# Reliability of used leased car vs. used rental car **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 12, 2007, 4:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reliability-of-used-leased-car-vs-used-rental-car/2981 "2007-08-12T04:17:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jay\_Slivkoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e79b87/32.png) [@Jay\_Slivkoff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jay_Slivkoff)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 4:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reliability-of-used-leased-car-vs-used-rental-car/2981/1 "2007-08-12T04:17:28Z")
I have owned 2 used, previous rental cars. Both turned out to be excellent in longevity and reliability. I now have a chance to buy a used lease car that has had 4 owners (leasees) in the last 4 years. Does anyone have experience with the realiability of purchasing leased cars versus rental cars? ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 10:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reliability-of-used-leased-car-vs-used-rental-car/2981/2 "2007-08-12T10:42:46Z")
At least the leased cars got the right maintenance; who knows about leased cars. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 11:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reliability-of-used-leased-car-vs-used-rental-car/2981/3 "2007-08-12T11:37:40Z")
You’ll have just about the same luck between private use, leased or rental. The best maintenance would likely be a certified by manufacturer(they verify maintenance logs/no accidents) or from a private owner you know and trust. Still the best maintained may have the worse luck. ---
**Author:** ![lprocter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/lprocter/32/40_2.png) [@lprocter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lprocter)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reliability-of-used-leased-car-vs-used-rental-car/2981/4 "2007-08-12T14:39:45Z")
You’ve had good luck with ex-rentals, why not keep going with them? Also, it depends partially on what kind of car you’re buying. A 4 owner sporty model (or sporty rental for that matter) was very likely abused. However, you may be able to get maintenance records for the ex-rental, you may not be able to with the off-lease cars. ---
**Author:** ![Craig58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3da27b/32.png) [@Craig58](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Craig58)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 4:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reliability-of-used-leased-car-vs-used-rental-car/2981/5 "2007-08-12T16:31:36Z")
I’m not clear how a lease car would have four leases in four years, that sounds unusual. However, I suspect that a fair number of the 3-4 year old used cars on dealer lots are actually lease returns. It seems to me that the biggest difference would be the type/quality of cars available. Most ex-rentals are likely to be lower end “fleet” type cars, while lease cars may be higher end cars. I think you have to look an a case-by-case basis. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reliability-of-used-leased-car-vs-used-rental-car/2981/6 "2007-08-12T16:45:08Z")
Will the seller provide a warranty? If not, or the warranty period seems short, take the car to a mechanic you trust and get an inspection. Do this only if you intend to buy the car if it has no major flaws. My friend buys all his cars at a local auction. Most of these are off-lease cars, and are quite a bargain. He’s had good luck with them. ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Slivkoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e79b87/32.png) [@Jay\_Slivkoff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jay_Slivkoff)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reliability-of-used-leased-car-vs-used-rental-car/2981/7 "2007-08-12T19:59:41Z")
I guess that a Subaru Baja could be considered “Sporty,” but not high-end ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Slivkoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e79b87/32.png) [@Jay\_Slivkoff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jay_Slivkoff)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reliability-of-used-leased-car-vs-used-rental-car/2981/8 "2007-08-12T20:06:31Z")
Adding to my reply: Thanks for your previous reply, and to all the others. I got the “Previously Owned” fleet info from CARFAX, so cannot dispute the number of owners. The later reply about taking it to a mechanic before closing the deal is also a good one. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 9:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reliability-of-used-leased-car-vs-used-rental-car/2981/9 "2007-08-12T21:48:46Z")
You sure those auction cars are not repo cars instead of off lease? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reliability-of-used-leased-car-vs-used-rental-car/2981/10 "2007-08-12T21:56:41Z")
There could be repo’s, too. But this is a very large auction. It can’t be populated by repo’s only. And the state only allows certain cars on the consumer lane. You need a dealer’s license to bid on cars in the dealer lane.