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Transport

Car rental agent

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

Annual Salary

£18,000 to £28,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

40 to 42 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts

1.5%
Future employment

There will be 1.5% fewer Car rental agent jobs in 2027.

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

Working environment

You may need to wear a uniform.

You could work in an office, at an airport or at a port.

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
College

You could gain some of the skills and knowledge for this role through a college course like:

  • Level 1 Award in Developing Customer Service Skills
  • Level 2 award in Customer Service

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
  • search for courses|/find-a-course
Apprenticeship

You could start by doing a customer service practitioner intermediate apprenticeship.

This would give you the chance to get a customer service qualification alongside learning to do the job in the workplace.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Direct application

You could apply directly to work as a car rental agent. Employers may ask for GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in maths and English.

Experience in customer service, office administration or sales work could give you an advantage.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

  • Foreign language skills could be useful if you want to work at airports, ports or tourist destinations.
  • have a full driving licence

More information

Career tips

Having the right personality and good communication skills can be more important than formal qualifications.

Further information

You can find out more about working as a car rental agent through Autocity.

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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.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • 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
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