Exhibit 10.9 IRREVOCABLE LETTER OF CREDIT LETTER OF CREDIT NO. S277072 DATE: JULY 30, 2001 BENEFICIARY APPLICANT NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE RENT-A-WRECK OF AMERICA CO. OF PITTSBURGH, PA AND OR CONSOLIDATED AMERICAN RENT AMERICAN HOME ASSURANCE COMPANY AND OR INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA 10324 SOUTH DOLFIELD ROAD AND OR OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND 21117 COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY INSURANCE COMPANY AND OR AIU INSURANCE COMPANY AND OR BIRMINGHAM FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY OF PENNSYLVANIA AND OR ILLINOIS NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY AND OR AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SOUTH INSURANCE COMPANY AND OR NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY OF LOUISIANA AND OR AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC INSURANCE COMPANY AND OR GRANITE STATE INSURANCE COMPANY AND OR NEW HAMPSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY AND OR LANDMARK INSURANCE COMPANY, AND ANY OTHER AFFILIATE OF ANY OF THESE, AS THEIR INTEREST MAY APPEAR P.O. BOX 923 WALL STREET NEW YORK, NY 10268 ATTN: MR. ART STILLWELL L/C EXPIRATION DATE MARCH 31, 2002 L/C AMOUNT UP TO $1,000,000.00 US DOLLARS AMOUNT IN WORDS US DOLLARS ONE MILLION AND 00/100 WE HEREBY ISSUE THIS LETTER OF CREDIT IN YOUR, THE BENEFICIARY'S, FAVOR WHICH IS AVAILABLE AGAINST YOUR DRAFTS AT SIGHT DRAWN ON THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY, LETTER OF CREDIT NO. S277072 PAGE NO. 02 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, BEARING THE NUMBER AND THE DATE OF THIS CREDIT AND THE NAME OF OUR BANK. /s/ -------------------------------- THE TERM "BENEFICIARY" INCLUDES ANY SUCCESSOR BY OPERATION OF LAW OF THE NAMED BENEFICIARY INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY LIQUIDATOR, REHABILITATOR, RECEIVER OR CONSERVATOR. THE ORIGINAL OF THIS LETTER OF CREDIT MUST ACCOMPANY ANY DRAWING BEING SUBMITTED. IT WILL BE SUBSEQUENTLY ENDORSED BY US AND RETURNED TO THE BENEFICIARY. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN, THIS UNDERTAKING IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY AGREEMENT, CONDITION OR QUALIFICATION. THE OBLIGATION OF THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY UNDER THIS LETTER OF CREDIT IS THE INDIVIDUAL OBLIGATION OF THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY AND IS NO WAY CONTINGENT UPON REIMBURSEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO. IT IS A CONDITION OF THIS LETTER OF CREDIT THAT IT SHALL BE DEEMED AUTOMATICALLY EXTENDED WITHOUT AMENDMENT FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR FROM THE PRESENT EXPIRATION DATE OR ANY FUTURE EXPIRATION DATE HEREOF, UNLESS AT LEAST 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE WE MAIL YOU OUR NOTICE, BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, INFORMING YOU THAT THE LETTER OF CREDIT WILL NO LONGER BE AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED BEYOND THE THEN EXPIRATION DATE. UPON RECEIPT OF SUCH NOTICE YOU MAY DRAW ON US, HEREUNDER WITHIN THE THEN CURRENT EXPIRATION DATE OF THE CREDIT. WE HEREBY ENGAGE WITH YOU THAT DRAFTS DRAWN PRESENTED UNDER AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS LETTER OF CREDIT THAT THE SAME WILL BE DULY HONORED IF PRESENTED AT OUR OFFICE AT: 801 SOUTH CANAL STREET CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60607 ATTN: LETTERS OF CREDIT DEPT C-4N ON OR BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THIS LETTER OF CREDIT OR ANY AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED BEYOND THE THEN EXPIRATION DATE. THIS LETTER OF CREDIT IS SUBJECT TO AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND THE 1993 REVISION OF THE UNIFORM CUSTOMS AND PRACTICE FOR DOCUMENTARY CREDITS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (PUBLICATION 500) AND, IN THE EVENT OF ANY CONFLICT THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL CONTROL. /s/ -------------------------------- AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE (S)