Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s CarShare program provides ISU students many benefits and has been updated this academic year.

CarShare is a program that allows students at Iowa State the opportunity to rent a car for a variety of reasons. It gives another means of transportation to students who do not currently have a vehicle on campus.

“The system that we have put into place is one that is very student-friendly,” said Merry Rankin, director of sustainability. “These cars can be rented if students want to drive home.”

Iowa State currently has three vehicles on campus. A third car was added to Iowa State in November 2013. Vehicles are available in Martin Hall’s parking lot, Richardson Court drive and the new residence lot west of Frederiksen Court on Stange Road.

The cars include two Ford Focus sedans and a Chevrolet Captiva SUV.

“The company is very mindful and responsive if it looks like the demand is raising,” Rankin said. “They look at the percentage of time that the vehicle can be available for usage and the time it is reserved.”

A student must complete an application, have a valid drivers license and be 18 years old in order to be a member of the CarShare program. International drivers licenses are accepted as well, providing a means of transportation to all.

“It opens opportunities that a regular car rental program wouldn’t offer,” Rankin said. “[CarShare] offers a wonderful opportunity for international students.”

As of October 2013, there were 166 members. This is a 40 percent increase from November 2012.

“I don’t think there has been a day where I haven’t received an email from some of the members,” said Anneshia Watson, a CarShare intern for ISU and junior in marketing.

Students who are members of the CarShare program don’t have to worry about finding a place to park their vehicle. They don’t have to worry about moving their car from the stadium during a football game and they do not have to keep up with the maintenance of having their own car.

“If you think about all the money it takes to get a car and making sure it stays running even through the rough winter months, it’s a no brainer,” Watson said. “We maintain the maintenance on the cars. We wash them and change the oil.”

When a student becomes a member of CarShare, they obtain an electronic key in the mail. The key allows easy access to the vehicle and unlocks the car during the time reserved. Once the student is in the car, there is a gas card available for them to use.

Each rental period includes 200 miles. If a driver goes over that mileage, it costs an extra 20 cents per each excess mile.

CarShare has received support from Live Green!, an ISU organization that focuses on sustainability. Having vehicles on campus provides students with a resource, but eliminates waste by not providing a vehicle for every resident.

“We very much like to be as proactive as we can as a university community on how we can reduce carbon,” Rankin said. “The fewer cars we have on campus, the fewer concerns we have, such as traffic accidents, less congestion for foot traffic and alternative modes.”

With students trying to be more “green,” Watson sees the program growing in the future.

Rental rates include insurance and fuel and are as follows: $8 per hour on weekdays, $8.50 per hour on weekends, $35 for overnight (6 p.m. through 8 a.m.) and $56 for 24-hour rental.

For more information or to apply to become a member of the CarShare program, visit www.enterprisecarshare.com/iowa-state.