Few things are as stressful as putting a chunk of money in a used car. You don't know its history. You don't know how it was maintained. You might not even be sure of its mileage.
But there is one move that makes all this much more transparent: Buy a former rental car.
Rental companies like Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis buy fleets of new vehicles at discounted prices and sell them after a few years of service, according to Go Banking Rates.
Since it is in the rental car company's best interest to keep the vehicles maintained, you can at least be sure the cars had regular oil changes, tire rotations, inspections, and thorough cleaning inside and out. In fact, when rental companies sell these cars, they make the service history available so you can be fully informed about the car's condition and past issues.
Mileage on former rental cars can be lower than comparable vehicles because the cars are used infrequently.
Variety is also a key feature. From mini vans to sedans, rental car companies have a wide selections of cars for resale at competitive prices.
Of course, there are drawbacks. The one thing you know is that there have been a lot of drivers. Some go easy on the brakes, some don't. Some speed, others don't. That could cause inconsistent wear of certain parts. Or it could mean the car has bumps or scrapes. That might also mean a rude driver spilled something all over the inside. The rental company would try to clean it up, of course.
If you are in the market for a late model car, a former rental might be out of factory warranty, according to Autotrader.
When buying any used car, it's best to have a mechanic take a look at the car before you buy it.