EXHIBIT 5.1

Fulbright & Jaworski l.l.p.
A Registered Limited Liability Partnership
2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 2800
Dallas, Texas 75201-2784
www.fulbright.com

telephone:     (214) 855-8000
facsimile:      (214) 855-8200

September 29, 2009

Rent-A-Center, Inc.
5501 Headquarters Drive
Plano, Texas 75024

     Re:       Rent-A-Center, Inc. — Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We are acting as counsel for Rent-A-Center, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the proposed registration by the Company of 554,102 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”, and such Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, is hereafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”). The shares of Common Stock to be registered pursuant to the Registration Statement may be sold from time to time by the selling stockholders identified in the Registration Statement (the “Shares”).

     In that connection, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion, including: (i) the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended; (ii) the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws; and (iii) the applicable minutes of meetings or consents in lieu of meetings of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) and Finance Committee of the Board.

     For the purposes of expressing the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have assumed: (i) the genuineness of all signatures and documents; (ii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; (iii) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; and (iv) the correctness and accuracy of all facts set forth in the documents referred to in this opinion letter.

     Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares will be, when issued pursuant to the proper exercise of outstanding options held by the selling stockholders (including the payment by the selling stockholders of the applicable exercise price of such outstanding options), duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     Our opinion herein is limited in all respects to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which includes those statutory provisions as well as all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting such laws, and the federal laws of the United States of America, and we do not express any opinion as to the applicability of or the effect thereon of the

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Rent-A-Center, Inc.
September 29, 2009
Page 2

laws of any other jurisdiction. We express no opinion as to any matter other than as set forth herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied herefrom.

     We are aware that we are referred to under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement, and we hereby consent to such use of our name therein and the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.

FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI L.L.P.