CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for passenger car rental agencies in South Carolina
145 passenger car rental agencies operated in South Carolina in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 145CBP 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.6U.S. 2.8
- State rank
- 22nd of 51by count
The car rental agency industry in South Carolina
South Carolina had 145 passenger car rental agencies in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 532111, Passenger Car Rental). That is the 22nd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Passenger car rental agencies make up 0.12% of the 122,958 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) South Carolina has 2.6 passenger car rental agencies, 5.7% below the national rate of 2.8.
| Measure | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 145 | 9,548 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,349 (high noise) | 84,637 (high noise) |
| Annual payroll | $46,648,000 (moderate 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.
South Carolina's largest markets for passenger car rental agencies
Census published car rental agency counts for 9 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of South 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 86% 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 |
| Columbia, SC | 31 | — | 3.6 |
| Charleston, SC | 29 | — | 3.3 |
| Augusta, GA-SC | 19 | — | 3.0 |
| Greenville, SC | 16 | 105 | 1.6 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 16 | 237 | 4.0 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 15 | — | 3.6 |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 10 | — | 4.2 |
| Florence, SC | 7 | — | 3.5 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at passenger car rental agencies in South Carolina
41.4% of South Carolina's passenger car rental agencies with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 46.7% nationally. 68.3% 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 | 60 | 41.4% | 46.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 39 | 26.9% | 30.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 31 | 21.4% | 15.2% |
| 20–49 employees | 10 | 6.9% | 4.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 5 | 3.4% | 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina might handle in a typical week include:
- A customer calls about a damage question.
- A traveler calls about availability.
- A customer calls to extend a rental.
Business texting for passenger car rental agencies
Agencies text pickup instructions and return reminders.
Texting from a local number in South Carolina requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for passenger car rental agencies in South Carolina
The comparison uses a 2-person team, the rounded U.S. average for passenger car rental agencies. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 2 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $60.00 a month and 2 on Ooma Office Pro cost $49.90. 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 South Carolina
South Carolina has 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 803 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 839 |
| 864 | 784 | Eastern | 1995 | 821 |
| 843 | 783 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 839 | 190 | Eastern | 2020 | 803 |
| 854 | 182 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
| 821 | 42 | Eastern | 2024 | 864 |
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 South 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 South 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 South Carolina?
145 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
Which South 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 South 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.