CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for passenger car rental agencies in Iowa
59 passenger car rental agencies operated in Iowa in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 59CBP 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 1.8U.S. 2.8
- State rank
- 36th of 51by count
The car rental agency industry in Iowa
Iowa had 59 passenger car rental agencies in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 532111, Passenger Car Rental). That is the 36th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Passenger car rental agencies make up 0.07% of the 83,321 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Iowa has 1.8 passenger car rental agencies, 35.2% below the national rate of 2.8.
| Measure | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 59 | 9,548 |
| Mid-March employees | 385 (high noise) | 84,637 (high noise) |
| Annual payroll | $15,203,000 (high noise) | $4,246,355,000 (high noise) |
| Employees per establishment | — | — |
| Payroll per employee | — | — |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 1.8 | 2.8 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Iowa's largest markets for passenger car rental agencies
Census published car rental agency counts for 8 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Iowa. The largest is Des Moines, IA, with 19 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 58% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 19 | — | 2.5 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 18 | — | 1.8 |
| Davenport, IA-IL | 15 | — | 3.9 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 9 | — | 3.2 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 4 | — | 2.7 |
| Waterloo, IA | 3 | — | 1.8 |
| Dubuque, IA | 3 | — | 3.0 |
| Burlington, IA-IL | 3 | — | 6.7 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at passenger car rental agencies in Iowa
44.8% of Iowa's passenger car rental agencies with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 46.7% nationally. 74.1% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 26 | 44.8% | 46.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 17 | 29.3% | 30.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 15 | 25.9% | 15.2% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 4.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 2.9% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for passenger car rental agencies in Iowa
Rental agencies take reservation, extension and return calls. Independent and franchise locations rely on the phone for local customers. That holds for passenger car rental agencies in Iowa as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to passenger car rental agencies in Iowa:
- A customer calls about a damage question.
- A body shop calls to arrange a replacement vehicle.
- The agency calls a customer about a late return.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are usually about returns and reservations.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for passenger car rental agencies in Iowa
The comparison uses a 2-person team, the rounded U.S. average for passenger car rental agencies. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $49.90 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $60.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata is $99.00 a month with 5 users included, which is more than either per-seat plan for 2 people; it becomes the lower price at 4 users or more.
At this team size the per-seat plans cost less than Callata's $99 base price, which already covers 5 users; Callata becomes the lower price from 4 users.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $38.00 | $456.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $46.00 | $552.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $49.90 | $598.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $54.00 | $648.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $60.00 | $720.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Iowa
Iowa has 5 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your renters know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 712 | 633 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 641 | 584 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 515 | 578 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 319 | 565 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 563 | 388 | Central | 2001 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for passenger car rental agencies in Iowa
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Iowa, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many passenger car rental agencies are in Iowa?
59 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
Which Iowa metro area has the most passenger car rental agencies?
Des Moines, IA, with 19 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 2-person car rental agency?
$60.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $49.90 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Iowa number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.