 TITLE: Should You Buy a Rental Car? CONTENT: The Importance of Checking Vehicle History\n------------------------------------------\nLet's face it: People are more careless with rental cars than they are with their own vehicles. How will you know if that sedan you're eyeing was used for an off-roading weekend or got caught in a flood? Checking the vehicle history report can help you uncover past accidents, frame damage, water damage and other issues that could affect the life and reliability of the car.\nIf the rental car company doesn't provide a vehicle history report, you can get one yourself. All you need is the vehicle identification number (VIN) or U.S. license plate to find out the vehicle's AutoCheck® Score. This service from Experian analyzes all the records in an AutoCheck vehicle history report to calculate this score, which estimates a vehicle's overall roadworthiness, its reliability compared with other vehicles in its class, and its likelihood of being on the road in five years.\nIn addition to checking the vehicle history report, ask to see the maintenance record. Finally, have the vehicle inspected by a trusted mechanic. Many rental car companies let you rent the car for a few days before you buy, giving you plenty of time to drive it around and get it checked out. END