Although many people think that buying a rental car means buying a rental car that has been abused by temporary drivers who don’t care what happens to the car, there are countless owners of previous rental cars around the US who are very happy with their vehicle.

While there are inevitably some substandard rental cars available for purchase, if you know how to properly go about purchasing a rental car, you can get a great vehicle at a significantly reduced price.

To help ensure you find a great rental car to buy, here are some tips for you to follow:

Ask for the Car’s Rental History – While the type of report you receive will vary depending on the rental company, they should be able to provide you with a report that covers topics such as how many times the car was rented and the dates for its routine maintenance. If the company can’t produce any kind of report, that should be a red flag to you.

Get a CarFax Report – Once you’ve zeroed in on the car you want to buy, it’s worth fifteen dollars to order a CarFax report. A CarFax report will let you know if the car you want to buy has been in any major accidents, as well as if it has required any serious repairs or work.

Have the Rental Car You Want to Buy Evaluated by an Independent Mechanic – Before you make your purchase, make sure that you have the car you want to purchase inspected and evaluated by an independent mechanic. Investing in this last step will ensure that you end up purchasing a quality vehicle instead of a clunker.