CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for passenger car rental agencies in North Carolina
290 passenger car rental agencies operated in North Carolina in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 290CBP 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.6U.S. 2.8
- State rank
- 8th of 51by count
Passenger car rental agencies in North Carolina by the numbers
North Carolina had 290 passenger car rental agencies in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 532111, Passenger Car Rental). That is the 8th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Passenger car rental agencies make up 0.11% of the 258,169 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) North Carolina has 2.6 passenger car rental agencies, 6.5% below the national rate of 2.8.
| Measure | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 290 | 9,548 |
| Mid-March employees | 2,361 (high noise) | 84,637 (high noise) |
| Annual payroll | $101,686,000 (high noise) | $4,246,355,000 (high noise) |
| Employees per establishment | — | — |
| Payroll per employee | — | — |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.6 | 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.
North Carolina's largest markets for passenger car rental agencies
Census published car rental agency counts for 18 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of North Carolina. The largest is Charlotte, NC-SC, with 93 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 60% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC-SC | 93 | — | 3.2 |
| Virginia Beach, VA-NC | 66 | — | 3.7 |
| Raleigh, NC | 42 | — | 2.7 |
| Greensboro, NC | 25 | — | 3.1 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 16 | — | 4.1 |
| Wilmington, NC | 15 | — | 3.1 |
| Winston, NC | 11 | — | 1.6 |
| Asheville, NC | 11 | — | 2.6 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 10 | — | 4.7 |
| Hickory, NC | 8 | — | 2.1 |
| Durham, NC | 7 | — | 1.1 |
| Greenville, NC | 5 | — | 2.8 |
| Burlington, NC | 4 | — | 2.2 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 4 | — | 2.7 |
| New Bern, NC | 4 | 24 | 3.2 |
| Pinehurst, NC | 4 | 20 | 3.7 |
| Kill Devil Hills, NC | 4 | — | 10.5 |
| North Wilkesboro, NC | 3 | — | 4.5 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at passenger car rental agencies in North Carolina
40.1% of North Carolina's passenger car rental agencies with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 46.7% nationally. 75.1% 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 | 116 | 40.1% | 46.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 101 | 34.9% | 30.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 52 | 18.0% | 15.2% |
| 20–49 employees | 14 | 4.8% | 4.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 6 | 2.1% | 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 North Carolina
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 North Carolina as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for passenger car rental agencies in North Carolina:
- A body shop calls to arrange a replacement vehicle.
- A customer calls to extend a rental.
- 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 North Carolina requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 2-person car rental agency
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 North Carolina
North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 910 | 785 | Eastern | 1993 | 472 |
| 336 | 783 | Eastern | 1997 | 743 |
| 704 | 782 | Eastern | 1947 | 980 |
| 919 | 781 | Eastern | 1954 | 984 |
| 828 | 724 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 252 | 695 | Eastern | 1998 | none |
| 980 | 463 | Eastern | 2001 | 704 |
| 984 | 295 | Eastern | 2012 | 919 |
| 743 | 160 | Eastern | 2016 | 336 |
| 472 | 106 | Eastern | 2022 | 910 |
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 North Carolina
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
Porting a number you already use in North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
290 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
Which North Carolina metro area has the most passenger car rental agencies?
Charlotte, NC-SC, with 93 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 North Carolina 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.