EXHIBIT 5.1

                                November 6, 1997



Smart Choice Automotive Group, Inc.
5200 South Washington Avenue
Titusville, Florida  32780

Gentlemen:

        You have  requested  our  opinion in  connection  with the  Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration  Statement") of Smart Choice Automotive
Group,  Inc. (the  "Company")  relating to the following  shares of Common Stock
(the "Shares"):

        (a)    4,650,982  Shares  held  by  certain  Selling  Shareholders  
(as  defined  in  the  Registration Statement");

        (b) An  aggregate  of  4,043,199  Shares  issuable  upon  conversion  of
convertible notes ("Notes") and Series A Redeemable  Convertible Preferred Stock
("Series  A  Preferred  Stock"),  and upon  exercise  of common  stock  purchase
warrants  ("Warrants")  and stock options  ("Options"),  held by certain Selling
Shareholders;

        We have made such  examination of the corporate  records and proceedings
of the  Company and have taken such  further  action as we deemed  necessary  or
appropriate to the rendering of our opinion herein.

        Based on the foregoing,  we are of the opinion that the 4,650,982 Shares
referenced above were legally issued,  fully paid and  non-assessable.  Further,
the 4,043,199 Shares underlying the Warrants,  the Series A Preferred Stock, the
Notes  and the  Options,  when  paid for and  issued  as  contemplated  by their
respective  governing  instruments,  will be  legally  issued,  fully  paid  and
non-assessable.  Therefore,  the  purchasers  acquiring  Shares upon  subsequent
resale as contemplated in the  Registration  Statement will receive Shares that,
as  applicable,   have  been  or  will  be  legally   issued,   fully  paid  and
non-assessable by the Company.

        We hereby  consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission as an  exhibit  to the  Registration  Statement  and to the
reference to our firm under the heading "Legal Matters" therein.


                          /s/ GREENBERG TRAURIG HOFFMAN LIPOFF ROSEN & QUENTEL 
                          ----------------------------------------------------
                          GREENBERG TRAURIG HOFFMAN LIPOFF ROSEN
                          & QUENTEL, P.A.