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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

You may need to wear a uniform.