EXHIBIT 5.1

                                January 29, 1998



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

Gentlemen:

     You have requested the opinion of the  undersigned  in connection  with the
Registration  Statement  on Form S-3  (the  "Registration  Statement")  of Smart
Choice Automotive Group, Inc. (the "Company") relating to shares of Common Stock
(the "Common Stock")  registered under the Registration  Statement that (i) have
been issued to the Selling  Shareholders named in the Registration  Statement or
(ii) are  issuable  to the  Selling  Shareholders  on the  exercise of rights to
acquire Common Stock.

     The  undersigned  has made such  examination  of the corporate  records and
proceedings of the Company and has taken such further action deemed necessary or
appropriate to the rendering of the opinion herein.

     Based on the foregoing, the undersigned is of the opinion that Common Stock
described in clause (i) above is legally issued,  fully paid and non-assessable.
Further,  the Common  Stock  described  in clause (ii) above,  when paid for and
issued as contemplated by the respective governing instruments,  will be legally
issued,  fully paid and  non-assessable.  Therefore,  the  purchasers  acquiring
Common  Stock  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.

     The  undersigned  hereby  consents to the filing of this  opinion  with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission as an exhibit to the Registration  Statement
and to the  reference  to the  undersigned  under the  heading  "Legal  Matters"
therein.

                          Very truly yours,


                         /s/ James Neal Hutchinson, Jr.
                         ------------------------------
                             James Neal Hutchinson, Jr.
                             Vice President and General Counsel