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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Im8CH1IKiFF/yixBePqxZBW9wCoSIytosVGvKjjkmX81TMnFIZhVJgmmYnJa3MKc
 XgEol41OMktAQVBTYTF72A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-05-001402.txt : 20050105
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-05-001402.hdr.sgml : 20050105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050105095556
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-05-001402
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LENTELL J V
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201324

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25370
		FILM NUMBER:		05510598

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5700 TENNYSON PKWY STE 180
		CITY:			PLANO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75024

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RENT A CENTER INC DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000933036
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EQUIPMENT RENTAL & LEASING, NEC [7359]
		IRS NUMBER:				481024367
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5700 TENNYSON PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		THIRD FLOOR
		CITY:			PLANO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75024
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2144192613

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5700 TENNYSON PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		THIRD FLOOR
		CITY:			PLANO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75024

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RENTERS CHOICE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19941128
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bod21366_bod1jvl.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000933036</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RENT A CENTER INC DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RCII</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201324</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LENTELL J V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>105 NORTH MAIN</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WICHITA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>67202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.54</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-01-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-01-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 3, 2005, the reporting person was granted 5,000 options to purchase the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the &quot;Common Stock&quot;), on a one-for-one basis, pursuant to the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan.  The options expire 10 years from the date of grant and are immediately available for exercise.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the total number of options granted to the reporting person pursuant to this grant.  The reporting person has an additional 60,000 options to purchase the Company's Common Stock (as adjusted to reflect a 5-for-2 stock split effected by the Company on August 29, 2003) pursuant to options previously granted to the reporting person on January 2, 1998, January 4, 1999, January 3, 2000, January 2, 2001, January 2, 2002, January 2, 2003, and January 2, 2004.  All of these options are currently exercisable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ J.V. Lentell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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