Driving in Colombia with a US license: IDP, exchange and the test

Plenty of Americans in Colombia never drive. Public transport, taxis and ride-hailing cover most needs in Bogota and Medellin. But if you plan to live outside the big cities, explore the coffee region by road or buy a car, you need to know when your US license stops being enough. The short version: a valid foreign license works for visitors for a limited time, and residents are expected to get a Colombian license.

This guide is based on Colombia's national traffic code (Law 769 of 2002), a published Ministry of Transport legal opinion on foreign licenses, and the ministry resolution on recognising licenses from agreement countries.

The rule for visitors: up to six months

Article 25 of Law 769 of 2002, the Código Nacional de Tránsito Terrestre, says that driving licenses issued in another country that are valid and used by tourists or people in transit in Colombia are accepted for driving during the stay authorised for the holder, in line with international provisions.

The Ministry of Transport has spelled out what that means in a published legal opinion. A person may drive private vehicles in Colombia with a foreign license as a tourist or person in transit, for the period of stay authorised to them, and in no case for more than six months of stay in the national territory. Once that period ends, the person must obtain a Colombian license.

So for a US citizen visiting on a tourist stay, a valid US state license is the document that counts. Keep it with your passport whenever you drive, since police checks ask for both identification and license.

What changes when you become a resident

The same Ministry opinion explains that a foreign national who is a resident in Colombia must meet the requirements of the national traffic code and related regulations to obtain a Colombian driving license. In other words, the foreign-license allowance is meant for tourists and people in transit. Once you hold a resident or migrant visa and a Cédula de Extranjería, plan on getting a Colombian license rather than relying on your US one.

The opinion also covers an edge case worth knowing if you are a dual US-Colombian citizen: a Colombian national entering the country is not a tourist or person in transit, so a license from another country does not meet the Article 25 condition. Dual nationals need a Colombian license to drive in Colombia.

Recognition of a foreign license: agreement countries only

Colombia can recognise a foreign license and issue a Colombian one without the full process, but only for people born in a country that has signed an agreement with Colombia on recognising driving licenses. That procedure is set out in Ministry of Transport Resolution 1244 of 2019, now compiled in Resolution 20223040045295 of 2022, and runs through the HQ RUNT system at local transit authorities.

The requirements listed in the resolution are:

1. Fingerprint registration in the Registro Único Nacional de Tránsito (RUNT).
2. The request form available on the Ministry of Transport website.
3. A valid license issued in the country of origin.
4. A Cédula de Extranjería.
5. Payment of the license issuance fee set by the Ministry.

Whether a particular nationality qualifies depends on the list of agreements in force. Check with the Ministry of Transport or your local transit authority before assuming your US license can be exchanged. If you were not born in an agreement country, you go through the regular process for a first Colombian license.

Getting a Colombian license through the regular process

The regular route runs through RUNT and a local "organismo de tránsito" (transit authority) in the city where you live. In general it involves:

• Registering as a person in RUNT, which records your identity document and fingerprints. Foreign residents register with their Cédula de Extranjería.
• Completing the medical, psychological and coordination assessment at an authorised centre.
• Completing training at an authorised driving school, including theory and practice.
• Passing the knowledge and practical driving tests that the regulations require.
• Paying the fees set by the Ministry and your local authority, then collecting the license from the transit authority.

The exact steps, test format and fees are set by the Ministry and each local authority and change from time to time. RUNT's citizen portal lets you check your driver history, your license status and any traffic fines recorded against your document number, which is a useful way to confirm the license was issued correctly.

About the International Driving Permit

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a translation of your US license into several languages, not a license on its own. The Colombian rules quoted above refer to a valid license issued in another country. An IDP can help at a police checkpoint or a rental counter if the officer or clerk does not read English, but carry it together with your US license, never instead of it. An IDP does not extend the six-month limit and does not replace a Colombian license once you are resident.

Practical driving notes

A few general observations from living in Colombia:

• Motorcycles are everywhere and pass on both sides. Check mirrors constantly, especially when changing lanes.
• Bogota, Medellin and other cities use "pico y placa" schemes that restrict driving on certain days according to the last digit of your license plate. Rules differ by city and change regularly, so check the local mobility secretariat before you drive.
• Mountain roads are slow. Distances that look short on a map can take far longer because of trucks, curves and roadworks.
• Tolls are common on intercity highways, and many still take cash.
• Fines are recorded against your identity document. RUNT and the national fines system let you check them, and unpaid fines can block other procedures.

Insurance and the SOAT

Every vehicle in Colombia must carry SOAT, the mandatory road accident insurance that covers medical costs for people injured in traffic accidents. If you rent a car, the rental company provides it. If you buy one, the SOAT and the technical inspection (revisión técnico-mecánica) must be current. Many drivers also buy voluntary insurance for damage and theft, since SOAT only covers personal injuries.

Emergency numbers on the road

The National Police lists line 123 for emergencies and #767 for road safety. Save both in your phone before a road trip.

Common questions

Can I drive in Colombia with my US driver's license? Yes, as a tourist or person in transit, for the stay authorised to you and never longer than six months, according to Article 25 of Law 769 of 2002 as explained by the Ministry of Transport. After that you need a Colombian license.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Colombia? The Colombian rule refers to a valid foreign license. An IDP is a translation that can help with police or rental staff, but it must be carried with your US license and does not extend the six-month limit.

Can I exchange my US license for a Colombian one? Direct recognition applies only to people born in countries that have a license recognition agreement with Colombia, under Ministry of Transport Resolution 1244 of 2019. Check the current list with the Ministry or your transit authority; otherwise you follow the regular licensing process.

I am a dual US-Colombian citizen. Can I use my US license? No. The Ministry of Transport says a Colombian national is not a tourist or person in transit, so a license from another country does not meet the Article 25 condition. You need a Colombian license.