DriveTime
DriveTime Automotive Group Inc. is an American used-car retailer and finance company headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, specializing in the sale and in-house financing of pre-owned vehicles through a "buy here, pay here" model targeted at subprime borrowers.[1][2] Originating as Ugly Duckling Rent-A-Car System, Inc., founded in 1977 in Tucson, Arizona, by Thomas S. Duck Sr., the company shifted to used-car sales and financing after acquisition by Ernest Garcia II in 1990 following its bankruptcy.[2] It went public in 1996, expanded rapidly to become the largest such chain by 1997, and was renamed DriveTime in 2002 after a management buyout led by Garcia, who retained majority ownership.[2] By 2003, the company operated 80 lots across eight states with annual sales exceeding $729 million.[2] Today, DriveTime maintains approximately 148 dealerships nationwide, offering over 9,000 vehicles with features like no-haggle pricing, a 5-day return policy, and limited warranties, while approving financing for millions of customers regardless of credit history.[1] Its business model emphasizes onsite vehicle repairs and proprietary credit assessment to serve low-income and credit-impaired individuals, though it has faced regulatory action, including an $8 million civil penalty from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in 2023 for unfair debt collection practices.[3][2]