New rates and policies are now in effect as of July 1, 2026. See updated rates below. 

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

RATE UPDATE NOTICE: FY27 Rate Card  New pricing changes effective July 1, 2026.

TERMS & CONDITIONS: FY27 Terms & Conditions  New policy changes effective July 1, 2026.

 

 

 

 

RATES & FEES

Hourly Rates These are our most common rates and fees, though other costs may be applicable.
Vehicle Type	Maximum Number of Passengers	Minimum Chargeable Duration*	Minimum Charge	Hourly Rate	Deployment Fee
Motorcoach	54 seats	Four Hours	$976	$159/hr	$340
Large Transit Bus	37 seats Standees are allowed on local roads under 40mph. Max Capacity: 60 passengers	Two Hours	$400	$125/hr	$150
Small Transit Van	15 seats	Two Hours	$285	$105/hr	$75
Sprinter Van	13 seats (7 for airport/rail transfers)	Two Hours	$365	$120/hr	$125
SUV	5 seats	Two Hours	$305	$115/hr	$75
Mileage Fee Motorcoach: $1.70/mile  Transit vehicles: mileage included SUV and Sprinter: $0.49/mile over 100 miles    The deployment fee covers pre-trip inspection, fueling, cleaning, and travel to the pickup location. Billing runs from the scheduled departure to the scheduled return.
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. Rates shown are per one-way transfer. Round trips are quoted as two separate transfers.
Baltimore/Washington International  Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)				Motorcoach	$825
				Sprinter Van	$225
				SUV	$195
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)				Motorcoach	$825
				Sprinter Van	$210
				SUV	$185
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)				Motorcoach	$825
				Sprinter Van	$295
				SUV	$225
Union Station Washington D.C. (WAS)				Motorcoach	$575
				Sprinter Van	$185
				SUV	$125
New Carrollton, Maryland (NCR)				Motorcoach	$475
				Sprinter Van	$140
				SUV	$100

*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 with Big Ten Network, Roku, 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
NOTE: Vehicle availability varies by season, with best availability on weekends and during summer. Transit buses and vans are subject to the Shuttle-UM service schedule. Contact us for current availability.

SMALL TRANSIT: VAN

	Passenger capacity 15 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
NOTE: Vehicle availability varies by season, with best availability on weekends and during summer. Transit buses and vans are subject to the Shuttle-UM service schedule. Contact us for current availability.

 

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 typically respond within 5 business days with an 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 10 calendar 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. Payment is processed through Workday Internal Service Delivery only. Accepted worktags: USource, Grant, Gift, or Project.

REQUEST AN ESTIMATE

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Billing Information

Payment for your charter occurs after the trip has taken place. Invoicing is typically completed within two weeks of service. Payment is accepted through Workday Internal Service Delivery only. Accepted worktags: USource, Grant, Gift, or Project. Other University of Maryland System entities (e.g., UMBC, Universities at Shady Grove) may also use Charter Services — contact us for billing details. For any questions, please feel free to contact our team at charterum@umd.edu. View our full Terms & Conditions.
 

Rush Fees

Rush Booking Surcharge

A 20% rush booking surcharge applies to new trip requests received less than 5 business days before departure.

Late Finalization Surcharge

A 20% late finalization surcharge applies when the final itinerary is submitted after the 10-calendar-day deadline. Final trip details — exact times, addresses, and passenger count — are due at least 10 calendar days before departure by 5:00 PM on a university business day.
 

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 in writing to charterum@umd.edu.

• 10+ calendar days before departure: No charge
• 3–10 calendar days: Deployment fee for the assigned vehicle
• Less than 3 calendar days: 100% of trip total
• No-show (30-minute wait, no contact): 100% of trip total

For multi-vehicle bookings, cancellation fees apply per vehicle. University closures or inclement weather: no charge.
 

Weather & Closures

For non-critical travel, Charter Services follows university operating status. If the university delays its opening, we do not begin service until the university opens — campus roads and surrounding areas are still being made safe for travel. If the university closes early, we follow suit to ensure the safety of those returning to campus. In either case, trips are adjusted accordingly and no fees apply. If the adjusted schedule no longer works for you, you may cancel at no charge.

If campus opens late and your trip is shortened as a result, you will only be billed for actual hours used. The deployment fee still applies as the vehicle was prepared for service.

For critical travel (airport transfers, team travel, multi-day trips), Charter Services assesses road conditions independently and will only operate if conditions permit safe travel. If we cancel for safety, no fees apply and we will attempt to reschedule.
 

Miscellaneous Guidelines

• Legal Hours of Service: For trips requiring extended driving time, our team will review your schedule and let you know if a relief driver is needed to safely complete your trip. Relief driver fee: $650/day.
• Charter Approval: DOTS reserves the right to approve charters based on vehicle and personnel availability.
• Minor Travel: All groups with minors must provide adult chaperones for the duration of the trip. Depending on the age of the passengers, certain vehicle types may not be suitable — contact us and we'll help determine the best option.
• Additional Expenses: The chartering group is responsible for any parking and lodging fees incurred during the trip.
• Itinerary Changes: Any changes to the agreed-upon itinerary during a trip must be approved by Charter Admin and cannot be authorized by or through the driver. Unapproved changes may not be accommodated, and approved changes may result in additional charges.
• 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.

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.

Communications

All communications — including itinerary submissions, changes, cancellations, and signed documents — are acknowledged during university business hours only (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, excluding university holidays or emergency closures).

All deadlines — including estimate return dates and itinerary submission deadlines — are based on receipt in our shared inbox (charterum@umd.edu) during business hours. Documents received after 5:00 PM or on weekends, holidays, and closure days will be considered received on the next business day.

Still have questions?

Check out our Charter Request FAQs

CONTACT US

Inquiries may be made via email or phone during normal business hours. 
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on university holidays and during weather or emergency closures.

Email: charterum@umd.edu 
Phone: 301-314-7271 
During an active trip: Charter Operations Hotline: (301) 314-7271, option 1