NASA Headquarters' Directives
HQPR 6000.1 Effective Date: February 24, 2017 Expiration Date: February 25, 2027 Responsible Office: LA	NASA Headquarters Motor Pool Vehicle Policy

This document is uncontrolled when printed.
Check the NASA Online Directives Information System (NODIS) Library
to verify that this is the correct version before use.

A.1 PERMANENT DUTY STATION

a. Can I use the government vehicle to go to lunch on- site or off-site while I am working at my permanent station?

Answer: No. Public law requires that government owned or leased vehicles are operated for official use only. This precludes the use of government vehicles for personal reasons such as eating. Meals, commuting to and from work, personal errands and similar activities are not official purposes, and the government vehicle should not be used.

b. What if I’m in my government vehicle all day at my permanent duty station, and it’s not convenient to go back to my personal car before going to lunch?

Answer: No. Convenience and efficiency are not justification for misuse of a government vehicle. When working at your duty station, travel to dining facilities is not official use, whether on or off base.

c. When I can use the government vehicle?

Answer: When it is authorized and then only for official business.

A.2 OFFICIAL TDY TRAVEL

a. Can I use the government vehicle to drive off-base to eat when I travel TDY with written orders and a government vehicle?

Answer: Yes. When you are on official travel TDY with written orders you are performing official duties. Incidental travel while on official TDY to locations necessary to the traveler’s subsistence, health or comfort when public transportation is unavailable or its use is impractical is considered official use. However, some discretion should be exercised in terms of restricting the travel to a reasonable distance under the circumstances and avoiding inappropriate locations that may create an issue of improper appearance.

b. Can I use the government vehicle to drive to see a movie or go shopping when I am on official travel?

Answer: No. Government vehicles may only be operated for official use. Entertainment and shopping are not considered necessary to a traveling employee’s subsistence, health or comfort, and so are not included in the definition of official use. However, the use of a government vehicle to travel to and from drugstores, barber shops, places of worship, cleaning establishments, and similar places that are required for the traveler’s subsistence, health or comfort. So, if you are on official travel TDY with written orders and you need to visit one of these authorized places that are not available on the NASA site being visited, you may do so. Again, some discretion should be exercised in terms of restricting the travel to a reasonable distance under the circumstances and avoiding inappropriate locations that may create an issue of improper appearance.

c. Can I use the government vehicle to drive to the gym of the NASA site I am visiting when I am on official travel?

Answer: A visit to the gym while TDY is generally considered to be within the authorized use “for the traveler’s subsistence, health or comfort,” and is, therefore, official use.

d. Can I use the government vehicle to do errands while on official travel?

Answer: No. Government vehicles may only be operated for official use, regardless of your travel status. This precludes the use of government vehicles for personal reasons such as personal errands.

e. Who can ride with me in my government vehicle while I am on official travel?

Answer: When operating a government vehicle for official purposes, other government employees may ride with you if they are performing official duties. Contractor employees should not ride with you in a government vehicle unless their contract specifically provides for such government furnished transportation while they are performing their duties under the contract. Family members, visitors and other non-government employees are not authorized to ride with you in a government vehicle.