EXHIBIT 5.1

                  [Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C. Letterhead]


January 22, 2003




Rent-A-Center, Inc.
5700 Tennyson Parkway
Third Floor
Plano, Texas 75024


         Re:      Rent-A-Center, Inc. - Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to
                  Registration Statement on Form S-3


Ladies and Gentlemen:


         We have acted as counsel for Rent-A-Center, Inc., (formerly
Rent-A-Center Holdings, Inc.) a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), in
connection with the Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-77985) (the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") filed by
the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), with respect to
the Company's adoption, as the successor issuer to Rent-A-Center East, Inc.
(formerly, Rent-A-Center, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the "PREDECESSOR"), of
Registration Statement No. 333-77985 pursuant to Rule 414 of the Securities Act.
The Registration Statement covers shares (the "SHARES") of the Company's common
stock, par value $0.01 per share ("COMMON STOCK"), which may be issued upon the
exercise of certain options (the "OPTIONS") granted by the Predecessor and
adopted and assumed by the Company.


         In that connection, we have examined originals, or copies certified or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records
and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the
purposes of our opinion, including: (i) the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, (ii) the Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws and
(iii) the applicable minutes of meetings or consents in lieu of meetings of the
Company's board of directors (the "BOARD").

         For the purposes of expressing the opinion hereinafter set forth, we
have assumed: (i) the genuineness of all signatures and documents; (ii) the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; (iii) the conformity
to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (iv) the
correctness and accuracy of all facts set forth in the documents referred to in
this Opinion Letter; (v) the due authorization, execution, and delivery of and
the validity and binding effect of all documents; and (vi) compliance both in
the past and in the future with the terms of the agreements underlying the
Options (the "OPTION AGREEMENTS") by the Company, the respective Option holders,
the Board and any committees thereof.

         Based on the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set forth
herein, we are of the opinion that upon the issuance of Shares in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the Option Agreements, including receipt prior
to issuance by the Company of the full consideration for the Shares (which
consideration shall be at least equal to the par value thereof), the Shares will
be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock.

         Our opinions herein are limited in all respects to the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which includes those statutory
provisions as well as all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and
the reported judicial decisions interpreting such laws, and the federal laws of
the United States of America, and we do not express any opinion as to the
applicability of or the effect thereon of the laws of any other jurisdiction. We
express no opinion as to any matter other than as set forth herein, and no
opinion may be inferred or implied herefrom.

         This firm consents to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as
Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       /s/ Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C.

                                       Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C.