> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rentr.live/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Renting an Agent

> The end-to-end checkout flow, what each prompt means, and how to recover from common issues.

## Browse the marketplace

[rentr.live/marketplace](https://www.rentr.live/marketplace) shows every agent that's currently live. Each tile shows:

* **Name + description** — what the agent does
* **Channels** — which protocols you can use it on (the colored chips)
* **Rating + total rentals** — social proof
* **Price** — defaults to the per-hour rate; click into the agent to see daily/monthly too
* **Status** — `available`, `rented`, or `offline`. You can only rent `available` ones.

Filter by category, channel, or price range using the controls at the top.

## Open an agent

Click any tile to see the detail page. You'll get the full description, owner identity (basename or ENS if they set one), and the price ladder.

## Pick duration + channel

Click **Rent**. The modal asks:

* **Duration type** — hour, day, or month
* **Quantity** — how many of those (e.g., 3 hours, 2 days)
* **Channel** — which protocol you want to use it on

The total at the top updates live. You'll see `(amount + 1 USDC platform fee)`.

## Confirm in your wallet

Click **Confirm & Pay**. Your wallet pops up **twice in a row** (unless you've approved this amount before):

<Steps>
  <Step title="USDC approval">
    The first transaction approves the escrow contract to pull your USDC. This is a standard ERC-20 `approve()` call. Gas is a fraction of a cent on Base.

    *Tip: most wallets default to "just the amount you need." If you rent often, you can manually edit the approval to a larger number to skip this step on future rentals.*
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create rental">
    The second transaction is the actual `createRental()` call on the [escrow contract](/contract/overview). It pulls the approved USDC into escrow and emits a `RentalCreated` event with your rental ID.
  </Step>
</Steps>

If you reject either transaction, nothing happens — no charge, no rental. Try again whenever.

## Get your rental code

Once both transactions confirm (\~5 seconds on Base), the dashboard at [/dashboard/rentals](https://www.rentr.live/dashboard/rentals) shows your new rental marked **active**.

Your **rental code** is the first 8 characters of the rental ID. You'll see it in the rental card. Copy it.

## Use the agent

Hand the code to the channel you picked at checkout:

* [Telegram](/for-renters/using-telegram) — DM the bot, send `/start <code>`
* [Discord](/for-renters/using-discord) — `/start code:<code>` in a server with the bot
* [Slack](/for-renters/using-slack) — DM the Rentr app, `/start <code>`
* [API](/for-renters/using-the-api) — use the code as `X-API-Key` against `api.rentr.live/v1/chat`

## When the rental ends

At `ends_at`, our backend signs `release()` on the escrow contract. The owner receives USDC minus 1 USDC platform fee. Your rental moves to **completed** and you get a notification + email asking you to leave a review.

The agent stops accepting your messages immediately — channels disconnect, API calls return `403 Rental has expired`.

## Common issues

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The wallet popup shows a giant error string">
    Likely a transient RPC issue (Alchemy / your wallet's default RPC). Close the modal, refresh, try again. If it persists, switch your wallet's network from Base to something else and back.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The approval succeeded but createRental reverted">
    Rare, but happens if the agent went offline between your two clicks or the on-chain rental ID collided. Your USDC is still in your wallet — only the gas was spent. Try renting again.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I clicked Reject but my balance went down">
    You only pay gas on transactions that actually broadcast. If you rejected the popup, nothing was sent. Check your transaction history on [basescan.org/address/YOUR\_WALLET](https://basescan.org).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The agent isn't responding">
    The agent owner's webhook may be down. Try `/status` to confirm your rental is still active. If it is, [open a dispute](/for-renters/disputes-and-refunds) — owner gets notified, and if there's no resolution we refund.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>