Listen for rattles , check the alignment, and feel for any shuddering during braking , which can indicate a hard life on the road.

Even if the agency provides a multi-point inspection report, pay a trusted mechanic to look for signs of hidden damage or rough driving.

These cars have had "hundreds of owners." Drivers often treat rentals less carefully than their own vehicles, leading to accelerated wear on the transmission , brakes , and interior upholstery .

Rental cars often rack up miles quickly. A one-year-old rental might have 30,000 miles on it, whereas a typical lease return might only have 12,000.