Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Events
    • Shop
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Scandinavia
      • Spain
      • United Kingdom
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Others
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • North America
      • South America
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Events
    • Shop
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Scandinavia
      • Spain
      • United Kingdom
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Others
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • North America
      • South America
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
👤

THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR EXPATS, DIGITAL NOMADS, AND DREAMERS.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Your Escape Plan

Driving in Colombia – Part 1

  • BY David Steckenreiter
  • January 24, 2013
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

Driving in Colombia – Part 1

As a tourist, it is possible to drive in Colombia with a current driver´s license from your country, state or province however you must have your passport with you at all times.

De acuerdo con el Código Nacional de Tránsito, “licencias de conducción expedidas en otro país que se encuentren vigentes y sean utilizadas por turistas o personas en tránsito en el territorio nacional, serán válidas y admitidas para conducir en Colombia durante la permanencia autorizada a su titular, conforme a las disposiciones internacionales sobre la materia”.

In other words, if you are a tourist or in transit through Colombia you can drive with a valid license for the time that you are permitted to stay in the country.

Once you have a visa and apply for a cedula, the national ID card, you must apply for a Colombian driver´s license.

To apply for a license you must have :

1) A certificate of physical and mental health

2) A driving certificate from a driving school

3) Copy of the cedula

4) Paz y Salvo indicating you have no fines or charges at a national level.

Some of these requirements have changed over the years.  Often a larger driving school had a physician on staff who gave a basic eye test and took your blood pressure. Then you were asked a series of questions supposedly indicating if you were capable of managing a car. As of January 2012, all new drivers were required to take training in driving school. We are just waiting to trying to confirm what the circumstances are if you have an existing driver’s license from another country.

To renew your license you need:

1) A certificate of physical and mental health

2) A copy of your cedula

3) Paz y Salvo indicating you have no fines or charges at a national level.

4) Your original license

5) A payment of 57.200

If you go to a driving school to renew your license the charge may be up to 190.000.  We are also trying to confirm who is qualified to issue the certificate of physical and mental health.

Types of Licenses :

Category A1: (previously Category 1) This is appropriate to drive motorcycles of 125 c.c. or less.

Category A2: (previously Category 2) For motorcycles and moto tricycles of more than 125 c.c.

Category B1: (previously Category 3) Cars, rickshaws/moto taxis, SUV’s, vans, trucks, quads and minibuses of particular service.

Category B2: (previously Category 5) Trucks, vans and buses of particular service.

Category B3: (previously Category 6) Tractor trailers or articulated vehicles.

Category C1: (previously Category 4 Public) Specializing in cars, three wheelers, quad, SUV’s, vans and minibuses for public service.

Category C2: (previously Category C2 public) Trucks (rigid) , buses and minibuses for public service. Also equivalent to the former category 5.

Category C3: (Previously Category 6 Public)  For articulated vehicles of public service.

I hope you got value from the article: Driving in Colombia Part 1. Here is Driving in Colombia Part 2. Driving in Colombia Part 3 and Driving in Colombia Part 4.  I guess there’s lots to learn about driving in Colombia!!

If you’re interested in buying a home abroad and want to weigh up your options, visit ECI Developments, who specialize in creating exceptional residence and resort communities across the world.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • driving
  • license
Previous Article
  • Costa Rica

Purchasing Real Estate in Costa Rica

  • BY EA Editors
  • April 22, 2012
View Post
Next Article
  • Your Escape Plan

Driving (Crazy) in Poland, Part 1

  • BY Don Halbert
  • November 9, 2013
View Post
You May Also Like
Top 10 Best Places to Live in Mexico – Discover Your Ideal City
View Post
  • Mexico
Top 10 Best Places to Live in Mexico – Discover Your Ideal City
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • October 8, 2025
Buying a Property abroad
View Post
  • Your Escape Plan
Why More Investors Are Buying Homes Offshore
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • October 8, 2025
Best Places to Live in Spain: A City-by-City Guide for 2025
View Post
  • Spain
Best Places to Live in Spain: A City-by-City Guide for 2025
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • October 8, 2025
Hungarian Citizenship by Descent Journey from Amercia
View Post
  • Second Citizenship
Our Journey from America to Hungarian Citizenship
  • BY Ethan Cohen & Learn Hungarian Anywhere
  • October 1, 2025
The Tale of the Tael - A timeless store of value across centuries
View Post
  • Finance
The Tale of the Tael’s: A Hard Lesson about Hard Money
  • BY Michael Checkan
  • September 24, 2025
Craggy cliffs and quiet harbors frame life in the Isle of Man
View Post
  • Your Escape Plan
Life and Opportunity on the Isle of Man
  • BY Aneesa Marufu
  • September 19, 2025
Central America’s strategic position is reshaping the global offshore banking map
View Post
  • Plan B
The Future of Global Finance Runs Through Central America
  • BY Luigi Wewege
  • September 17, 2025
Tokyo's infamous cherry blossoms.
View Post
  • Japan
How I Built a Life in Tokyo in 3 Months
  • BY Annie Nagel
  • September 8, 2025
Trending Posts
  • 1
    • Mexico
    Top 10 Things to Know if You’re Moving to Mexico
    • September 26, 2025
  • Hungarian Citizenship by Descent Journey from Amercia 2
    • Second Citizenship
    Our Journey from America to Hungarian Citizenship
    • October 1, 2025
  • Abkhazia jewel of Soviet summer escapes 3
    • Field Notes
    Secrets of the Soviet Riviera
    • October 3, 2025
  • Summer in Lapland: Lapland’s wild landscapes glow under the endless Arctic sun 4
    • Field Notes
    Before the Snow Falls in Lapland
    • September 29, 2025
  • Expat Child Syndrome 5
    • Wellness
    The Untold Story of Expat Kids
    • October 6, 2025
Know Before You Go
  • Top 10 Best Places to Live in Mexico – Discover Your Ideal City 1
    • Mexico
    Top 10 Best Places to Live in Mexico – Discover Your Ideal City
    • October 8, 2025
  • Best Places to Live in Spain: A City-by-City Guide for 2025 2
    • Spain
    Best Places to Live in Spain: A City-by-City Guide for 2025
    • October 8, 2025
  • Expat Child Syndrome 3
    • Wellness
    The Untold Story of Expat Kids
    • October 6, 2025
  • Abkhazia jewel of Soviet summer escapes 4
    • Field Notes
    Secrets of the Soviet Riviera
    • October 3, 2025
  • Hungarian Citizenship by Descent Journey from Amercia 5
    • Second Citizenship
    Our Journey from America to Hungarian Citizenship
    • October 1, 2025
Learn More
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
Why Subscribe

The newly imagined Escape Artist brings you fresh content with a global focus, and sharp, up-to-the-minute coverage of the joys, challenges, and opportunities of life abroad.

For a limited time, we’re offering a special discount on all subscription deals, so be sure to lock-in these incredible savings and start receiving top-notch travel and expat content today!

Sign up for the EA Newsletter

Get important news delivered directly to your inbox and stay connected!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Escape Artist
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimer

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Newsletter Subscription
Our Spring Sale Has Started

You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/