Buying A Used Corporate Fleet Vehicle

Anyone who has ever been involved with the search for a used vehicle has undoubtedly come across the possibility of purchasing a corporate fleet vehicle, and you may have wondered whether it was safe to make such a purchase. These kinds of cars are usually advertised as a very advantageous deal for the buyer, and they do seem to be well maintained, with generally comprehensive service and maintenance records.

buying a used corporate fleet vehicle

Several rental car companies have distinct operations, and sometimes entire divisions, which are assigned the task of reselling used vehicles from the corporation. This is also true of many used company cars as well as surplus vehicles used by government personnel. If you have ever considered purchasing one of these kinds of vehicles, you should take the same approach that you would for any other kind of used vehicle, and research it properly.

Just as you would with a used vehicle offered by an individual, you should determine whether or not you can get a good price, how well the vehicle was maintained, what its current mileage reading is, and what kind of warranty might be included with the sale. In other words, when you think about purchasing a corporate fleet vehicle, you should subject it to the same kind of thorough examination you would with any other used vehicle you might consider.

Regularly maintained. Companies that manage fleet vehicles are vigilant about strictly adhering to service schedules. This is not the case when you buy a car that was owned by an individual or family.

As for finding government vehicles for sale, GovPlanet lists thousands of used cars and trucks, from cruisers and sedans to vans and pickup trucks. Municibid lists passenger vehicles as well as trailers, parts and construction equipment. Since these sites are mostly auction-based, interested buyers will have to find local auctions or listings for live auctions through the site.

Fleet vehicles are cars owned and used by an organization, government agency, or any public utility. They are primarily used to transport cargo or people. The vehicles are the foundation for many businesses and range in type heavily from taxi cabs, rental cars, trucks, public buses, and much more.

More often than not, management of these cars falls directly under fleet manager, transport manager, and business owner responsibilities. They keep track of these vehicles through specialized software that streamlines communications or allows them to meet compliance regulations.

Key things to think about when buying one include maintenance, vehicle history, and clean interior. Companies that manage fleet vehicles are strict about service schedules and will never skip an appointment. As a result, the buyers get a clean gunk-free car that will serve them for quite some time. Add a comprehensive vehicle history, and you get a used vehicle with readily available information to supplement your purchase decision.

You can do a couple of things to get your hands on a fleet vehicle. Auctions feature thousands of used rental and municipal cars that you can browse. You can bid online or attend auctions in person. Many brokers also offer to connect buyers with related services such as car financing, inspections, parts locating, etc.

After all that, you should consider where and how the car was used. If the vehicle was a taxi cab, police transport, or a public utility car or truck, it might not be a great purchase. These cars have seen extensive use and, probably, racked up more than 100,000 miles before retirement. Nothing is left except for some nice modifications and the characteristic wear and tear.

There are a vast number of places you can find a used car. You can buy from a private party, a used car dealer, or a franchised new car dealer. Another option is buying a former rental car from the rental car company itself.

When you're in the market for a pre-owned vehicle, you'll probably see ads from companies such as Enterprise Car Sales, Hertz Car Sales, and Avis Car Sales. They sell hundreds of thousands of cars each year on the used car market as they refresh their fleets with new vehicles. The companies have locations across the country. Some, such as those owned by Enterprise Car Sales, are corporate-owned, while others are franchises. The vehicles they sell are generally young, with fairly low mileage and complete service records.

Depending on what you're looking for, they may be excellent deals. However, it's important to remember that they're still used cars, and you have to do your due diligence to ensure you're getting a good vehicle, a reasonable price, and the right financing. It's vital to keep in mind that you can't get a good deal unless you get a good car. Our used car rankings and reviews are an excellent place to start your car-buying adventure. They're designed around the questions shoppers have when they're in the market for a used car.

"We focus on high-quality one- to three-year vehicles, whether they be cars, trucks, SUVs," says Mike Bystrom, a Corporate Vice-President at Enterprise Car Sales. "Coming out of rental fleets, they're all very well equipped with in-demand, high-tech, high-end features. Because that's what the retail public is purchasing."

The last thing a rent-a-car company such as Hertz, Avis, or Enterprise wants to happen is to have a rental customer stranded by a problem with their rented vehicle. They carefully maintain their fleets to ensure that doesn't happen. Since 2016, rental car firms have been required to ensure all open recalls are taken care of before renting out a vehicle.

They'll generally have good tires, brakes, and other wear items, though you'll want to have an independent mechanic verify that they're in good shape. As with any used car, you should ask to see the vehicle's maintenance records to ensure that it has been serviced to meet the manufacturer's maintenance schedule.

Many used rental cars have lower price tags than you'll find from used car dealerships or even private parties. Some of the differences may come from their condition or mileage, but it also stems from the fact that rental car companies buy in high volume. As a result, they don't pay the same prices when they purchase their vehicles new as other buyers do. They can afford to sell them for less.

Cars that have only been owned by one person or company are typically worth more in the used car market than those passed from owner to owner. Nearly every vehicle sold by a rental car company is a one-owner car.

One of the biggest reasons shoppers cite for avoiding used rental cars is the idea that the vehicles are driven hard and treated poorly. While, yes, they are driven by multiple drivers with varying levels of aggression and skill, they're generally well-maintained with any issues quickly fixed. Today's rental car companies carefully inspect vehicles at the beginning and end of their rental periods, and renters know they have to pay for any damage they cause.

If you're looking for a specialized model, top-trim level, or high-demand vehicle, you may be hard-pressed to find one as a former rental car. Though the span of vehicles used as rental cars has expanded beyond bland sedans to mirror American consumers' tastes, some vehicles are rare in daily rental fleets.

Still, many of the models in rental car fleets are low-to-midrange trim vehicles, rather than top-tier models. In fact, some basic trim-level vehicles are only sold to fleets and not generally to retail buyers. Some of those end up in rental fleets, and then on rental company resale lots. While you may now be able to find pickups in rental fleets, you're much more likely to find a trim such as a 2018 Ram 1500 Big Horn than a top-trim Laramie Longhorn.

Savvy shoppers know to check any used vehicle's CarFax or AutoCheck vehicle history report before they buy. When you decide to sell a car that was once a rental car, its vehicle history report will show that its first owner was a rental car company.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many former mass-transit riders are looking for safer alternatives, such as cheap used cars. While the cars coming out of rental fleets are often sold for less than others in the marketplace, they're typically fairly new. That means you won't find $3,000 to $5,000 cars on the rental car company sales lots.

At CARFAX, we collect events from the lives of millions of used cars from 20 European countries, as well as the USA and Canada. We can then create a vehicle history for every car in our database and make it available to you.The information helps you to check sales data, avoid expensive follow-up costs and negotiate a fair purchase price.

Even if you are not a member of a federal agency, you can purchase used GSA Fleet vehicles at auction. When a vehicle meets its replacement criteria, GSA Fleet offers the vehicle for sale to the public. Every year, GSA Fleet sells over 30,000 vehicles. Auction inventories vary at each sale, but usually include multiple vehicle types with varying fuel capabilities.To find out how to buy used vehicles, visit AutoAuctions.

All fleet vehicles have been driven professionally, and most have also been cleaned and maintained professionally. However, once those vehicles hit certain mileage milestones, have been in an accident, or have been through certain kinds of bad weather events, they are typically retired and sold so that a new vehicle can be purchased instead.

A fleet vehicle is a car owned or leased by a business. By definition, an individual does not own it. In some cases, employees use the vehicle for business purposes. Ultimately, the company handles maintenance and repairs. Plus, it also pays for insurance and manages relevant taxes.

Your fleet vehicle will be on the road often. You may have to pay for frequent tune-ups or repairs. Additionally, maintenance has limitations. Even if you take good care of the car, it will lose value.

A fleet vehicle is an investment. Your business must have a solid cash flow to afford it. Consider what you stand to gain before taking the leap. You will take a loss if you sell your fleet vehicle in the future. 041b061a72