Car rental agent
Car rental agents hire out vehicles to businesses and the public.
Also known as: Car rental assistant, vehicle reservation agent
- Starter salary£24,000 a year
- Experienced£30,000 a year
- Typical hours40 to 45 a week
What you'll do
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.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
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
How to become a car rental agent
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
College
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.
Apprenticeship
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
Direct application
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
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.
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.
Career tips
You may need to be over 21 for some jobs, for insurance purposes.
Guides for this industry
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