Welcome to DOTS Charter Services!

We’re excited to help you with your transportation needs for any university-related travel by recognized and affiliated University of Maryland entities. This includes university departments, organizations, event organizers, faculty, teams, and students. Here is everything you need to know about our booking process, vehicle options, and rates. If you have any questions, please see contact us.

 

 

RATES & FEES

Hourly Rates (FY25: effective rates after August 26, 2024) These are our most common rates and fees, though other costs may be applicable.
Vehicle Type	Maximum Number of Passengers	Minimum Chargeable Duration*	Hourly Rate	Plus
Motorcoach	54 seats	Five hours	$155.00	$1.62/mile $155.00 Vehicle Care Fee
Large Transit Bus	37 seats Standees are allowed on local roads under 40mph. Max Capacity: 60 passengers	Two hours	$130.00	$75.00 Vehicle Care Fee
Small Transit Van	17 seats	Two Hours	$105.00	$25.00 Vehicle Care Fee
Sprinter Van	13 seats Max capacity for airport and train transfers:  7 passengers	Two hours	$130.00	$50.00 Vehicle Care Fee
SUV	5 seats	Two Hours	$120.00	$0.40/mile for trips exceeding 100 miles
Airport & Train Station Transfers Our motorcoaches, Sprinter Van, and SUVs are available for flat-fee one-way transfers to and from major area airports and train stations, serving the College Park campus. We also offer an airport hold option for motorcoaches. See below for details.  For passenger safety and proper luggage containment, our large transit buses and small transit vans are not available for airport or train station transfers. Due to luggage capacity, our Sprinter Van may carry only up to seven passengers for airport and train transfers.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)			Motorcoach	$775.00
			Sprinter Van	$200.00
			SUV	$120.00
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)			Motorcoach	$775.00
			Sprinter Van	$200.00
			SUV	$120.00
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)			Motorcoach	$775.00
			Sprinter Van	$280.00
			SUV	$155.00
Union Station Washington D.C. (WAS)			Sprinter Van	$175.00
			SUV	$95.00
New Carrollton, Maryland (NC)			Sprinter Van	$125.00
			SUV	$70.00

*Minimum Chargeable Duration: This is the minimum time for which bookings are charged, ensuring our vehicles are prepared and available for your use, regardless of the actual trip length.

 

VEHICLE INFORMATION

 

MOTORCOACH

	Passenger capacity 54 seats
	Accessibility This vehicle is not equipped with ADA accessibility features
	Available for Local and interstate trips. Single-day trips and multi-day trips
	Features Microphones, wifi, YoutubeTV and Roku service, restroom, table

 

LARGE TRANSIT: BUS

	Passenger capacity 37 seats Capacity of 60 passengers, including standing room. Standing is permitted on local roads with speed limits under 40 mph. Minors may be required to sit.
	Accessibility This bus is ADA accessible, equipped with a wheelchair ramp, kneeling capability, and space for two wheelchairs on board
	Available for Local and regional trips single-day trips within a 50-mile radius of the College Park campus
	Restrictions Large transit buses are not permitted on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge or for airport or train transfers

 

SMALL TRANSIT: VAN

	Passenger capacity 17 seats
	Accessibility This bus is ADA accessible, equipped with a wheelchair lift and space for two wheelchairs on board
	Available for Local and regional trips single-day trips within a 50-mile radius of the College Park campus
	Restrictions Small transit vans are not permitted on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge or for airport or train transfers

 

SPRINTER VAN

	Passenger capacity 13 seats
	Accessibility This vehicle is not equipped with ADA accessibility features
	Available for Single-day trips within a 100-mile radius of the College Park campus
	Restrictions For airport and train station transfers, our Sprinter van is limited to a max of 7 passengers due to luggage capacity

 

SUV

	Passenger capacity 5 seats
	Accessibility This vehicle is not equipped with ADA accessibility features
	Available for Local and interstate trips. Single-day trips and multi-day trips.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR TRIP

STEP 1	Review Vehicle Descriptions and Rates Begin by reviewing our vehicle descriptions and rates to find the option that best suits your needs. If you have any questions or need guidance, please don’t hesitate to email us at charterum@umd.edu.
STEP 2	Fill Out the Charter Request Form Next, fill out the charter request form with all applicable details. To ensure a swift booking process, please include as many specifics as possible, such as dates, times, addresses, locations, and itineraries. Providing day-of charter contact information is also important so our drivers can stay in touch and ensure a great experience for your guests.
STEP 3	Submit Your Request Once you have completed the charter request form, submit it to us at charterum@umd.edu. A member of our charter team will reach out within a week with an estimate or to request further details if needed to create an accurate estimate.
STEP 4	Review and Amend Your Estimate After receiving your estimate, carefully review all details for accuracy. If any adjustments are needed, contact us, and we will be happy to amend the estimate. To avoid discrepancies and errors, try to limit the number of amendments. If your plans are still tentative, we will do our best to accommodate a loose framework of your trip until your plans are finalized.
STEP 5	Sign and Return the Estimate Once you are satisfied with the details of your estimate, sign it and return it to our team. Pay attention to the "valid through" date, ensuring the signed estimate is returned before this date to secure your vehicle(s) and trip reservation. All estimates must be signed and returned at least eight university business days before the start of the trip.
STEP 6	Confirmation of Service Upon receiving your signed estimate, our team will send you a confirmation document. Your vehicle(s) will then be reserved, and your trip will be officially booked!
STEP 7	Pre-Trip Communication A few days before your trip, our team will provide driver contact information to you. This ensures smooth communication on the day of your charter. Please note that any changes to the trip should be communicated in writing via email to our charter team, not to the driver.
STEP 8	Post-Trip Follow-Up and Payment After your charter, our billing specialist will reach out to you within two weeks to follow up regarding how your trip went and to set up payment. We accept credit card, check, KFS, and RSTARS for your convenience.

REQUEST AN ESTIMATE

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Billing Information

Payment for your charter occurs after the trip has taken place. Within two weeks of your charter, our billing specialist will reach out to ask how your trip went and to set up payment. We accept credit card, check, KFS, and RSTARS, and we can split payments among different accounts if needed. For any questions, please feel free to contact our team at charterum@umd.edu.

Rush Fees

To avoid a rush fee for service, please ensure signed estimates and finalized itineraries are received by the Charter Department at least eight university business days before the trip. Rush fees apply to all trips not finalized within this timeframe.

• Motorcoaches, Large Transit Buses, Small Transit Vans, and Sprinter Vans: The greater of one hour of the hourly rate or 8% of the total trip cost.
• SUVs: $30 flat rate.

This fee may apply if significant itinerary modifications are made within eight university business days before the service start time, if adjustments require re-verification of resources such as drivers or vehicles due to time changes of an hour or more, or if numerous amendments impact our operations.
 

Supplemental Charges and Responsibilities

This section outlines potential additional charges related to specific service requests and responsibilities assumed by the group during the charter.

• Extended service duration or distance  due to group requests or itinerary changes
• Driver parking and/or lodging
• If specialized cleaning beyond the standard level is caused by the group
• Damage to the vehicle caused by the group
   

Cancellations

Cancellations must be made by emailing charterum@umd.edu or calling the Charter office at (301) 314-7271.

No Charge
Cancel with at least seven calendar days' notice, or due to uncontrollable factors like inclement weather.

Single-Day Service

• Less than one week's notice but at least 24 hours: $30 for SUVs, or the lesser of 20% of the total service estimate or one hour of the hourly rate per vehicle type.
• Less than 24 hours' notice: $30 for SUVs, or 50% of the total service estimate for all other vehicle types.

Multi-Day Service

• Less than 24 hours' notice: 50% of the first day's cost, plus the one-hour per vehicle type fee for the remaining service days.

If drivers wait more than 30 minutes past the scheduled pickup time without contact, they may declare a "no-show," resulting in cancellation and applicable fees.

Weather Considerations

Weather-related closures of the College Park campus do not automatically cancel scheduled charters. UMD DOTS will independently decide whether to run or cancel charter services. If your trip is class-related and canceled due to campus closure, it is your responsibility to inform us. If unsafe conditions are determined, we will notify the day-of-service contact and primary organizer. No fees will apply, and we will attempt to reschedule.

Miscellaneous Guidelines

• Legal Hours of Service: For trips exceeding 14 on-duty hours, including a maximum of 10 driving hours, additional costs will be incurred for necessary driver shift changes.
• Charter Approval: DOTS reserves the right to approve charters based on vehicle and personnel availability.
• Minor Travel: Groups with minors must have an adult chaperone throughout the journey.
• Additional Expenses: The chartering group is responsible for any parking and lodging fees incurred during the trip.
• Itinerary Changes: Alterations to the itinerary may incur extra charges. Unscheduled stops are at the driver’s discretion.
• Driver's Authority: Drivers may consider group navigation suggestions but have the final say, prioritizing safety and vehicle suitability.
• Driver Distraction: Minimize distractions to the driver. The driver can remove any passenger who:
  • Has an open container of alcohol. Smoking and vaping is also not permitted on the vehicles.
  • Violates the Code of Student Conduct or the Human Relations Code.
  • Negatively impacts the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle safely.

Airport Hold Option

For groups with flexible or uncertain travel plans, we offer an airport hold option. This allows you to reserve a motorcoach for a 24-hour period. The cost is half the price of an airport transfer and is applied toward the total cost if the transfer is used.

When to Use the Airport Hold

• Uncertain Flight Schedules: Ideal if flight times are not confirmed or may change.
• Event Delays: Perfect for events or conferences with variable end times.
• Traveling Teams: Great for sports teams with unpredictable schedules due to game outcomes or weather.
   

When to forgo the Airport Hold Option and Book Directly

• Confirmed Schedules: If flight times or event schedules are fixed and unlikely to change.
• Advance Planning: If the trip is planned well in advance with minimal risk of changes.
   

Ground Support Staffing for Major Events

For events requiring 10 or more vehicles simultaneously, or 7 or more vehicles over a period of 10 hours or longer, a dedicated ground staff member or dispatcher may be required to ensure smooth operations. The charter manager will contact you regarding staffing requirements.

Still have questions?

Check out our Charter Request FAQs

CONTACT US

Inquiries may be made via email or phone during normal business hours. 
Email: charterum@umd.edu 
Phone: 301-314-7271 
Urgent contact regarding a current trip: Charter Operations Hotline: (301) 314 7271, option 1