Gone with the Pink Passes, in with the LPR

Currently, rental customers leaving a vehicle in our parking lot are issued a pink hang tag that allows them to park for the duration of their trip. With the recent switch to License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology by the Parking Department, your license plate is your permit.  So, soon we will be phasing out our pink permits and collecting license plate numbers of the vehicles left in our lot.  We’ll keep you informed as we get closer to making this change.

Will Your Department Need a Vehicle for at Least 3 Months Over the Summer?

If you need a vehicle for at least three (3) months, it may be possible to use the monthly lease rate instead of the daily rate. The monthly rate is much cheaper, but you must keep the vehicle for at least three (3) months. If this is something your department is considering over the summer check with us as soon as possible to make sure we have a vehicle available for your needs.

Do you have a Car and Need a Van Instead?

There is a department on campus that has a minivan and is looking for someone willing to swap it for a car. If you currently have a car but could use some more space for passengers and/or stuff this is your chance. If you are interested in this opportunity of have any questions, contact Mike as soon as possible.

Tips to Save as Prices Rise at the Pump

Lifehacker has put together a list of handy tips to help you pinch every penny you can as gas prices continue to rise. They recommend using apps such as GasBuddy or Waze to find stations with the lowest prices, enrolling in gas rewards programs like Hy-Vee fuel saver to save cents per gallon when possible, keeping tires properly inflated, and trying to carpool whenever it’s a viable option. Check out all tips to save money at the gas pump.  

Honest Mike Update – Patience is a Virtue

If you are on the lookout for a deal on a used car from Honest Mike, you are going to have to wait a bit longer this year than usual. We normally take delivery of new vehicles in the spring and will start to sell the replaced vehicles shortly after. Unfortunately, things are far from normal this year and we do not know really know when the sedans and minivans we have ordered are actually going show up. So, if you are looking for one of our used vehicles be patient and check back for updates. Vehicles will be auctioned through Surplus’ GovDeals page as usual.

What is Your Inventory Story?

No better time than the present to conduct a little inventory to make sure that you have everything in your vehicle that should be in there. Not sure what should be in your vehicle? Here is the list of everything you should be able to find:

• Ice scraper
• Safety kit, this might be in the trunk
• Yellow accident envelope, likely in the glovebox. Inside the envelope should be:
  • Board of Regents Accident Report
  • DOT Accident Report
  • Risk Management Insurance Letter, states that we are self-insured
  • WEX fuel credit card (if one was issued to your vehicle)
  • ARI Roadside Assistance card or letter
  • Vehicle registration form. All of our vehicles are owned by the state and only need to be registered once. If your copy looks old, that is ok, just so long as it is still readable.

If you are missing any of the above items, please let us know and we can get them replaced for you.

Fleet Factoid

For the first time since 1931, General Motors is not the number one selling automotive company in America. In 2021, Toyota Motor Corp was the top dog selling 2.3 million vehicles to GM’s 2.2 million. The chip shortage forced GM to prioritize its more profitable SUVs and pickups decreasing their overall sales volume. Read the full article from GM Authority.