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Did you know that renting vehicles is older than the car itself? Long before modern engines roared down highways, people were already renting chariots in Ancient Rome and horse-drawn carriages in the 1800s. But it wasn’t until the early 20th century that the car rental industry as we know it truly began to take shape.

Let’s take a quick drive through history and see how far we’ve come—and where today’s solutions might lead us.

The Early Days: A Model T and a Dream

• 1904 – A bicycle shop in Minneapolis starts offering cars for rent.
• 1912 – Sixt is founded in Germany with just three vehicles.
• 1915 – Joe Saunders in Omaha begins renting out a Model T Ford, marking the first formal car rental business in the U.S.

These early pioneers operated manually: bookings were made in person or by phone, and records were kept on paper. Still, the idea caught on quickly.

Post-War Growth and the Golden Era

After World War II, renting a car became more than a novelty. It was a booming business.

• 1950s – Rental kiosks start popping up in train stations and airports.

During this time, the idea of renting for convenience took off. As more people traveled for leisure and business, car rental companies grew into household names.

The Tech Revolution: From Paper to Programs

Managing a fleet on paper worked for a while—until it didn’t. As fleets expanded and customers expected faster service, car rental companies needed smarter tools.

Enter technology.

• 1970s – The first computerized rental systems appear.
• 1990s – Online booking becomes the norm.
• 2000s – Companies embrace digital documentation and cloud-based operations.

These innovations helped reduce human error, speed up customer service, and keep better track of vehicle availability, maintenance, and billing.

Today’s Rentals: Fast, Paperless, and Flexible

In 2025, the industry is all about convenience, flexibility, and automation. Here’s what modern car rental management looks like:

• Bookings via app or website
• On-the-spot digital signatures
• Tracking anything from fuel level to damage notes digitally
• Automatic document generation
• Remote rentals and self-service options

And behind it all? Car rental systems like Rentgine.

With Software vs. Without Car Rental System

So how different is it to manage a car rental business with software versus without?

Without Car Rental System:

• Paper-based contracts
• Manual mileage tracking
• Separate tools for billing, fleet tracking, and task management
• Risk of double bookings and miscommunication

With Rentgine:

• Smart calendar with real-time fleet visibility
• Customizable rental details (fuel, extras, odometer, etc.)
• Digital documents and e-signatures
• Alerts for upcoming maintenance
• One central platform for the entire team

What’s Next?

From renting horses to renting Teslas, the car rental world has come a long way. And it's not slowing down. The future? Likely electric, highly automated, and even more customer-centric.

At Rentgine, we’re proud to be part of this journey by helping rental companies adapt, grow, and stay in the fast lane.

Curious how Rentgine can modernize your operation and save you time and effort? Sign up for the 30-day free trial, and see what the future of rental management feels like.