Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Sixt Franchisee Shares Sanitizing Process

Sixt Indianapolis is revising its vehicle sanitizing process to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Customer acceptance has been positive.

March 20, 2020
Sixt Franchisee Shares Sanitizing Process

The Sixt franchise serving Indianapolis now uses a steering wheel cover as part of its vehicle sanitation process.

Photo courtesy of Phil Spink.

1 min to read


Tom Wood Automotive Group, which owns the Sixt franchise serving Indianapolis, Ind., has revised its vehicle sanitizing process as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The sanitizing process is as follows:

Ad Loading...

1. While wearing disposable gloves grab two microfiber cloths and apply Lysol or Clorox Wipes in a liberal manner to your gloves.

2. For the outside use Lysol or Clorox wipes on the outside door handle and open the driver’s door.

3. For the inside use Lysol or Clorox wipes in the following areas only:

    a) inside door opening handle and master window switch panel

    b) steering wheel and light/wiper switches

Ad Loading...

    c) gear shift, handbrake (or switch) levers

4. While wiping parts listed above, a visible wet surface should be seen momentarily to ensure it has been sanitized.

5. Hang or place appropriate “this vehicle has been sanitized” card in the vehicle.

6. Cover steering wheel with plastic fitted cover.

“Customers like the clean card message and love the steering wheel cover,” says Phil Spink, operations manager, adding that the steering wheel cover costs only 15 cents. “I think we’ll use some of our sanitizing changes going forward.”

More Rental Operations

Car rental sign with financial graph in background
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 2, 2026

Avis Cuts Fleet as Summer Demand Trails Expectations

Avis Budget Group increased second-quarter earnings despite lower Americas revenue and softer-than-expected summer demand. The company also expanded Avis First and advanced its autonomous fleet operations with Waymo.

Read More →
car rental booking engine on computer screen with text: Bookings aren't the whole story
Rental OperationsAugust 1, 2026

Why Bookings Are Only the Start of the Rental Day

A reservation captures demand. The operating test is whether the business can keep the customer, vehicle, commercial terms, and next action aligned until the rental is closed.

Read More →
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownJuly 31, 2026

This Is the Oldest Car Rental Advertisement You’ll Ever See

This ad for Saunders Drive it Yourself, believed to be the first car rental company in the U.S., was found in an Omaha phone book from 1926.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A counter agent chats with a customer over a rental counter
Rental OperationsJuly 21, 2026

The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns

Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.

Read More →
U-Save Mauritius team

U-Save Expands Indian Ocean Presence with New Master Franchise for Mauritius

The franchise has been acquired by Mauritian travel entrepreneur Umarfarooq Omarjee, an established figure in the island's tourism and mobility sector.

Read More →
Back view of a remote driver in front of a screen delivering a car to a location.

Global Carsharing Fleet Projected to Reach 768,000 Vehicles By 2030

A new Berg Insight forecast outlines several business models driving the projected growth in public carsharing worldwide through 2029.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
green and blue bar graphs compare fleet sales June 2025 versus June 2026
Fleet Acquisitionby Martin RomjueJuly 8, 2026

Rental Car Fleet Sales Show Mid-Year Strength

June gains ensured rental fleets closed out the first half of 2026 in positive territory.

Read More →
Close up of a row of white CUVs in the Surprice Mobility fleet at the Milan airport.

Surprice Mobility Opens Corporate Rental Station at Milan Malpensa Airport

The Milan opening is part of Surprice Mobility's broader strategy to expand its corporate operations while increasing the use of technology across its network.

Read More →
Julian Gritsch with an MBA class in a classroom.

Brazilian Executive MBA Targets Growing Domestic Rental Car Industry

Rental car companies face a unique combination of challenges that are rarely addressed in traditional programs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Green Motion team with banner bearing Japanese flag.

Green Motion Expands Into Japan With Master Franchise Agreement

Japan's tourism industry, business travel market, and demand for vehicle rental services are reasons the country represents an important market for the company.

Read More →
Ad Loading...