Car rental agent

Car rental agents hire out vehicles to businesses and the public.


Typical Salary

£18,000 – £28,000

per year

Working Hours

40–42

hours per week

Career Area

Sales related occupations

View related courses

Day-to-day tasks

In your day-to-day tasks you may:

  • answer questions from customers about prices and which vehicles are available
  • take bookings and explain the terms of rental agreements
  • complete paperwork, update computer records and take payments
  • record a car's condition and make notes of any existing bumps or scratches
  • explain and demonstrate any special features
  • check mileage and inspect for damage on returned vehicles
  • do customer 'call-backs' to check their satisfaction with the service
  • provide ongoing service and sales support to regular business accounts

Skills needed

  • customer service skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • to enjoy working with other people
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • administration skills
  • the ability to sell products and services
  • active listening skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Entry requirements

Foreign language skills could be useful if you want to work at airports, ports or tourist destinations.

How to get into this role

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

Career progression

You could become a supervisor or a manager.

With experience in business leasing accounts, you could become an account manager or move into fleet management.