E-SCOOTER & E-BIKE REGISTRATION FAQS

WHAT VEHICLES ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER?

Beginning on Wednesday, September 18, all privately-owned electric scooters and electric bicycles must be registered with DOTS.

Pedal bikes are also required to register, but follow a separate process powered by Bike Index. 

HOW DO I REGISTER?

In order to register your electric scooter and bicycle, owners must first complete and pass the self-guided Micromobility at UMD training course. After receiving your course certificate of completion, bring your vehicle to the DOTS Office in Regents Drive Garage to receive your registration sticker. When you arrive, please have the following ready:

  • Your course certificate of completion
  • Your UID
  • Your e-scooter or e-bike
  • Your vehicle’s make, model, and serial number

Registration stickers must be applied properly and visible on your vehicle at all times. Failure to register or display registration stickers on your vehicle may result in a warning, immobilized vehicle, or impoundment. The owner is responsible for any associated fees.  

DOES MY REGISTRATION EXPIRE?

Registration is good for two years. When your registration expires you must return to the DOTS office at Regents Drive Garage to renew your registration and receive a new sticker.  

Re-registration is required before the permit expires under the following conditions:

  • if the vehicle is sold or transferred to a new owner
  • the registration sticker falls off or is faded

WHY IS REGISTRATION REQUIRED ON THESE VEHICLES?

There are several important reasons for requiring registration:

  • Data: Currently, the university does not have reliable data on the number of privately owned micromobility vehicles on campus. Registration data, combined with the data that we have about the campus Veo fleet, will help us to gain a better understanding of micromobility use on campus and to invest resources more thoughtfully. It will also allow us to communicate directly with e-scooter and e-bike operators to share important information about regulations/policy changes, amenities, and safety. 
  • Accountability/Enforcement: Registration will erase the anonymity that enables unsafe behavior and allow for better enforcement.
  • Other Benefits and Services: DOTS will provide free lock-cutting services to registered e-scooter and e-bike owners. Registration also creates a record of ownership that can help authorities if your e-bike or e-scooter goes missing.

WHAT IS THE COST TO REGISTER? 

There is no cost to register. 

HOW WILL REGISTRATION MAKE CAMPUS MORE SAFE?

Registration will erase the anonymity that enables unsafe behavior and allow for better enforcement.  A registration sticker will be applied to the vehicle and display a unique 5-digit identification number that will assist DOTS in enforcing parking infractions and issue citations for sidewalk riding.

Additionally, the Department of Public Safety will have access to the registration database to support the enforcement of moving violations.

WHAT ARE THE REGULATIONS FOR E-SCOOTERS AND E-BIKES?

E-scooter and e-bike regulations can be found on our website. 

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT SAFE PRACTICES SURROUNDING MICROMOBILITY?

The Micromobility at UMD training course is a great start. It includes 6 modules covering campus and area regulations/laws on micromobility, safe riding habits, and battery safety and more critical information.  Information on how to operate e-scooter and e-bikes safely can be found on our website, along with guidelines and tips surrounding bicycle, driver, and pedestrian safety. Do your part, Terps! Safety starts with you!

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T REGISTER? 

Beginning Thursday, September 19, 2024, unregistered vehicles are subject to booting or impoundment.

WHAT IS THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER?

All privately-owned electric scooters and electric bicycles must be registered by Wednesday, September 18. 

I ALREADY REGISTERED MY E-SCOOTER/E-BIKE WITH BIKE INDEX. DO I STILL NEED TO REGISTER?

Individuals who have previously registered their e-scooters or e-bike on Bike Index will need to transfer their registration into the new system.

To register, complete the Micromobility at UMD training course and come to the DOTS office at Regents Drive Garage and bring the following: 

  • Your course certificate of completion
  • Your UID 
  • Your e-scooter or e-bike. 
  • Your vehicle’s make, model, and serial number

HOW OFTEN DO I HAVE TO REGISTER?

E-scooter and e-bike operators are required to maintain a valid registration for the entirety of the academic year. Registration lasts for two years and expiration dates will be displayed on the stickers.

I'M VISITING CAMPUS AND AM PLANNING TO BRING MY E-SCOOTER/EBIKE. DO I NEED TO REGISTER? 

Visitors that plan to bring their electric micromobility vehicles on campus should use a visitor tag.  To request a visitor tag, please reach out to us by phone at (301) 314-3687 or complete this form and someone from our team will be in touch via email.

WHAT DO I DO IF MY E-SCOOTER OR E-BIKE IS BOOTED OR IMPOUNDED?

Beginning Thursday, September 19, 2024, unregistered e-scooter or e-bikes are subject to booting or impoundment. Abandoned or improperly parked bikes, e-scooter, and e-bikes are also subjected to booting or impoundment.

If your vehicle has been booted, you will be required to pay a $20 fine for release. 

YOUR VEHICLE HAS BEEN BOOTED
  1. If your vehicle is booted, the first step is to fill out the Booting Release Form and authorize a $20 release fee charge.
  2. Once you have properly completed the above form and authorized the $20 boot release fee charge,
  • During business hours (M-F, 8:15-4:00) a DOTS employee will email you with a code to release the u-lock boot.
  • Booting release is not available on Saturday and Sunday.

3. Once the code is emailed by a staff member, you will have 48 hours to remove the boot from your vehicle and return it to DOTS or you will face a $30 charge for the replacement of the u-lock. 

  • Detailed instructions on how to return the u-lock will be provided via email when the release code is sent.
IMPOUNDED VEHICLES
  1. If you believe that your vehicle has been impounded, the first step is to check the impounded bike/scooter database. All impounded bikes and scooters are on this list.
  • If you cannot identify your bike or scooter in the impound database, DOTS does not have your bike and we highly recommend you contact the Department of Public Safety (301) 405-3555 to report it as missing. 

2. Once you have identified your bike/scooter on the database, fill out the bicycle/scooter retrieval form 

3. DOTS staff will review your form and schedule a time for you to collect your vehicle from the DOTS lobby. There is a $35 fee associated with the release of impounded bikes and scooters.

4. If your vehicle is not registered with UMD, it must be registered before your bike/scooter is returned.

5. Once all fees have been paid, your vehicle will be released to you.

6. DOTS will keep impounded bikes and scooters for one year. If a vehicle has not been retrieved after one year, it will be donated to local non-profit organizations.

WHAT IF I SELL OR GIVE MY VEHICLE AWAY?

Seller/Old Owner:

  1. Email transportation@umd.edu and notify us that you would like cancel your registration 
  2. Remove your sticker.  

Buyer/New Owner:

  1. Ask the previous owner to send you an e-mail confirmation of their sale and that they have canceled their registration with DOTS. 
  2. After the vehicle registration is canceled, you will need to purchase a new registration and attain a new permit sticker.