ACE Rent a Car
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Car rental |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Indianapolis , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (over 170 licensed outlets in more than 55 countries) |
Key people | Richard Radzis, Charlie Mullen |
| Products | Car rental services |
| Owner | Privately owned |
| Website | www |
ACE Rent A Car Reservations, Inc. is a privately owned car rental enterprise established in 1966 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.
History
Chicago natives and lifelong companions Robert Sorensen and Ken Osterand initially operated two car wash locations in Indianapolis under the name Speedway Auto Laundry, starting in 1957.
In response to growing local rental needs, they introduced 10 Volkswagens in 1966, conducting business as Airways Rent A Car until 1969.
That same year, aiming to expand airport services, Sorensen, Osterand, and nine additional operators departed Airways to create the American International (AI) Rent a Car franchise network.
Osterand stepped down in 1978, leaving Sorensen as the sole proprietor. By 1986, their operations extended across Indiana and Chicago. Unhappy with AI's direction, Sorensen launched the ACE Rent A Car brand that year and became one of the first to utilize Global Distribution Systems (GDS) such as Sabre, PARS, and Apollo. This strategy enhanced brand visibility and facilitated the establishment of ACE’s licensee network.
Following Sorensen’s passing in 1995, his nephew Richard Radzis along with veteran employee Charlie Mullen assumed leadership. Over nearly two decades, they grew the fleet to 3,000 vehicles and expanded into Arizona, Minnesota, and Texas before divesting the rental operations to Avis Budget Group in 2014. They retained ownership of the ACE brand, licensing framework, and proprietary technology.
By 2025, ACE Rent A Car boasts over 170 licensed outlets across more than 55 nations, positioning it as the world’s largest independent rental car network.
Awards
In 2011, ACE achieved the top position for customer satisfaction in the annual industry survey conducted by J.D. Power & Associates. The following year, ACE was recognized among fifty J.D. Power Customer Service Champions spanning twenty service sectors.
| Year | Publication | Award | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | J.D. Power & Associates | Highest in Customer Satisfaction | [1] |
| 2012 | J.D. Power & Associates | Customer Service Champion | [2] |
| 2024 | Newsweek | America's Best Customer Service | [3] |
| 2025 | Newsweek | America's Best Customer Service | [4] |
| 2025 | Time | World's Best Brands | [5] |
| 2025 | USA Today | America's Best Loyalty & Rewards Programs | [6] |
| 2026 | Newsweek | America's Best Customer Service | [7] |
External links
- ↑ "Overall Satisfaction with Rental Cars Increases for a Second Year, Nearing 2006 Levels". November 9, 2011.
- ↑ "J.D. Power Releases 2012 'Customer Service Champions' List". March 21, 2012.
- ↑ "America's Best Customer Service". Newsweek. 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ↑ "America's Best Customer Service". Newsweek. 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ↑ "World's Best Brands of 2025 – United States". Time. 2025.
- ↑ "Which companies have the best loyalty and rewards programs? CVS, Kroger, Kohl's made the list". USA Today. 2025.
- ↑ "America's Best Customer Service". Newsweek. 2026. Retrieved November 11, 2025.