CARFAX

• CARFAX is an invaluable tool for checking out the history of a used car before you buy it. It will tell you if the car has been involved in a major accident or has had body work done, among other facts. Ask to see a CARFAX on the cars you are interested in. Many car rental companies include a CARFAX as a standard part of their sales program. Enterprise, for example, advertises it will provide a CARFAX for all vehicles it sells.
  
  

Look Closely

• When you rent a car, it looks flawless when the agency pulls it around and gives you the keys. Sometimes, however, you'll notice imperfections during the few days you are behind the wheel that you didn't see the day you picked it up. The rental agency will do its best to cover any blemishes on the vehicle and make it look as desirable as possible. The agencies are no different than any other used car lot, so take the time to go over the car with a fine-tooth comb and make sure the car meets your expectations. It's true that you may find a decent price on a good car here, but that doesn't mean it will be free---so make sure you know what you are getting.
  
  

Take It To the Mechanic

• You will obviously get a chance to drive the car and see what it's made of. When you have it out, plan to have your usual mechanic give it a look. Let him discover major problems with the vehicle or anything he thinks may lower its value. Rental agencies usually practice a no-haggle style of car sales, so make sure the car is worth the sticker price, because that's what you'll be paying if you buy it. In some cases, the rental agency will even sell you the car with a seven-day guarantee. If you can get this, by all means take it. This way, even if the mechanic missed something, you can return it for a full refund if something goes wrong in the first week.