SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
                Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:
[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement           [ ]  Confidential, For Use of the
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement                 Commission Only (as permitted
[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials            by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to
     Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12


                         RENT-A-WRECK OF AMERICA, INC.
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                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X]  No fee required.
[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

1)   Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

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2)   Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

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3)   Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction  computed  pursuant
     to Exchange  Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
     calculated and state how it was determined):

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4)   Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

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5)   Total fee paid:

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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:

[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided  by  Exchange  Act
    Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which the  offsetting fee was
    paid  previously.  Identify the previous filing by  registration  statement
    number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

    1)   Amount previously paid:
                                ------------------------------------------
    2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
                                                      --------------------
    3)   Filing Party:
                      ----------------------------------------------------
    4)   Date Filed:
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                          RENT-A-WRECK OF AMERICA, INC.
                            10324 SOUTH DOLFIELD ROAD
                          OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND 21117


                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                          TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 20, 2001


TO THE STOCKHOLDERS:

     The Annual Meeting of  stockholders  of  Rent-A-Wreck  of America,  Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be held on Tuesday, November 20, 2001
at 1:00 p.m.  local time, at the Company's  headquarters  located at 10324 South
Dolfield Road, Owings Mills, Maryland 21117, for the following purposes:

     1.   To elect directors for the ensuing year and until their successors are
          elected and qualified; and

     2.   To  transact  such other  business  as may  properly  come  before the
          meeting or any adjournment thereof.

     The  foregoing  items of  business  are more fully  described  in the Proxy
Statement accompanying this Notice.

     Stockholders  of record at the close of  business  on  October  5, 2001 are
entitled to vote at the meeting and at any adjournment or postponement  thereof.
Shares can be voted at the meeting only if the holder is present or  represented
by proxy.  A list of  stockholders  entitled to vote at the meeting will be open
for inspection at the Company's  corporate  headquarters for any purpose germane
to the meeting during ordinary business hours for 10 days prior to the meeting.

     This Notice and Proxy  Statement  are being mailed on or about  October 15,
2001.

     A copy of the Company's 2001 Annual Report to stockholders  and Form 10-KSB
for the fiscal year ended  March 31,  2001,  which  includes  audited  financial
statements,  is enclosed.  All stockholders are cordially  invited to attend the
Annual Meeting in person.

                                   Sincerely,

                                   KENNETH L. BLUM, SR.
                                   CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Owings Mills, Maryland
October 15, 2001

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IMPORTANT:  PLEASE  COMPLETE,  DATE  AND  SIGN THE  ENCLOSED  PROXY  AND MAIL IT
PROMPTLY IN THE  ENCLOSED  ENVELOPE  TO ASSURE  REPRESENTATION  OF YOUR  SHARES,
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING. IF YOU ATTEND THE ANNUAL
MEETING, YOU MAY REVOKE THE PROXY AND VOTE YOUR SHARES IN PERSON.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          RENT-A-WRECK OF AMERICA, INC.
                            10324 SOUTH DOLFIELD ROAD
                          OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND 21117


                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                          TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 20, 2001


                SOLICITATION, EXECUTION AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES

     We are providing  this proxy  statement to you as a stockholder  of RAWA in
connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors for use at
the annual meeting.  All executed  proxies,  unless such proxies have previously
been revoked,  will be voted in accordance with the direction on the proxies. If
you fail to  indicate a direction  on your  proxy,  your shares will be voted in
favor of the  proposals  to be acted  upon at the annual  meeting.  The Board of
Directors  is not aware of any other  matter  which may come before the meeting,
except for those matters listed on the notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
If any other matters are properly presented at the meeting for action, including
a question of adjourning the meeting from time to time, the persons named in the
proxies and acting  thereunder  will have  discretion to vote on such matters in
accordance with their judgment.

     When  stock is in the name of more than one  person,  the proxy is valid if
signed by any of such persons unless we receive  written notice to the contrary.
If the  stockholder is a corporation,  the proxy should be signed in the name of
such  corporation  by an executive  or other  authorized  officer.  If signed as
attorney,   executor,   administrator,   trustee,   guardian  or  in  any  other
representative  capacity,  the  signer's  full title should be given and, if not
previously  furnished,  a certificate or other evidence of appointment should be
furnished.

     This Proxy  Statement  and the form of proxy  which is  enclosed  are being
mailed to the Company's stockholders commencing on or about October 15, 2001.

     You may revoke  your proxy at any time  before it is voted.  If you wish to
revoke your proxy,  you can do so (i) by executing a later-dated  proxy relating
to the same shares and  delivering  it to the  Secretary of the Company prior to
the vote at the annual meeting, (ii) by written notice of revocation received by
the Secretary  prior to the vote at the annual  meeting or (iii) by appearing in
person at the annual  meeting,  filing a written notice of revocation and voting
in person the shares to which the proxy relates.

     In  addition to the use of the mails,  we may  solicit  proxies by personal
interview,  telephone  or  telegram  by  the  directors,  officers  and  regular
employees of the Company.  Such persons will receive no additional  compensation
for such services.  Arrangements  will also be made with certain brokerage firms
and certain other  custodians,  nominees and  fiduciaries  for the forwarding of
solicitation  materials to the beneficial  owners of Common Stock held of record
by such persons, and such brokers, custodians,  nominees and fiduciaries will be
reimbursed for their reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses  incurred in connection
therewith.   We  will  bear  all  expenses  incurred  in  connection  with  this
solicitation.

     The mailing  address of the  principal  corporate  office of the Company is
10324 South Dolfield Road, Owings Mills, Maryland 21117.

                 VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF

     Only  stockholders  of record at the close of  business  on October 5, 2001
(the "Record Date") will be entitled to vote at the meeting. On the Record Date,
the Company  had  outstanding  4,310,496  shares of Common  Stock and  1,105,000
shares of Series A Convertible  Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred"),  each of
which, except as noted below, entitles the record holder thereof on such date to
one vote on each matter  presented at the meeting.  As further  described below,
the holders of Series A Preferred, voting as a class, have the right to elect up
to four  directors  of a  seven-member  Board of  Directors,  but a majority  of
holders of Series A Preferred  have chosen only to exercise their right to elect
three of the directors.  Because of the Series A Preferred's  right to vote as a
class for the election of Class II directors, the proxies solicited from holders
of Common Stock do not involve the election of directors  nominated to positions
in Class II.

     The presence of a majority of the Common Stock and a majority of the Series
A Preferred,  represented  in person or by proxy,  constitutes  a quorum for the
conduct of business at the annual meeting. The two Class I nominees for director
receiving the highest  number of  affirmative  votes (whether or not a majority)
cast by the  shares  represented  at the annual  meeting  and  entitled  to vote
thereon, a quorum being present, shall be elected as directors.

     We will include  abstentions and broker non-votes in determining the number
of shares present for quorum  purposes.  Because  abstentions  represent  shares
entitled to vote,  the effect of an  abstention  will be the same as a vote cast
against a proposal.  A broker non-vote,  on the other hand, will not be regarded
as representing a share entitled to vote on the proposal and, accordingly,  will
have no effect on the voting for such proposal.  However, only affirmative votes
are relevant in the election of directors.

     Votes  will be counted  by the  Inspector  of  Elections  appointed  by the
Chairman of the Annual Meeting and certified to the Company in writing.

         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     As of  September  7,  2001  the  persons  and  entities  identified  in the
following table,  including all directors,  executive officers and persons known
to the Company to own more than 5% of the  Company's  voting  securities,  owned
beneficially,  within the meaning of  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  Rule
13d-3,  the  shares  of  voting  securities  reflected  in such  table.  All the
outstanding  shares of Series A Preferred  are  immediately  convertible  at the
option of the holder into Common Stock, on a  share-for-share  basis.  Except as
otherwise  specified,  the named beneficial owner has sole investment and voting
power with respect to such shares.



                                                                                               TOTAL (1)
                                                                                        ----------------------
                                                                       SHARES           PERCENT       PERCENT
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER          TITLE OF CLASS     BENEFICIALLY OWNED     OF CLASS     OF COMMON
------------------------------------          --------------     ------------------     --------     ---------
                                                                                         
Kenneth L. Blum, Sr.(6)                             --                      --              --            --
10324 S. Dolfield Road
Owings Mills, Maryland 21117

David Schwartz                                    Common               400,000             9.3           9.3
Bundy Rent-A-Wreck
12333 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90064

William L. Richter(3)(4)                          Common               992,706(3)         23.0(3)       23.0
c/o Richter Investment Corp.                    Preferred(3)         1,050,000(3)         95.0          37.5(4)
450 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022

Alan L. Aufzien(5)                                Common                62,500             1.4           1.4
P.O. Box 2369                                   Preferred(4)            34,375             3.1           1.8
Secaucus, New Jersey 07094


                                       2



                                                                                               TOTAL (1)
                                                                                        ----------------------
                                                                       SHARES           PERCENT       PERCENT
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER          TITLE OF CLASS     BENEFICIALLY OWNED     OF CLASS     OF COMMON
------------------------------------          --------------     ------------------     --------     ---------
                                                                                         
Thomas J. Volpe(8)                                Common                 5,000              **            **
c/o Babcock & Brown
599 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY 10022

Kenneth L. Blum, Jr.(6)                           Common               530,718            12.3          12.3
10324 S. Dolfield Road
Owings Mills, Maryland 21117

Alan Cohn (6)(7)                                  Common               456,395            10.6          10.6
c/o Rent-A-Wreck of America, Inc.
10324 S. Dolfield Road
Owings Mills, Maryland  21117

Robert M. Temko                                   Common               261,700***          6.0           6.0
39 Hidden Valley Drive
Newark, Delaware  19711

All Directors and Executive Officers as           Common             1,590,924            36.9          36.9
a Group, including the Directors Named          Preferred            1,050,000            95.0          48.5
Above (4 persons) (3)(4)(5)(6)


----------
*    Represents percentage ownership of Common Stock based upon shares of Common
     Stock  owned or deemed  owned due to  presently  exercisable  warrants  and
     options and after such person's conversion of Series A Preferred.
**   Less than 1%.
***  Based upon a recent  inquiry of Mr. Temko.  According to Amendment No. 1 of
     his Schedule 13G as filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission on
     January 24, 2001, Mr. Temko was the  beneficial  owner of 236,000 shares of
     Common Stock.

FOOTNOTES

(1)  Based on 4,310,496  Common Shares and 1,105,000  Series A Preferred  Shares
     outstanding  and  35,000  options  for shares of Common  Stock  exercisable
     immediately on the date of this table, September 7, 2001.
(2)  Holders of Series A Preferred,  voting as a class, are entitled to elect up
     to four members of a seven member Board of Directors  and are also entitled
     to vote as a class on other significant corporate actions.  Pursuant to the
     terms of proxies granted to Richter, 95.0% of the Series A Preferred may be
     voted by Richter as of the date of this table.  The  proxies are  effective
     until such time that less than 500,000 shares of Series A Preferred  remain
     outstanding. See note 4 below.
(3)  Includes  178,750  shares of Series A Preferred held by Mr.  Richter.  Also
     includes  1,200 shares of Common Stock held by spouse's  IRA. Also includes
     550,000 of Series A Preferred  and 617,975  shares of Common  Stock held by
     RIC. Also includes an additional 321,250 shares of Series A Preferred as to
     which RIC holds voting authority via proxy (see note 2 above).  Mr. Richter
     holds a  controlling  interest  in RIC.  Mr.  Richter and RIC have the same
     address.
(4)  Includes  321,250  shares of Series A Preferred as to which  Richter  holds
     voting  authority via proxy (see note 2 and 3 above) because  Richter would
     not have voting or investment  control of the converted Common Stock issued
     upon conversion of such shares of Series A Preferred.
(5)  34,375 shares of Series A Preferred,  held by a  partnership  controlled by
     Mr. Aufzien, are subject to a voting proxy granted to RIC. It also includes
     30,000 options for shares of Common Stock exercisable immediately.
(6)  Mr.  Blum,  Sr. is the father of Kenneth L. Blum,  Jr. and Robin Cohn;  see
     note 7 below. Mr. Blum disclaims beneficial ownership of shares held by Mr.
     Blum, Jr. and Ms. Cohn.
(7)  Includes 127,167 shares held jointly with spouse. See note 6 above.
(8)  Includes 5,000 options for shares of Common Stock exercisable immediately.

                                       3

                                   PROPOSAL 1

                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

NOMINEES

     Five persons have been nominated for election at the 2001 Annual Meeting as
directors  for terms  expiring at the year 2002  Annual  Meeting and until their
successors have been duly elected and qualified.  Each of the nominees currently
is a director of the  Company.  Officers  are elected  annually and serve at the
pleasure of the Board of Directors.

     UNLESS  OTHERWISE  INSTRUCTED,  THE PROXY  HOLDERS  WILL  VOTE THE  PROXIES
RECEIVED  BY THEM FOR THE  ELECTION  OF EACH OF THE  COMPANY'S  CLASS I NOMINEES
LISTED BELOW, EXCEPT FOR THOSE PROXIES WHICH WITHHOLD SUCH AUTHORITY.  If any of
the nominees shall be unable or unwilling to serve as a director, it is intended
that the proxy will be voted for the election of such other person or persons as
the  Company's  management  may  recommend  in the  place of such  nominee.  The
management believes each nominee will be a candidate to serve as a director.

CLASS I DIRECTORS:

     Your  proxy  will be voted as  specified  thereon  and,  in the  absence of
contrary  instruction,  will be voted for the election of the following  Class I
directors:  Kenneth L. Blum,  Sr. and Kenneth L. Blum,  Jr. Such  directors will
serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders  and until their  respective
successors are elected and qualified. Information with regard to the nominees is
set forth below:

     KENNETH L. BLUM,  SR.,  74, has served as  Chairman  and a Director  of the
Company since June 1993, has been the Company's  Chief  Executive  Officer since
December 1993, and was its President from June 1993 to October 1994. Since 1990,
Mr. Blum has been a management  consultant to a variety of companies,  including
American  Business  Information  Systems,  Inc., a  high-volume  laser  printing
company  and  computer  service  bureau.  Mr.  Blum  is  a  director  of  Avesis
Incorporated,  which markets and administers discount benefit programs. Mr. Blum
is the father of the Company's President, Kenneth L. Blum, Jr. Mr. Blum controls
K.A.B., Inc., a Florida corporation ("K.A.B."), which has a Management Agreement
with the Company. See "Certain Transactions."

     KENNETH L. BLUM,  JR.,  37, has served as  Secretary  of the Company  since
March 1994, as Vice President from May 1994 to October 1994, as President  since
October 1994,  and as a director  since October 1998. Mr. Blum is also President
of American  Business  Information  Systems,  Inc., a high-volume laser printing
company  and  computer  service  bureau.  Mr.  Blum is the son of the  Company's
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

CLASS II DIRECTORS:

     Richter  Investment  Corp.  ("RIC"),  acting in its capacity as holder of a
proxy granted by certain holders of Series A Preferred,  has at the present time
agreed to a five member Board of Directors and has selected  Messrs.  William L.
Richter,  Alan L. Aufzien, and Thomas J. Volpe (the "Class II Directors") as the
nominees to the Board of the Series A Preferred. By virtue of this proxy and the
Series A Preferred  owned or controlled by its affiliates as of the Record Date,
RIC will vote 95.1% of the outstanding Series A Preferred. RIC has indicated its
intent to vote its proxy in favor of such Class II nominees, thus ensuring their
election. These nominees have been approved by the Company's Board of Directors.

     WILLIAM L. RICHTER,  58, has been a director of the Company since  November
1989 and has served  previously as a director from 1983 to 1985. Mr. Richter was
Co-Chairman  of the Company  from  November  1989 to June 1993 and has been Vice
Chairman since June 1993. For the past ten years, Mr. Richter has been President
of Richter  Investment Corp., an asset management and merchant banking firm. Mr.
Richter has been a Senior Managing Director of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P.
(or its predecessor  organization)  since its founding in late 1992. Mr. Richter
is a  Director  and  Co-Chairman  of  Avesis  Incorporated,  which  markets  and
administers discount benefit programs.

                                       4

     ALAN L. AUFZIEN, 71, has served as a Director of the Company since November
1989.  Mr.  Aufzien  is also a partner  in the  Norall  Organization,  a private
investment company, since 1987. Since 1983, he has also been the president and a
director of New York Harbour Associates,  Inc. (a real estate development firm).
From 1986 to 1996,  Mr.  Aufzien  was the  Chairman  of  Meadowlands  Basketball
Association  (New  Jersey  Nets)  and  currently  serves as a  director  of that
organization.  Mr.  Aufzien is also a director of First Real Estate Trust of New
Jersey.

     THOMAS J. VOLPE,  66, has served as a Director  of the  Company  since July
2000. Until his retirement in February 2001, Mr. Volpe served as the Senior Vice
President of Financial Operations at The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. He
served in this  capacity  from March 1986 through  February  2001.  Prior to his
employment at The Interpublic Group of Companies,  Mr. Volpe was employed at the
Colgate  Palmolive  Company as the Vice  President and  Treasurer.  He currently
serves as a director of Industry Leaders Fund, where he serves as an independent
trustee for a mutual fund, American Technical Ceramics and Paragon Trade Brands.

     MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT. Effective June 30, 1993, the Company entered
into a Management Agreement (the "Management  Agreement") with K.A.B.,  pursuant
to which  K.A.B.  agreed to manage  substantially  all aspects of the  Company's
business,  subject to certain  limitations  and the  direction of the  Company's
Board of  Directors.  The  Management  Agreement  was amended and extended as of
April 1,  1996 and most  recently  amended  in  January  1999 to  provide  for a
$300,000 annual fee and reimbursement of expenses. See "Certain Transactions."

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     Under the securities  laws of the United States,  the Company's  directors,
its executive  officers,  and any persons holding more than 10% of the Company's
Common  Stock are required to report their  initial  ownership of the  Company's
Common Stock and any subsequent  changes in that ownership to the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Specific due dates for these reports have been established,
and the Company is required to disclose any failure to file by these dates.  The
Company believes that all of these filing requirements were satisfied during the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2001. In making these  disclosures,  the Company has
relied solely on written representations of its directors and executive officers
and copies of the reports that they have filed with the Commission.

MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES

     The Board of Directors  of the Company held a total of two meetings  during
the fiscal  year ended  March 31,  2001.  During the fiscal year ended March 31,
2001,  no director  attended  fewer than 75% of the aggregate of all meetings of
the Board of Directors  and the  committees,  if any,  upon which such  director
served.  The Company's  audit  committee,  which  consists of Mr.  Richter,  Mr.
Aufzien and Mr. Volpe and  functions as an overseer of the  Company's  financial
reporting  process  and  internal  controls,  met once to review the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2001. The members of the Audit  Committee meet the  independence
requirements  of Rule  4200(a)(15)  of the NASD  Listing  Standards.  The  Audit
Committee has adopted a written charter.  The Company has no standing nominating
or compensation committee.

                          REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

     The Audit  Committee  of the Board of  Directors  oversees and monitors the
participation of the Company's  management and independent  auditors  throughout
the financial  reporting process. In connection with its function to oversee and
monitor the financial reporting process of the Company,  the Audit Committee has
done the following;

     *    reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal
          year ended March 31, 2001 with the Company's management;

     *    discussed with Grant Thornton LLP, the Company's independent auditors,
          those  matters  required to be  discussed by SAS 61  (Codification  of
          Statements on Auditing Standards, AU ss.380); and

     *    received the written disclosure and the letter from Grant Thornton LLP
          required by Independence  Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence
          Discussion  with  Audit  Committees)  and  has  discussed  with  Grant
          Thornton its independence.

                                       5

     Based on the  foregoing,  the Audit  Committee  recommended to the Board of
Directors  that the audited  financial  statements  be included in the Company's
annual report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001.

                                 AUDIT COMMITTEE

                               WILLIAM L. RICHTER
                                 ALAN L. AUFZIEN
                                 THOMAS J. VOLPE

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

     The following table and related notes set forth  information  regarding the
compensation  awarded to,  earned by or paid to the  Company's  Chief  Executive
Officer for services rendered to the Company during the fiscal years ended March
31,  1999,  2000 and 2001.  No other  executive  officer  who was  serving as an
executive  officer during fiscal 2001 received salary and bonus which aggregated
at least  $100,000 for services  rendered to the Company  during the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2001.



                                                                     LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
                                                                     ----------------------
                                            ANNUAL COMPENSATION              AWARDS
                                            -------------------      ----------------------
                                                                     SECURITIES UNDERLYING
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION        YEAR           SALARY                OPTIONS/SARS(#)
---------------------------        ----           ------                ---------------
                                                            
Kenneth L. Blum, Sr., CEO (1)      2001          $300,000                     -- (2)
                                   2000           300,000                     -- (2)
                                   1999           262,500                     -- (2)


----------
(1)  Mr. Blum became Chief  Executive  Officer of the Company in connection with
     the Management Agreement between the Company and K.A.B., effective June 30,
     1993.  Mr.  Blum  does not  receive  cash  compensation  directly  from the
     Company.  K.A.B.  receives  cash  compensation  pursuant to the  Management
     Agreement of $300,000 per year ($250,000 per year prior to January 1, 1999)
     plus expense reimbursements ($10,014 in the year ended March 31, 2001). The
     amounts  indicated in the table represent  compensation  received by K.A.B.
     pursuant to the Management  Agreement.  Mr. Blum is the sole stockholder of
     K.A.B. See "Certain  Transactions - Management  Agreement with K.A.B., Inc.
     and Related Transactions - Management Agreement."
(2)  During the year ended  March 31,  1994,  K.A.B.  received  options  for the
     purchase of 2,250,000  shares of the  Company's  Common Stock in connection
     with  the  Management  Agreement.  Also  effective  on  that  date,  K.A.B.
     transferred the Options to certain related parties. K.A.B.  transferred the
     options  to certain  related  parties  and during the year ended  March 31,
     1995,  the Board of  Directors  approved  the vesting of 1,000,000 of these
     options at an exercise  price of $1.00 per share.  Effective  July 20, 1995
     the  exercise  price of the  balance of the options was set by the Board of
     Directors  at  $1.15  per  share,   with  vesting,   subject  to  continued
     employment,  on July  1,  2002,  or  earlier  subject  to  satisfaction  of
     performance targets. As a result of the Company's financial performance for
     the fiscal year ended  March 31,  1999,  the  Company  met the  performance
     targets, and the balance of the options became fully vested as of March 31,
     1999. The Company repurchased 500,000 of these options in fiscal year 2000,
     and  957,721 of these  options  in fiscal  year  2001,  and the  balance of
     617,279 were  exercised in fiscal year 2001.  See "Certain  Transactions  -
     Management  Agreement  with K.A.B.,  Inc. and Related  Transactions - Stock
     Option Grant."

                                       6

                      OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

     No stock options or SARs were granted to the executive officer named in the
Summary   Compensation   Table  during  the  last  fiscal  year.   See  "Certain
Transactions - Management Agreement with K.A.B., Inc. and Related Transactions -
Stock Option Grant."

               AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                        AND FY-END OPTION/SAR VALUE TABLE

     No  executive  officer  named in the  Summary  Compensation  Table  held or
exercised options at the end of the last fiscal year. See "Certain  Transactions
- Management Agreement with K.A.B., Inc. and Related Transactions - Stock Option
Grant."

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

     Currently,  directors  of the  Company  who also serve as  officers  of the
Company and outside  directors  receive no cash  compensation in connection with
the services they render as directors.  (Officers, however, receive compensation
in their capacity as officers as described  above.) Directors are reimbursed for
expenses incurred in connection with their service on the Board of Directors. In
1999,  the  Company's  Board of  Directors  approved  the  payment to William L.
Richter of consulting  fees of $30,000 per year beginning April 1, 1999 and paid
$30,000 in fiscal year 2001. The fees were assigned to Richter Investment Corp.

CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS WITH K.A.B., INC. AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

     MANAGEMENT  AGREEMENT.  Effective June 30, 1993, the Company entered into a
Management Agreement (the "Management  Agreement") with K.A.B. pursuant to which
K.A.B. agreed to provide management consulting with respect to substantially all
aspects  of the  Company's  business,  subject to  certain  limitations  and the
direction of the Company's  Board of Directors.  K.A.B. is controlled by Kenneth
L. Blum,  Sr.  who is  Chairman  and Chief  Executive  Officer  of the  Company.
Effective  January 1, 1999, the Management  Agreement  provides for a payment to
K.A.B.  of $300,000 per year and  reimbursement  of expenses and options for the
purchase of up to 2,250,000  shares of the Company's  Common Stock, as described
below. The Management Agreement had an original term of five years, and the term
was extended for an additional  five years on April 1, 1996 and again on January
19, 2000,  thereby  extending the term of the  Management  Agreement to June 30,
2008.  The  Management  Agreement  is  terminable  by the Company for cause,  as
defined.

     The Management Agreement includes certain  representations,  warranties and
limitations on  solicitation by K.A.B. of customers and employees of the Company
during the term of the Management  Agreement and for two years  thereafter.  The
Management  Agreement also requires that K.A.B. hold in confidence the Company's
confidential  information.  Mr.  Blum,  Sr.,  K.A.B.  and their  affiliates  are
involved in various business ventures in addition to the activities on behalf of
the Company  required by the Management  Agreement.  Participation in such other
ventures may detract from efforts on behalf of the Company.

     STOCK OPTION GRANT.  Effective June 30, 1993, the Company issued  five-year
options (the "Options") to K.A.B.  for the purchase of up to 2,250,000 shares of
the Company's Common Stock. The Options originally vested at prices ranging from
$1.00 to $1.30 contingent upon achievement of a combination of profitability and
stock price targets. Effective October 19, 1994, the Board of Directors approved
the vesting of  1,000,000  Options at an  exercise  price of $1.00 per share and
provided  that the balance of the Options (an  aggregate of  1,250,000  Options)
(the  "Unvested  Options")  would  vest at $1.30 on April  1,  1998  subject  to
continued retention of K.A.B.'s services pursuant to the Management Agreement.

                                       7

     Effective July 20, 1995, the Board of Directors  provided that the exercise
price of the  Unvested  Options  would be $1.15  per share  irrespective  of the
circumstances  under  which  the  Options  vest.  The  actions  of the  Board of
Directors  were  predicated  upon the Board's view of the Company's  performance
relative to the original vesting criteria and other relevant considerations.  As
a result of the Company's financial  performance for the fiscal year ended March
31, 1999, the Unvested Options fully vested on March 31, 1999.

     On July 24,  2000,  William L.  Richter,  Richter and Kenneth L. Blum,  Jr.
exercised 30,000,  45,000, and 100,000 options,  respectively.  On September 21,
2000, the Board  authorized  the repurchase of, and the Company  entered into an
agreement  to  repurchase,  449,449  options from Mr.  Kenneth L. Blum,  Jr. and
508,272  options  from  Alan  Cohn for an  aggregate  price of  $1,234,560.  The
repurchase has been included in the  consolidated  statement of earnings for the
year ended March 31, 2001. On September 21, 2000,  Kenneth L. Blum and Alan Cohn
exercised their remaining  617,279  options at $1.00,  and the Company  received
$617,279.

     On November 2, 2000,  the Company's  2000 Stock Option Plan was approved by
the  Company's  stockholders  pursuant  to which the Board of  Directors  of the
Company may grant stock options to provide  incentives  to outside  directors of
the Company. Accordingly, in November 2000, the Board authorized and the Company
granted to Alan Aufzien and Thomas Volpe,  the Company's  Directors,  options to
purchase 30,000 and 5,000 shares, respectively, of the Company's Common Stock at
$1.64. The Company is planning to grant Alan Aufzien and Thomas Volpe options to
purchase  5,000  shares of the  Company's  Common Stock on an annual basis while
they continue to serve as directors after the annual meeting.  The fair value of
each option  grant is estimated  on the date of grant,  using the Black  Scholes
options pricing model with the following  weighted-average  assumptions used for
grants issued in 2001: risk free interest rate of 6.4%;  expected  volatility of
48.5%; and expected lives of 7 years.

     REGISTRATION  RIGHTS  AGREEMENT.  The Company  entered into a  Registration
Rights Agreement (the "Registration  Rights Agreement")  effective June 30, 1993
with K.A.B.,  Mr. Blum, Jr. and Alan S. Cohn. Mr. Blum, Sr. is the father of Mr.
Blum, Jr., and the father-in-law of Mr. Cohn. The Registration  Rights Agreement
provides up to three  demand  registrations  with  respect to the Shares and the
shares issuable pursuant to the Options  ("Registrable  Securities").  The first
demand registration is exercisable at the request of holders of at least 250,000
Registrable  Securities  after a  fiscal  year in  which  Profits  are at  least
$250,000,  provided  that the Stock  Price is at least  $2.00 at the time of the
request. The second demand registration is exercisable at the request of holders
of at least 600,000 Registrable Securities after at least 1,000,000 Options have
become exercisable.  The third demand registration is exercisable at the request
of holders of at least 1,000,000 Registrable Securities after all of the Options
have become exercisable.  Holders of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock have
the right to participate in the above demand  registrations on a pro rata basis.
The Registration  Rights Agreement also provides piggyback  registration  rights
with  respect  to  registrations   in  which  other  selling   stockholders  are
participating.  The Company is obligated  to pay the  offering  expenses of each
such  registration,  except for the selling  stockholders'  pro rata  portion of
underwriting discounts and commissions. No precise prediction can be made of the
effect, if any, that the availability of shares pursuant to registrations  under
the Registration  Rights Agreement will have on the market price prevailing from
time to time.  Nevertheless,  sales of  substantial  amounts of the Common Stock
pursuant to such registrations could adversely affect prevailing market prices.

                                       8

     INVESTMENT BANKING SERVICES.  The Company has retained RIC, an affiliate of
William L. Richter (a director of the Company),  to serve as exclusive financial
advisor for the Company.  The Management Agreement and related transactions with
K.A.B.  were  structured  and  negotiated for the Company by RIC, which received
cash  consideration  of $15,000  and  five-year  warrants  (the  "Warrants")  to
acquire:  (i) 20,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock currently  exercisable
at $.80 per share (which have been  exercised);  and (ii) 135,000  shares of the
Company's  Common Stock  exercisable  on the same basis as is  applicable to the
Options,  as described  above. RIC is also entitled to receive a fee equal to 6%
of the cash received by the Company upon any exercise of the Options (which have
also been  exercised).  The  shares of Common  Stock  issuable  pursuant  to the
Warrants  are  entitled to  piggyback  registration  rights with  respect to any
registration  in which the Shares or the Common Stock  issuable  pursuant to the
Options are included. RIC assigned warrants for the purchase of 62,000 shares of
the Company's  Common Stock to Mr. Richter out of the Warrants.  Mr. Richter and
his firm have provided and expect to continue to provide substantial  investment
banking  services for Mr. Blum and various of his affiliated  entities.  To that
extent, RIC may be deemed to have had a conflict of interest with respect to its
efforts on behalf of the  Company in  effecting  the  Management  Agreement  and
related  agreements  with K.A.B.  The  Company's  Board of  Directors  took into
account  the  potential  conflict  of  interest  issues  referred  to  above  in
structuring  and entering into the  investment  banking  agreement  with RIC and
believes that such  agreement  was  desirable  and in the best  interests of the
Company notwithstanding such possibility.

     For  its  role  of  financial  advisor,  RIC's  fees  will  be  based  upon
transactions  completed,  as defined in the Agreement.  RIC received $47,912 for
its role in  connection  with the  September  2000  exercise of options  held by
K.A.B. for the year ended March 31, 2001.

OTHER

     Through  November 19, 1999,  the Company  leased a portion of its corporate
offices  under the  terms of a  month-to-month  operating  lease  with  American
Business  Information  Systems,  Inc.  ("ABIS"),  a related party of K.A.B.  The
Company paid $0 for the year ended March 31, 2001, to ABIS under this agreement,
and $51,038 for  printing  expenses  to ABIS.  On November 1, 1999,  the Company
entered into a lease  agreement  with K.A., a related party of K.A.B.,  to lease
approximately  9,100 square feet of executive  office  space,  which  expires on
October 31, 2006.  The Company  paid K.A.  $114,087 for the year ended March 31,
2001.

     Effective  January 1, 1995, the Company entered into a five-year  agreement
with National Computer Services,  Inc. ("NCS," which merged with ABIS in January
1996) to develop computer  software and related  documentation.  During the year
ended March 31, 1999, ABIS received  $1,175 pursuant to this agreement.  Kenneth
L. Blum,  Jr.  was the sole  stockholder  and an  executive  officer of NCS.  On
January  19,  2000,  the  Board of  Directors  authorized  expenditures  to ABIS
totaling  $250,000  for the  development  of a  centralized  software  reporting
package to be used by the  Company's  franchisees.  The Company  paid $4,940 and
$177,255  for the years  ended March 31,  2000 and 2001,  respectively,  to ABIS
under this arrangement.

     Effective  March  20,  1995,  the  Company  retained  RIC as its  exclusive
financial  advisor.  RIC's fees under this  arrangement  are  payable  only upon
completion of defined  transactions  and, in such event, are calculated upon the
basis of a percentage of the transaction  value.  The agreement is terminable by
the  Company  upon 90 days  notice,  provided  that RIC is  entitled  to receive
certain fees for two years  following  termination in the event a transaction is
concluded involving an entity introduced to the Company by RIC.

     As of April 1, 1999, RIC receives an annual  consulting fee of $30,000.  In
the opinion of  management,  the terms of the Company's  arrangements  with RIC,
K.A.B.,  and ABIS taken as a whole are at least as  favorable  to the Company as
could be obtained from third parties.

                                       9

                                  AUDIT MATTERS

     Grant Thornton LLP, Certified public  Accountants,  served as the Company's
independent  auditors  for the year ended March 31,  2001.  The Company has been
advised  by Grant  Thornton  LLP that  none of its  members  have any  financial
interest in the corporation. In addition to performing customary audit services,
Grant Thornton LLP assisted the  corporation  with  preparation of their federal
and state tax returns,  and provided  assistance in connection  with  regulatory
matters,  charging the Company for such services at its customary hourly billing
rates.  These  non-audit  services were approved by the  corporation's  Board of
Directors after due  consideration  of the effect of the performance  thereof on
the independence of the auditors and after the conclusion by the Company's Board
of Directors that there was no effect on the  independence of the auditors.  The
Board  of  Directors  has  engaged  Grant  Thornton  LLP  as  the  corporation's
independent  auditors for the year ending March 31, 2002.  Grant  Thornton LLP's
representatives are not expected to be present at the annual meeting.

Pursuant to disclosure  rules adopted by the SEC  regarding  independent  public
accountants,  in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001, Grant Thornton LLP billed
the Company for the following professional services:

AUDIT FEES

     The  aggregate  fees  billed for  professional  services  rendered by Grant
Thornton  LLP for the  audit  of the  Company's  annual  consolidated  financial
statements for the year ended March 31, 2001 and the SAS 71 quarterly reviews of
the condensed financial statements was $64,950.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION FEES

     There were no fees billed for information  technology  services rendered by
Grant Thornton LLP during the year ended March 31, 2001.

ALL OTHER FEES

     The aggregate  fees billed for all non-audit  services  including  fees for
financial  consulting and  tax-related  services  rendered by Grant Thornton LLP
during the year ended March 31, 2001 totaled $20,685.

     The Board of Directors considered whether the services provided under other
non-audit services are compatible with maintaining the auditor's independence.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

     The Company is unaware of any other  matters that are to be  presented  for
action at the meeting. Should any other matter come before the meeting, however,
the persons  named in the enclosed  proxy will have  discretionary  authority to
vote all proxies with respect to such matter in accordance with their judgment.

                              FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     Enclosed with this Proxy  Statement are the Company's 2001 Annual Report to
Stockholders  and a copy of the  Company's  Report on Form  10-KSB  for the year
ended March 31, 2001 which includes the Company's audited  financial  statements
and financial statement  schedules and "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

     Proposals   intended  to  be  presented  at  the  2002  Annual  Meeting  of
Stockholders  must be received by the Company by June 17, 2002 to be  considered
for inclusion in the Company's proxy materials relating to that meeting.  Notice
of stockholder  proposals for presentation at the 2002 Annual Meeting, but which
are not  going  to be  presented  to the  Company  for  inclusion  in the  proxy
materials,  will be  considered  untimely  after August 30, 2002 and will not be
considered at the next annual meeting.

                                    RENT-A-WRECK OF AMERICA, INC.


October 15, 2001                    KENNETH L. BLUM, SR.
                                    CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

                                       10

                         PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND MAIL YOUR
                      PROXY CARD BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                          RENT-A-WRECK OF AMERICA, INC.

                                NOVEMBER 20, 2001

                 PLEASE DETACH AND MAIL IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED

[X]  PLEASE MARK YOUR
     VOTES AS IN THIS
     EXAMPLE



               VOTE FOR all nominees             WITHHOLD
           listed to the right except as        AUTHORITY
            indicated to the contrary          to vote for
                  below (if any)              all nominees

                                                                        
1. ELECTION            [ ]                         [ ]        Nominees:              2. In  their  discretion,  to vote  upon
OF CLASS II                                                   William L. Richter     such other business as may properly come
DIRECTORS:                                                    Alan Aufzien           before   the   Annual   Meeting  or  any
                                                              Thomas Volpe           adjournment thereof.

                                                                                THIS PROXY WHEN  PROPERLY  EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS
(Instructions: To withhold your vote for any                                    DIRECTED  BY  THE  UNDERSIGNED  STOCKHOLDER.  IF  NO
individual nominee, write the nominee's name in the space below.)               DIRECTION  IS  INDICATED,  THIS  PROXY WILL BE VOTED
                                                                                FOR THE ABOVE NOMINEES,  AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD
___________________________                                                     OF DIRECTORS.


____________________________       ____________________________       ____________________________      ______________________, 2001
Stockholder Name(s):               Signature                          Signature,  if  held jointly      Date
Please Print


Note: Please sign exactly as name appears on your stock certificate. When shares
are held by joint  tenants,  both  should  sign.  When  signing as an  attorney,
executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If
a corporation, please give full corporate name and indicate that execution is by
president  or  other  authorized  officer.  If a  partnership,  please  sign  in
partnership name by authorized person.

                          RENT-A-WRECK OF AMERICA, INC.
                            10324 SOUTH DOLFIELD ROAD
                          OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND 21117

                                   ----------

                           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON
                        BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby acknowledges  receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting and
revoking all prior proxies,  hereby appoints William L. Richter,  as proxy, with
the full power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes him to represent
and to vote,  as  designated  on the reverse  side of this proxy  card,  all the
shares  of  Preferred  Stock  of  Rent-A-Wreck  of  America,  Inc.,  a  Delaware
corporation (the "Company") held of record by the undersigned on October 5, 2001
at the Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  to be held on November 20, 2001, and at
any adjournment or postponement thereof.

                     (PLEASE DATE AND SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE)

                         PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND MAIL YOUR
                      PROXY CARD BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                          RENT-A-WRECK OF AMERICA, INC.

                                NOVEMBER 20, 2001

               * PLEASE DETACH AND MAIL IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED *

[X]  PLEASE MARK YOUR
     VOTES AS IN THIS
     EXAMPLE



               VOTE FOR all nominees             WITHHOLD
           listed to the right except as        AUTHORITY
            indicated to the contrary          to vote for
                  below (if any)              all nominees

                                                                             
1. ELECTION            [ ]                         [ ]        Nominees:                   2. In  their  discretion,  to vote  upon
OF CLASS I                                                    Kenneth L. Blum, Jr.        such other business as may properly come
DIRECTORS:                                                    Kenneth L. Blum, Sr.        before   the   Annual   Meeting  or  any
                                                                                          adjournment thereof.

                                                                                THIS PROXY WHEN  PROPERLY  EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS
(Instructions: To withhold your vote for any                                    DIRECTED  BY  THE  UNDERSIGNED  STOCKHOLDER.  IF  NO
individual nominee, write the nominee's name in the space below.)               DIRECTION  IS  INDICATED,  THIS  PROXY WILL BE VOTED
                                                                                FOR THE ABOVE NOMINEES,  AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD
___________________________                                                     OF DIRECTORS.


____________________________       ____________________________       ____________________________      ______________________, 2001
Stockholder Name(s):               Signature                          Signature,  if  held jointly      Date
Please Print


Note: Please sign exactly as name appears on your stock certificate. When shares
are held by joint  tenants,  both  should  sign.  When  signing as an  attorney,
executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If
a corporation, please give full corporate name and indicate that execution is by
president  or  other  authorized  officer.  If a  partnership,  please  sign  in
partnership name by authorized person.

                          RENT-A-WRECK OF AMERICA, INC.
                            10324 SOUTH DOLFIELD ROAD
                          OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND 21117

                                   ----------

                           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON
                        BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby acknowledges  receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting and
revoking all prior proxies, hereby appoints Kenneth L. Blum, Sr., and Kenneth L.
Blum, Jr., as proxy, with the full power to appoint their substitute, and hereby
authorizes  them to represent  and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of
this proxy  card,  all the shares of Common  Stock of  Rent-A-Wreck  of America,
Inc., a Delaware  corporation  (the "Company") held of record by the undersigned
on October 5, 2001 at the Annual Meeting of  Stockholders to be held on November
20, 2001, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.

                     (PLEASE DATE AND SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE)