optionally all such data may be contained in a preprogrammed card for simple swipe entry in a reader such as for frequent users the customer swipes a credit card through reader 12 for activation of the rental process including activation of the vehicle starting key 13 left in the vehicle but which cannot start the vehicle unless an interlock is activated device 14 transmits the customer entered information including credit card information to a central billing and control data base the device 14 further transmits pre entered vehicle identification information such as vin 20 contained on a dashboard 21 for visual identification for direct correlation with the customer entered information for use as a security key and for subsequent billing and vehicle inventory control it is device 14 which further functions as a vehicle locator and tracker within lot 100 by means of communication with fixed position nodes 14 a dispersed within the lot the central data base and or device 14 transmits a valid activation with vehicle and customer information to a check out gate where identification is checked on a terminal to ensure that an authorized user is removing the vehicle from the vehicle lot device 14 transmits an approach message which triggers a printer at a check out gate to print out a rental agreement for the driver with the previously entered information and selected options it is possible to utilize separate devices 14 for the separate purposes of driver and vehicle identification and function monitoring with the former device being removable for transfer to another vehicle once valid identification has been established such.