Colombia · Step by Step
Key Facts
- Foreign licence. Visitors can drive on a valid home licence; an International Driving Permit is recommended alongside it.
- Residents. With a cédula de extranjería you can convert to a Colombian licence.
- Pico y placa. Cities restrict driving on set days by plate number — check before you buy or rent.
- In the city. Medellín’s metro and ride apps make car ownership optional for most expats.
- Apps. Uber operates in a legal grey zone but works; DiDi, Cabify and inDrive are widely used.
Colombia’s big cities reward the car-free, but a vehicle unlocks the coffee region and the coast. Here is the practical guide to driving in Colombia as an expat.
Driving on your foreign licence
As a visitor you can drive on your valid home-country licence, and carrying an International Driving Permit alongside it helps with police checks and rental firms. Keep both in the car with your passport.
Once you hold a cédula de extranjería (the foreigner ID), you can convert to a Colombian licence, which is the cleaner long-term option for residents.
Getting a Colombian licence
Residents convert or obtain a licence through an accredited driving centre (Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores) with a medical and psycho-technical exam, then registration in the national RUNT system. You will need your cédula de extranjería.
The process is quicker and cheaper than in many countries, though requirements can shift, so confirm the current steps locally before starting.
Pico y placa and city driving
Colombian cities run pico y placa, a rotating restriction that bars cars from the road on certain days based on the last digit of the plate. Bogotá and Medellín both use it, and the rules change periodically.
That alone pushes many expats toward transit. Medellín’s metro and cable cars are clean and cheap, and both cities have extensive bus networks, so a car is often more hassle than help in town.
Buying a car and ride apps
If you buy, the used market is the norm; budget for the transfer (traspaso), the annual road tax (impuesto vehicular) and mandatory SOAT insurance. A car earns its keep for the Eje Cafetero, Guatapé or the Caribbean coast.
Day to day, ride apps dominate. Uber works despite a legal grey area, while DiDi, Cabify and inDrive are widely used and cheap at the exchange rate near 3,594 pesos per US dollar.
The bottom line
In town, let the metro and ride apps do the work and skip the pico y placa headache entirely. Save the car for the coffee region and the coast, where it truly pays off, and convert to a Colombian licence once you have your cédula.
Carry SOAT insurance and keep your documents in the glovebox. Finally, keep your SOAT insurance and licence in the car at all times, since checks are routine.
Plan trips around pico y placa days and the open road rewards you with some of the continent’s best scenery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive on my foreign licence in Colombia?
Yes as a visitor, ideally with an International Driving Permit alongside it. Residents with a cédula de extranjería can convert to a Colombian licence.
How do I get a Colombian licence?
Through an accredited driving centre with a medical and psycho-technical exam, then RUNT registration, using your cédula de extranjería.
What is pico y placa?
A rotating restriction that bars cars on certain days by the last plate digit, used in Bogotá and Medellín. The rules change, so check before driving or buying.
Do I need a car in Medellín or Bogotá?
Usually not. Metro, buses and ride apps cover the cities well; a car is mainly useful for trips to the coffee region or the coast.
Which ride apps work in Colombia?
Uber operates in a grey area but works, and DiDi, Cabify and inDrive are widely used and affordable.
Read More from The Rio Times