by checking the car’s inspection history, you could tell. However, in 2018, this changed, and now the first inspection is due after 4 years, so we lost this option.

The most reliable way to determine if you are going to buy a car from a rental fleet is to look at the vehicle’s documentation. If it was used for rental purposes, it should be registered as “Alquiler sin conductor” (Rental without a driver). When it’s sold, the registration must be changed to “Particular” (Private), indicating the change in service.

Where to buy a car from a rental fleet?

Here are two options:

Directly from the rental company:

Rental companies buy cars to incorporate into their fleets, and when these cars reach the end of their service life, they put them up for sale. These cars are usually 4 to 6 years old, and you can typically find them at prices below the market value. The sale, pre-sale inspection, preparation, and warranty are the responsibility of the rental company.

Through brand dealerships:

A significant portion of a rental company’s fleet consists of cars obtained through renting operations. After the rental contract ends, these cars are returned to the dealership, which takes care of selling them. In most cases, these cars are between 6 and 18 months old. In this second scenario, the rental company is no longer involved, and the brand dealership manages the sale, pre-sale inspection, and warranty of the vehicle.

In response to our initial question of whether it is worth to buy a car from a rental fleet, the most appropriate answer is yes, but considering the factors mentioned here and thoroughly inspecting the car before making the purchase.