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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                   [WINSTEAD SECHREST & MINICK LETTERHEAD]



                         OPINION REGARDING LEGALITY

                              October 30, 1998


Renters Choice, Inc.
13800 Montfort Drive, Suite 300
Dallas, Texas  75240

Gentlemen:

        Renters Choice, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is today
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the registration of
1,500,000 shares (the "Shares") of common stock ("Common Stock"), $.01 par
value per share, of the Company which may hereafter be issued pursuant to The
Amended and Restated 1994 Renters Choice, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the
"Plan").

        In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have examined (i) the
Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and all amendments
thereto, (ii) the Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, (iii) the
applicable minutes of meetings or  consents in lieu of meetings of the
Company's board of directors (the "Board") and stockholders, and (iv) such
other corporate records and documents, certificates of corporate and public
officials and statutes as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this
opinion.  In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures, the authenticity of all corporate records, documents and
instruments submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents
of all documents submitted to us as conformed, certified or photostatic copies
thereof, the authenticity of the originals of such photostatic, certified or
conformed copies, and compliance both in the past and in the future with the
terms of the Plan by the Company and its employees, officers, the Board and any
committees appointed to administer the Plan.

        Based upon such examination and in reliance thereon, we are of the
opinion that upon the issuance of Shares in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Plan, 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.


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Renters Choice, Inc.
October 30, 1998
Page 2



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

                                                Very truly yours,

                                                WINSTEAD SECHREST & MINICK P.C.



                                                By: /s/ THOMAS W. HUGHES     
                                                   ---------------------------
                                                        Thomas W. Hughes














