CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for passenger car rental agencies in New Jersey
263 passenger car rental agencies operated in New Jersey in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 263CBP 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.8U.S. 2.8
- State rank
- 10th of 51by count
The car rental agency industry in New Jersey
County Business Patterns counts 263 establishments in New Jersey classified as Passenger Car Rental (NAICS 532111) for 2023. That is the 10th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Passenger car rental agencies make up 0.11% of the 237,968 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) New Jersey has 2.8 passenger car rental agencies, in line with the national rate of 2.8.
| Measure | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 263 | 9,548 |
| Mid-March employees | 2,215 (high noise) | 84,637 (high noise) |
| Annual payroll | $123,111,000 (moderate noise) | $4,246,355,000 (high noise) |
| Employees per establishment | — | — |
| Payroll per employee | — | — |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.8 | 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.
New Jersey's largest markets for passenger car rental agencies
Census published car rental agency counts for 6 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of New Jersey. The largest is New York, NY-NJ, with 513 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 9.5% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY-NJ | 513 | — | 2.6 |
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 203 | — | 3.2 |
| Allentown, PA-NJ | 20 | — | 2.3 |
| Trenton, NJ | 15 | — | 3.8 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | 7 | — | 1.9 |
| Vineland, NJ | 3 | — | 1.9 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at passenger car rental agencies in New Jersey
52.3% of New Jersey's passenger car rental agencies with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 46.7% nationally. 90.5% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 137 | 52.3% | 46.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 100 | 38.2% | 30.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 14 | 5.3% | 15.2% |
| 20–49 employees | 4 | 1.5% | 4.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 7 | 2.7% | 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey might handle in a typical week include:
- A body shop calls to arrange a replacement vehicle.
- The agency calls a customer about a late return.
- A customer calls about a damage question.
What passenger car rental agencies text about
Agencies text pickup instructions and return reminders.
Texting from a local number in New Jersey requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs a car rental agency in New Jersey
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 costs $99.00 a month ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), so at this team size both per-seat plans are cheaper; Callata drops below them from 4 users.
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 New Jersey
New Jersey has 10 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a car rental agency can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 609 | 780 | Eastern | 1957 | 640 |
| 732 | 780 | Eastern | 1997 | 848 |
| 201 | 779 | Eastern | 1947 | 551 |
| 973 | 779 | Eastern | 1997 | 862 |
| 908 | 722 | Eastern | 1990 | none |
| 856 | 676 | Eastern | 1999 | none |
| 862 | 390 | Eastern | 2001 | 973 |
| 551 | 301 | Eastern | 2001 | 201 |
| 848 | 289 | Eastern | 2001 | 732 |
| 640 | 132 | Eastern | 2018 | 609 |
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 New Jersey
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.
Porting a number you already use in New Jersey 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 in New Jersey?
263 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
Which New Jersey metro area has the most passenger car rental agencies?
New York, NY-NJ, with 513 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 New Jersey 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.