10 Best Used Rental Cars That Are Most Reliable on a Budget
With the average new car price sitting around $50,000, according to Kelley Blue Book, used rental cars can seem like a good deal to many Americans. The pool is always getting replenished by companies like Enterprise, Hertz and Avis, who regularly offload relatively young, professionally maintained vehicles at attractive prices.
If you shop around, you should be able to find a broad selection of vehicles for $20,000 or less, according to Consumer Reports .
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Consumer Reports also noted that buying used from a rental company typically includes haggle-free pricing, a 12-month, 12,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, roadside assistance and even a seven-day return window.
Here are some of the best used cars worth your consideration if you're in the market and don't mind a vehicle driven as a rental.
Sedans
Toyota Camry:The Toyota Camry is now a hybrid-only vehicle. According to the U.S. Department of Energy , the new Camry earns up to 51 mpg combined. Kelley Blue Book awarded the car its "2026 Best Buy Award" in the midsize sedan category. Rental fleets buy these by the thousands, which means you likely won't have any trouble finding inventory.
Honda Accord:If you're looking for reliability , consider the 2025 Honda Accord. Consumer Reports specifically named the 2025 Accord as a recommended option in rental fleets and considers it much more reliable than other cars from the same model year. A 2023 redesign updated the vehicle's interior quality and safety technology.
Nissan Altima:Consumer Reports rated the current Altima "much more reliable than other cars from the same model year," and that's nothing new. The Altima has earned this designation in multiple model years. It typically beats both the Camry and the Accord, and it's popular enough in rental fleets that you shouldn't have too much trouble finding one in inventory.
Toyota Corolla:According to Consumer Reports, the Corolla is "much more reliable than other cars from the same model year." Another report from iSeeCars claimed the Corolla has an 18.4% chance of reaching at least 200,000 miles with consistent maintenance. That type of longevity is well above industry norms. The Corolla is also among the cheapest models to own over ten years.
Honda Civic:The Consumer Reports 2025 Civic reliability page gave the vehicle perfect scores in 15 out of 17 potential trouble spots. This outstanding performance translated to Consumer Reports' assessment that the Honda Civic is "more reliable than other cars from the same model year."
SUVs
Toyota RAV4:The Toyota RAV4 offers both reliability and popularity. The SUV is not just the best-selling SUV in the United States in 2025, according to Kelley Blue Book, it's also a Consumer Reports reliability standout.
Honda CR-V:The Honda CR-V is another Consumer Reports reliability standout. The review service goes so far as to rank the Honda CR-V as "one of the best compact SUVs available." The cost to own a CR-V is extremely low, ranking in the top 10% of five-year cost-to-own data from Kelley Blue Book. Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis all run these in their fleets.
Chevrolet Equinox:The Chevy Equinox is one of the lowest-cost vehicles you can find in the rental fleet market. However, newer versions tend to have reliability issues. Consumer Reports flagged the 2025 redesign in particular with well-below-average reliability scores. For that reason, you should consider model years 2024 and earlier only.
Electric Vehicles
EVs can often be had at a discounted price in the used market thanks to an abundance of supply. Rental fleets overstocked EVs to meet demand that never came, and many ended up being dumped on the secondary market.
Hertz Car Sales , for example, regularly lists the Chevrolet Bolt for well under $20,000.
Avis Car Sales and Enterprise Car Sales both carry used Hyundai KonaElectrics pulled from their rental fleets, with older model years now priced well into the teens. An analysis from Recharged in April 2026 cited the Kona as among the best-value used EVs on the market.
What To Watch Out For
Used rental car shopping is not the best option if you're searching for lots of bells and whistles, like heated seats or a premium audio package. Most rental companies spec their fleets in base terms only. Used rental vehicles also typically have high mileage.
Consumer Reports warns EV buyers that battery capacity can be a real issue. Many rental EVs repeatedly used fast chargers, something that degrades battery capacity faster than simple Level 2 charging.
Regardless of the type of vehicle you buy, get a copy of the vehicle's history report and do your own personal inspection (or get one from a trusted mechanic ) to learn the full picture of what you might be buying.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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