FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - What happens to rental cars after they leave the fleet?
Old Aug 7, 2023 | 1:35 pm
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TXJeepGuy
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Originally Posted by aww3583
They’re sold at auction to dealers.

Pull a CarFax on just about any later model vehicle (2-3 years old, 20k miles) it’s it’s a virtual guarantee it’s a lease return or an ex rental car.

My current daily driver is an ex-rental car.
This. I work in the car business. Most of the 2-3 year old used cars on a dealer's lot are a combination of lease returns and rental cars.

The less desirable rental cars, like the Impala, Malibu, etc tend to go to subprime finance focused dealerships- think DriveTime, or a buy here pay here type lot.

Yes, sedans are less prevalent in general than they used to be. Part of why the rental companies are moving more to SUV's across the whole fleet is they get more for them when they sell. But for customers who are primarily concerned with getting approved to finance a car, they often take whatever they can get.
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