
<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.1


                                                          Direct Dial: 745-5201
                                                           thughes@winstead.com

                  [WINSTEAD SECHREST & MINICK P.C. LETTERHEAD]


                                 May ___, 1999


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

         Re:   Rent-A-Center, Inc. -- Registration Statement on Form S-3
               relating to 260,000 shares of Common Stock

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for Rent-A-Center, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, relating to the registration of 260,000 shares of the Company's common
stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Shares") issuable by the Company pursuant
to certain outstanding options (the "Options").

         In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon such
records, documents, certificates and other instruments as in our judgment are
necessary or appropriate to form the basis for the opinions hereinafter set
forth. In all such examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of signatures
on original documents and the conformity to such original documents of all
copies submitted to us as certified, conformed or photographic copies, and as
to certificates of public officials, we have assumed the same to have been
properly given and to be accurate. As to matters of fact material to this
opinion, we have relied upon statements and representations of representatives
of the Company and of public officials.

         The opinions expressed herein are limited in all respects to the
federal laws of the United States of America, the laws of the State of Texas
and the Delaware General Corporation Law, and no opinion is expressed with
respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction or any effect which such laws may
have on the opinions expressed herein. This opinion is limited to the matters
stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters
expressly stated herein.

<PAGE>   2
Rent-A-Center, Inc.
May ___, 1999
Page 2


         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

         (i)      The Shares are duly authorized.

         (ii)     Upon the issuance of the Shares against payment therefor as
                  provided in the option agreements relating to the Options,
                  the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and
                  nonassessable.

         This opinion is given as of the date hereof, and we assume no
obligation to advise you after the date hereof of facts or circumstances that
come to our attention or changes in law that occur which could affect the
opinions contained herein. This letter is being rendered solely for the benefit
of the Company in connection with the matters addressed herein. This opinion
may not be furnished to or relied upon by any person or entity for any purpose
without our prior written consent.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus that is related to the Registration Statement.

                                     Very truly yours,

                                     WINSTEAD SECHREST & MINICK P.C.



