Car rental agent
Car rental agents hire out vehicles to businesses and the public.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a car rental agent, you could:
- answer customer questions about vehicle availability and rental rates
- take bookings and explain lease agreements, including insurance
- update computer records and process payments
- record a car's condition and note any existing bumps or scratches
- demonstrate any special features, like GPS systems
- deliver and collect vehicles to and from locations when required
- check mileage and inspect for damage on returned vehicles
- gather feedback from customers about the service they received
- provide ongoing sales support to regular business fleet accounts
Working environment
You could work in an office, at an airport, at a railway station or at a port.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Career path and progression
You could become a team supervisor, warranty administrator or a hire manager, with further training.
With experience in business leasing accounts, you could become an account manager or move into fleet management.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- to enjoy working with other people
- excellent verbal communication skills
- administration skills
- the ability to sell products and services
- active listening skills
- maths knowledge
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
- have a full driving licence
Foreign language skills could be useful if you want to work at airports, ports or tourist destinations.
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
You could learn some of the skills needed for this role by doing a college course, such as:
- customer service
- contact centre operations
- principles of customer service
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
More Information
You can apply to do an apprenticeship with a vehicle hire company, for example:
- Customer Service Practitioner Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
- Customer Service Specialist Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
These take around 1 year to complete and combine on-the-job training and time spent with a learning provider.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More Information
You could apply directly to work as a car rental agent.
Employers will look for experience in customer service, office administration or sales work. They may also expect you to have:
- some GCSEs, including English and maths, or equivalent qualifications
- IT skills
Career tips
You may need to be over 21 for some jobs, for insurance purposes.
Further information
You can find out more about a career as a car rental agent from Autocity.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.