People can rent a car for a day or lease 20 cars for a year. Car rental representatives rent cars to people for short periods of time. Car leasing salespeople rent cars to people for a year or longer.
Car rental representatives usually work for large national car rental companies. Rental representatives are stationed at airports, bus and train terminals, and car rental offices. They specialize in renting cars to travelers who need cars for short periods of time. Rental cars are used by businesspeople and vacationers. They are also used by people whose cars are being repaired and people who need a car only occasionally.
Rental representatives make reservations for customers who call in to request a car for a specific time. Representatives help customers fill out forms when they come to pick up their rental cars. The customers are asked to sign a rental agreement and to give information about themselves such as their driver's license number. Rental representatives collect cash deposits or make arrangements to credit the rental charges to customers' credit card accounts. Finally, representatives give the customers receipts for their deposits, the keys to their rental cars, and copies of the agreements. Sometimes customers drive rented cars from one city to another. Wherever a car is returned, there is a rental representative waiting to check in the car and prepare the bill for the rental fee and mileage charges. Supervisors, called station managers, are responsible for running rental offices and supervising the rental representatives. Customer service representatives handle customers' complaints or problems.
Long-term car leasing salespeople sell leasing services to people who plan to use rented cars in their daily routines. Many businesses and some individuals find it more economical to lease cars or trucks than to purchase them. Leasing companies often pay for repairs and maintenance on the cars and trucks they lease to customers. Customers pay a fixed leasing charge in return for the use of the vehicles and whatever services are listed in the lease.
Most car leasing salespeople work out of the regional offices of large leasing companies. Others work in the leasing departments of large car dealers. Most car leasing salespeople travel a good deal to sell leasing services to businesses of all kinds. They work under the supervision of sales managers and regional managers. Customer relations coordinators handle customers' complaints, questions, and problems that arise during the leasing period. Leasing agreements involving many cars or trucks are called fleet leases. The car leasing salesperson explains the leasing services to the customer and works out a lease agreement. Many car leasing salespeople get a commission on each lease they sell in addition to their salaries.
Many other people are employed in the business of renting cars and trucks. Some specialize in renting moving vans or construction equipment. Others maintain and repair rental cars and trucks. Still others supervise and train car and truck rental workers.
Education and Training
You must be a high school graduate to become a car rental representative. Most of the large car rental companies have short training programs for their rental representatives.
You must be a college graduate to get a job as a car leasing salesperson. Most companies also require at least 1 year of sales experience. Occasionally, a person with only 1 or 2 years of college but with a few years of sales experience is hired. The large leasing companies have formal training programs that lead to assignments in specific sales territories.
Getting the Job
Check the want ads in your local newspaper for jobs in the car rental and leasing fields. You can approach the large rental and leasing companies directly through their personnel departments. College placement officers may be able to help you find a job as a car leasing salesperson.
Employment Outlook
A car rental representative can become a station manager or a customer service representative. Experienced representatives sometimes move up into the training departments of large rental companies.
Car leasing salespeople can become sales managers and district managers. Some salespeople advance to supervisory jobs in the main offices of large leasing companies.
The employment outlook for car rental representatives and leasing salespeople is good. Car and truck leasing services are growing rapidly, creating many new jobs. Despite overall growth in the industry, however, most positions will occur as representatives are promoted or change jobs.
Working Conditions
Car rental representatives spend most of their time behind counters in airports and terminals. Some representatives work in offices near car rental lots. The representatives meet many people during the course of their working day, and they are expected to maintain a pleasant manner. Many car rental agents work part-time. This often includes evening, weekend, and holiday work.
Car leasing people spend much time on the road calling on customers. They work under pressure to sell as many leasing services as possible in order to make large commissions. Some workers are members of labor unions.
Earnings and Benefits
Wages and benefits for car rental representatives vary widely depending on what part of the country they work in and whether or not they belong to a union. Currently earnings for beginning car rental representatives range from about $14,500 to $18,000 a year.
Salaries for car leasing salespeople vary according to their experience. Sales representatives with some sales experience and a bachelor's degree can earn up to $25,500 a year. Salespeople assigned to their own territory who work on a commission-plus-salary basis earn a base salary of about $18,000 a year.
