Rental firm Hertz has launched a retail operation for its rental cars, telling consumers it's a way of overcoming the typical 15 minute test drive offered by dealers.

Its Rent2Buy service allows consumers to hire their chosen car from its fleet for up to a 10 day period from its 106 branches, then refunds them the hire fee if they choose to buy it.

If the customer decides to buy, in many cases they don't need to return the car to any Hertz depot and can complete their paperwork online, it said. They also earn Nectar points.

Marketing material on its website promotes the service as having no used car salesmen and allowing the cars to sell themselves, with a no-haggle price which Hertz says is aimed to be lower than a local car supermarket.

2,300 cars in stock

It has partnered with finance company CreditPlus to facilitate the sale.

Customers won't get details of service history until the sale is complete but Hertz said all cars are well maintained by professionals, have between 12,000 ad 50,000 miles, and most have the remainder of their original manufacturer warranty.

A search by AM of its website this morning showed more than 2,300 vehicles available for Rent2Buy, from £5,500 Vauxhall Astras and Kia Rios to £17,000 Ford Mondeos, Kugas and S-Maxs and £19,000 Audi A4s.

Almost four-fifths of the cars were Fords.

Michel Taride, president of Hertz International, said: "Rent2Buy is unique, hassle-free buying experience for consumers seeking an exceptionally well-priced, high-quality used car. Hertz can pass along great savings to our used car customers because we buy thousands of cars annually at below retail rates."

Hertz was owned by Ford until it sold the rental business in 2005.