CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for passenger car rental agencies in Los Angeles, CA
Passenger car rental agencies in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area: 503 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 12-person team.
- Establishments
- 503CBP 2023
- Employees
- 6,034mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.9U.S. 2.8
- Rank
- 2nd of 367areas by count
The car rental agency market in Los Angeles, CA
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 503 establishments classified as Passenger Car Rental (NAICS 532111) in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. They employed 6,034 people in mid-March and paid $314.9 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 2nd out of 367 areas with published figures for passenger car rental agencies.
Measured against its 12.9 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 3.9 passenger car rental agencies per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 2.8, so Los Angeles, CA is 38.6% above the national figure.
| Measure | Los Angeles, CA | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 503 | 1,190 | 9,548 |
| Mid-March employees | 6,034 (moderate noise) | 12,586 (high noise) | 84,637 (high noise) |
| Annual payroll | $314,902,000 (moderate noise) | $706,720,000 (moderate noise) | $4,246,355,000 (high noise) |
| Employees per establishment | 12.0 | — | — |
| Payroll per employee | $52,188 | — | — |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.9 | 3.0 | 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.
Establishment size: passenger car rental agencies in Los Angeles, CA
Of the passenger car rental agencies in Los Angeles, CA that had employees in March 2023, 52.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 46.7%). 75.8% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 263 | 52.5% | 46.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 117 | 23.4% | 30.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 77 | 15.4% | 15.2% |
| 20–49 employees | 30 | 6.0% | 4.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 14 | 2.8% | 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.
What passenger car rental agencies in Los Angeles, CA use the phone for
Rental agencies take reservation, extension and return calls. Independent and franchise locations rely on the phone for local customers.
Calls a car rental agency in Los Angeles, CA might handle in a typical week include:
- A traveler calls about availability.
- The agency calls a customer about a late return.
- A customer calls to extend a rental.
Texting renters
Agencies text pickup instructions and return reminders.
Team texting on Callata runs from your business number, so replies come from the practice or shop rather than someone's personal phone. It turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.
Phone system pricing for a 12-person car rental agency
The average car rental agency in Los Angeles, CA has 12.0 employees, so a 12-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 12 users would run $360.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $299.40 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $239.00 a month for 12 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,452 less than RingCentral for a car rental agency in Los Angeles, CA of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $239.00 | $2,868.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $228.00 | $2,736.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $276.00 | $3,312.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $299.40 | $3,592.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $324.00 | $3,888.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $360.00 | $4,320.00 |
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.
Local area codes for passenger car rental agencies in Los Angeles, CA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 323 has the most, with 786 of 5,035 exchanges (16%). A local number lets renters in Los Angeles, CA call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 323 | 786 | Pacific | 1998 | 213, 738 |
| 213 | 780 | Pacific | 1947 | 323, 738 |
| 714 | 777 | Pacific | 1951 | 657 |
| 626 | 722 | Pacific | 1997 | none |
| 657 | 643 | Pacific | 2008 | 714 |
| 562 | 541 | Pacific | 1997 | none |
| 949 | 454 | Pacific | 1998 | none |
| 310 | 332 | Pacific | 1991 | 424 |
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.
Setting up Callata for a car rental agency in Los Angeles, CA
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Los Angeles, CA is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many passenger car rental agencies are there in Los Angeles, CA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 503 passenger car rental agencies in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area in 2023. They employed 6,034 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 12-person car rental agency?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 12 users cost $360.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $299.40 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $239.00.
What area code should a car rental agency in Los Angeles, CA use?
Area code 323 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 213 and 714. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a car rental agency?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.