<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001225208-08-019883
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20081223
<FILING-DATE>20081223
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20081223
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>RENT A CENTER INC DE
<CIK>0000933036
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7359
<IRS-NUMBER>450491516
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>5501 HEADQUARTERS DRIVE
<CITY>PLANO
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>75024
<PHONE>972-801-1100
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>5501 HEADQUARTERS DRIVE
<CITY>PLANO
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>75024
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>RENTERS CHOICE INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19941128
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>STERN PAULA
<CIK>0001051397
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-25370
<FILM-NUMBER>081267969
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>THE NEIMAN MARCUS GROUP INC
<STREET2>1618 MAIN STREET
<CITY>DALLAS
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>75201
<PHONE>2147416911
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O AVON PRODUCS INC
<STREET2>1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10105-0196
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc3.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-23</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001051397</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STERN PAULA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5501 HEADQUARTERS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLANO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75024</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>No securities are beneficially owned.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Paula  Stern</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
