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Every effort is made to ensure that vehicles dispatched out of Fleet Services are clean and ready for department use. To keep operational costs low, Fleet requests that vehicles return without excessive dirt and debris. 

At Fleet's discretion, an Excessive Cleaning Fee of $50 may be charged to a department (outside professional cleaning costs are approximately $250 in current market conditions). This fee can be waived if the department is willing to use Fleet’s detail bay to clean the vehicle before its return.

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.

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.

Insurance cost is based on the type of vehicle leased and will be billed at the end of each month.

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.

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.

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 and gravel roads
• Avoid driving large vehicles down heavily-forested areas 
• Put all research chemicals into plastic totes 

We appreciate your cooperation.

For the health and comfort of subsequent renters of the vehicle who may be allergic to animal dander, unless the passenger has a service animal, no pets or animals may ride in a passenger vehicle (trucks and cargo vans may be used for contained transport). The vehicle must be returned in its original condition with no animal hair or feathers anywhere. Renters whose vehicles require a detailed cleaning to remove animal hair or address sanitary issues will be assessed a cleaning fee of $50.

Renters are responsible for ensuring canoes and kayaks are properly secured to a Fleet vehicle. Departments will be held responsible for any damage caused by negligence. Fleet has a limited number of canoe straps to provide for free.

Vehicles can be picked up during regular business hours. If you need a vehicle for a weekend trip, please contact the Fleet Front Desk.

All vehicles come with an insurance card stored in a brightly colored zippered pouch stored in the glove box. Insurance, fuel and maintenance are included in the vehicle mileage charge.

There is no limit. As long as drivers are 18 years of age and have a valid U.S. or Canadian driver’s license, they can drive University vehicles. Fleet’s front desk staff need to see either the actual license or a copy of it. We do not keep driver's license information on file at Fleet, so the license needs to be presented each time a vehicle is picked up.

Fleet requests you fill up your vehicle either at the Fleet fuel pumps using the attached blue fuel fob or at a gas station using the provided Voyager credit card.

Instructional video

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.

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.

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.

All rental vehicles come with a Voyager credit card that can be used for fuel and maintenance. There is a 24-hour customer service and roadside assistance phone number to be used to report maintenance or breakdown issues.

View card information

All rental vehicles come with a Voyager credit card that can be used for fuel and maintenance. There is a 24-hour customer service and roadside assistance phone number to be used to report maintenance or breakdown issues.

View card information