Fleet Services offers a wide variety of leases and vehicles to meet your department's needs.
Benefits
- Flexible vehicle outfitting: Additional equipment and upfitting can be included in the lease.
- Open-ended terms: Leases may be terminated with a 90-day written notice after the first year.
- All-inclusive fees: Vehicle tag renewal costs are included in the monthly lease payment.
- Comprehensive mileage rate: Mileage rates for Twin Cities campus vehicles include:
- Maintenance and repairs
- Preventative maintenance scheduling
- Roadside assistance
- A low cost replacement vehicle from the rental motor pool (no usage fee, mileage only) while the leased vehicle is serviced or repaired
- Vehicle flexibility: Exchange your leased vehicle for another available type of unit as needs change.
- Newer, safer vehicles: Leased vehicles are typically newer than departmentally owned vehicles and come equipped with the latest safety technologies.
Costs
Fuel
Fuel is charged to the vehicle as it is purchased.
Insurance
The insurance charge is billed separately. Effective FY27, the insurance charge (per month) for vehicles will be:
| Type | Fee per month |
|---|---|
| Cars | $75 |
| Medium and heavy duty — under $100k | $120 |
| Medium and heavy duty — over $100k | $175 |
| All other vehicle types | $80 |
| Trailers | $10 |
Added equipment
Added equipment such as shelving, lift gates, and snowplows will increase the vehicle’s monthly lease rate.
Costs by vehicle
Lease rates, while based on a monthly charge, are calculated and billed on a daily rate basis to allow accurate prorated fees. Rates below do not include fuel, insurance or additional equipment.
Sedans
| Vehicle type | Model | Monthly rate | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact car [Hybrid] | Toyota Prius | $435 | $0.22 |
| Compact car [Electric] | Chevy Bolt EV | $486 | $0.16 |
| Midsize car | Toyota Camry [Hybrid] | $438 | $0.26 |
Passenger vans
| Vehicle type | Model | Monthly rate | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minivan [Hybrid] | Toyota Sienna | $747 | $0.21 |
| 10-Passenger van | Ford Transit | $699 | $0.38 |
SUVs
| Vehicle type | Model | Monthly rate | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini SUV [Hybrid] | Toyota Rav 4 | $516 | $0.27 |
| Mini SUV [Electric] | Chevy Equinox EV | $516 | $0.16 |
| Mid size SUV [Hybrid] | Toyota Highlander | $597 | $0.47 |
| Full size SUV [Hybrid] | Toyota Sequoia | $799 | $0.52 |
Light duty pickup trucks
| Vehicle type | Model | Monthly rate | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini pickup [Hybrid] | Ford Maverick | $415 | $0.38 |
| 1/2 Ton pickup [Hybrid] | Ford F150 | $449 | $0.38 |
| 1/2 Ton pickup [Electric] | Chevy Silvarado EV | $639 | $0.15 |
| 3/4 Ton pickup [Regular cab] | Ford F250 | $473 | $0.53 |
| 3/4 Ton pickup [Super cab] | Ford F250 | $496 | $0.53 |
| 3/4 Ton pickup [Crew cab] | Ford F250 | $565 | $0.53 |
| 1Ton pickup [Regular cab] | Ford F350 | $510 | $0.56 |
| 1Ton pickup [Super or Crew cab] | Ford F350 | $614 | $0.54 |
Cargo vans
| Vehicle type | Model | Monthly rate | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 Ton cargo van | Ford Transit T-150 | $449 | $0.41 |
| 3/4 Ton cargo van | Ford Transit T-250 | $484 | $0.53 |
| 1 Ton cargo van | Ford Transit T-350 | $484 | $0.53 |
| 1 Ton cargo van [Electric] | Ford Transit EV | $580 | $0.18 |
Medium and heavy duty vehicles
Contact us for a quote.
For pickup towing capacities and procedures, add-on equipment or for vehicles not listed here, contact Fleet Services at [email protected].
Details
Leasing process
Ready to start the leasing process? Here are the steps:
- View the Fleet Vehicle Lease Agreement
- Determine your time commitment.
- The minimum lease period is one year and can be terminated with a 90-day written notice.
- Fill out the Request Form to start the process.
- In order to request a new lease vehicle for a University department or business unit, the New Vehicle Request Form must be completed and emailed to [email protected].
- Once this form has been submitted, a representative from Fleet Services will contact the requestor within three business days to discuss the request in more detail.
- Your vehicle is ordered after another form is submitted authorizing the actual vehicle purchase or lease.
- Typically, the requestor decides the vehicle color and options.
- This process takes a minimum of 120 days.
- Occasionally, vehicles are available for immediate lease.
- At times, an interim vehicle may be available for your use until your new vehicle arrives.
- Pick-up your vehicle at the Fleet Services Building.
- Our office will contact you once the vehicle arrives. The lease agreement must be completed and signed before the vehicle leaves the lot.
- Leasing charges are billed monthly through eStatements.
- If you need a parking contract for the Twin Cities campus, contact Customer Service at 612-626-7275.
Lease conditions
View the Fleet Vehicle Lease Agreement
- Fleet will need written authorization from the department head to lease a vehicle.
- Minimum term of all leases is one year.
- The monthly billing includes a period charge and mileage fee (on Twin Cities campus vehicles only). Insurance and fuel consumption are billed separately on a monthly basis.
- All drivers must be on University payroll. If not, they must be a student or volunteer with written permission from the head of the renting department. All drivers must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid driver's license from one of the 50 states or Canada. We accept restricted driver's licenses.
- The only passengers allowed in any vehicle are those on official University business. No exceptions.
- All accidents must be reported, whether or not any damage was done to the University vehicle.
- The lessee is liable for all damage to the vehicle, whether or not it is accident-related. Fleet Services will only reimburse the cost of damages when an accident report is filed and the claim is approved by insurance.
- Maintenance on Twin Cities campus vehicles is to be done in the Fleet Shop except in the case of emergencies.
Tickets, tolls, and citations
Tickets, unpaid tolls, and other citations are the responsibility of the driver, not the department. See the University of Minnesota Board of Regents Policy.
NOTE: Tolls are reimbursable travel expenses, however, late fees associated with unpaid tolls are the responsibility of the driver.
Research Guidelines
When vehicles are used for field work, please take reasonable care to protect the vehicle. We are all stewards of University property.
This includes, but is not limited to, these guidelines:
- Drive slowly on dirt roads
- Avoid driving large vehicles down heavily-forested areas
- Put all research chemicals into plastic totes
We appreciate your cooperation.
Frequently asked questions
Where may I park my lease vehicle?
In order to park on campus, any vehicle (department purchased or leased) must purchase a departmental parking contract.
System campuses across the state have various options for parking and each campus should be contacted individually for more information through Facilities Management or Transportation department contacts.
How long is a lease?
A University vehicle lease is required to be held for a minimum of one year and a maximum of 10 years. After the first year of a lease, a 90-day advance notice is required if the vehicle lease is terminated. If Fleet Services is able to find another department that would like to assume the lease, the 90-day advance notice for termination can be waived.
How is insurance handled with a lease vehicle?
Which is cheaper, a vehicle leased monthly or a rental vehicle?
The answer to this question depends upon the individual needs of the department and drivers and how often the vehicle is used. Over the course of a year, a lease vehicle will cost about half as much as the cost to rent a vehicle of a similar type for sporadic use. The difference is a lease requires that you pay a minimum of one year’s worth of monthly lease costs, with a 90-day notice after the first year to return the vehicle to Fleet Services. Leasing a vehicle also provides a department with some flexibility in deciding exactly what vehicle options are needed in order to meet work needs.
How is fuel and maintenance taken care of if I have a lease vehicle?
Fuel is billed out at the end of the month according to how much is purchased by filling up at the Minneapolis or St. Paul campus fuel islands or by using the Voyager credit.
Vehicle maintenance costs are covered under the mileage fee for vehicles leased by departments located on the Twin Cities campus. Vehicles leased by departments located on other University campuses are responsible for their own vehicle maintenance costs but are not assessed a monthly mileage fee.
Who is responsible for tickets, tolls or other citations?
Tickets, unpaid tolls, and other citations are the responsibility of the driver, not the department. See the University of Minnesota Board of Regents Policy.
Tolls are reimbursable travel expenses, however, late fees associated with unpaid tolls are the responsibility of the driver.