Carry passport and valid driving licence
RequiredTourists may drive on a UK or EU licence for up to 6 months alongside their passport with entry stamp; carry both at all times.
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Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in Colombia
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Colombia: 8 legal requirements + 8 other things worth knowing.
8
Required
3
Recommended
5
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for Colombia
8 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
Carry passport and valid driving licence
Tourists may drive on a UK or EU licence for up to 6 months alongside their passport with entry stamp; carry both at all times.
SOAT mandatory accident insurance
Every vehicle (including rentals) must carry SOAT third-party injury insurance; rental cars include it but verify the certificate is in the glovebox before driving off.
Vehicle registration and tecnomecanica
Carry the tarjeta de propiedad (registration) and, for cars over 6 years old, a valid revision tecnomecanica (MOT-equivalent) certificate; police check both at routine puestos de control.
Two warning triangles and reflective vest
Law requires two reflective triangles, a hi-vis vest, a working fire extinguisher, a basic first-aid kit, spare tyre, jack and wheel wrench; fines start around COP 500,000 (EUR 115).
Drive on the right
Traffic drives on the right; overtaking is on the left and right-on-red is prohibited unless a sign explicitly permits it.
Speed limits 80 / 60 / 30 km/h
National default limits: 80 km/h on highways, 60 km/h on rural roads and 30 km/h in urban/residential zones; some dual carriageways post 100 or 120 km/h.
Zero-tolerance alcohol limit
BAC limit is effectively 0.00 g/L - any detectable alcohol triggers licence suspension from 1 to 20 years plus fines up to COP 31 million (EUR 7,100).
Pico y placa licence plate restrictions
Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Cartagena ban cars on certain weekdays based on the last digit of the number plate, typically 06:00-21:00; check the daily rota or face an immediate COP 650,000 (EUR 150) fine.
Documents
1949 IDP recommended
RecommendedColombia recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP; obtain one from the Post Office (GBP 5.50) to avoid arguments at police checkpoints, especially outside Bogota.
SOAT mandatory accident insurance
RequiredEvery vehicle (including rentals) must carry SOAT third-party injury insurance; rental cars include it but verify the certificate is in the glovebox before driving off.
Vehicle registration and tecnomecanica
RequiredCarry the tarjeta de propiedad (registration) and, for cars over 6 years old, a valid revision tecnomecanica (MOT-equivalent) certificate; police check both at routine puestos de control.
Emergency number 123
Good to knowDial 123 for unified emergency services (police, ambulance, fire); operators in Bogota and major cities usually have some English.
Required equipment
Two warning triangles and reflective vest
RequiredLaw requires two reflective triangles, a hi-vis vest, a working fire extinguisher, a basic first-aid kit, spare tyre, jack and wheel wrench; fines start around COP 500,000 (EUR 115).
Tolls
Cash peajes on main highways
Good to knowInter-city routes use manned toll booths (peajes) costing roughly COP 12,000-25,000 (EUR 3-6) each; budget around COP 40,000-60,000 (EUR 9-14) per 100 km on routes like Bogota-Medellin.
No vignette - keep small COP notes
RecommendedThere is no motorway sticker or e-vignette; most peajes still take cash only, so keep COP 10,000 and 20,000 notes handy as card readers are unreliable.
Driving rules
Drive on the right
RequiredTraffic drives on the right; overtaking is on the left and right-on-red is prohibited unless a sign explicitly permits it.
Speed limits 80 / 60 / 30 km/h
RequiredNational default limits: 80 km/h on highways, 60 km/h on rural roads and 30 km/h in urban/residential zones; some dual carriageways post 100 or 120 km/h.
Zero-tolerance alcohol limit
RequiredBAC limit is effectively 0.00 g/L - any detectable alcohol triggers licence suspension from 1 to 20 years plus fines up to COP 31 million (EUR 7,100).
Pico y placa licence plate restrictions
RequiredBogota, Medellin, Cali and Cartagena ban cars on certain weekdays based on the last digit of the number plate, typically 06:00-21:00; check the daily rota or face an immediate COP 650,000 (EUR 150) fine.
Avoid driving at night between cities
RecommendedFCDO and rental firms advise against inter-city driving after dark due to unlit roads, livestock, landslides and a higher risk of armed robbery on rural stretches.
Environment
Andean mountain hazards
Good to knowMountain passes above 3,000 m (e.g. La Linea, Letras) see fog, landslides and slow truck convoys; the rainy seasons (April-May and October-November) regularly close roads for hours.
Money
Currency COP, fuel ~EUR 0.70/L
Good to knowCurrency is the Colombian peso (COP); petrol (corriente) runs around COP 16,000/gallon, roughly EUR 0.95/L, diesel cheaper at about EUR 0.80/L - service stations are full-service, tip COP 1,000-2,000.
Cash declaration USD 10,000
Good to knowTravellers must declare cash or equivalents over USD 10,000 at the border; cards are widely accepted in cities but carry pesos for tolls, rural fuel stops and small towns.
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Drive on the right
RequiredTraffic drives on the right; overtaking is on the left and right-on-red is prohibited unless a sign explicitly permits it.
Speed limits 80 / 60 / 30 km/h
RequiredNational default limits: 80 km/h on highways, 60 km/h on rural roads and 30 km/h in urban/residential zones; some dual carriageways post 100 or 120 km/h.
Zero-tolerance alcohol limit
RequiredBAC limit is effectively 0.00 g/L - any detectable alcohol triggers licence suspension from 1 to 20 years plus fines up to COP 31 million (EUR 7,100).
Pico y placa licence plate restrictions
RequiredBogota, Medellin, Cali and Cartagena ban cars on certain weekdays based on the last digit of the number plate, typically 06:00-21:00; check the daily rota or face an immediate COP 650,000 (EUR 150) fine.