Parking Services is giving students free car services today to prepare for Thanksgiving break.

In the first “SafeDrive” car clinic, which will be held at the Tate Center parking lot, service officials will do a basic inspection of all cars brought to the clinic.

“We are offering this free safety check because we care about our students,” said Don Walter, Parking Services manager. “Many of us in Parking Services are parents of college students and know that most students do not have the time or inclination to check their cars.”

The clinic will include a basic hood inspection, a wiper blade check, a fluid level check, a tire pressure check and other services. The inspection should take about three to four minutes for each vehicle, and the University’s Food Services will serve refreshments to people who are waiting to have their cars serviced during the clinic.

The services are free to all University card holders, and all students, faculty and staff can attend.

Blaine Van Note, the operations supervisor for Parking Services, said the car clinic is a way for Parking Services to promote safety among students, faculty and staff and give back to those in the University community.

“We want to see them get home safely for the holidays,” Walter said. “If we can prevent one accident, the entire effort will be worthwhile.”

Parking Services’ expectations for numbers are undefined, since this is the first time they’ve held a car clinic for students, said Van Note. But Parking Services is still hopeful that many people will come to the clinic and take advantage of their services, he said.

Parking Services conducted two surveys in recent months showing that a car safety check was the service that students wanted the most, Walters said.

They plan to hold two more “SafeDrive” car clinics this year, one before Spring Break and another one before Spring commencement. Tuesday’s clinic is sponsored by 5 Star Tire & Automotive.