Re: How much less is a rental car worth...
Yer very right about the "public perception" of rental cars part. And many of the comments from people here back that up. So based on that alone, and an apparent disclosure law in Canada, there's probably some reduction in value.<br /><br />Frankly, a nearly brand new car that was used for only 15,000 miles as a rental is probably in just as good or even better mechanical condition as a privately owned or off-lease vehicle with the same mileage. As has been said, rental cars get regular scheduled maintenance and car washes. And private cars (once we get past the excessive maintenance freaks like myself that frequent this boat site), often do NOT. And don't forget that at 15,000 miles, how much maintenance does a new car really need? NOTHING except for a pair of oil changes and maybe a tire rotation or two. Even if those were missed (highly unlikely) no real harm would be done.<br /><br />As for abusive driving? Some renters I'm sure will abuse the cars, but most are business or family vacation travellers, or temporary replacements for wrecked cars being fixed...and will drive them no differently than their own....and because of vacation/business use they're more likely to have highway miles than local city miles like many privately owned cars, which is far less wearing.<br /><br />My take? If you can get some money for free and don't mind a few hassles, meetings, & court dates, keep messing with the legal system and maybe you can add to your bank account a bit and it would be justified from a legal standpoint.<br /><br />But I think you got a good car that is no different than if it had been owned by a private party. <br /><br />You being in Canada makes my legal knowledge useless as I'm in the States. Here there are no "rental disclosure" laws or checkboxes...it's all just buyer beware over here. But bottome line, I'd be more than willing to buy a 15,000 mile rental car with full confidence in its mechanical condition.
