Renting a car in Colombia as a foreigner: requirements and rules

The first question most foreign travelers ask is not how much it costs but whether they are legally allowed to. The short answer: yes, a foreigner can rent and drive a car in Colombia with the driver’s license from their own country, and that is not an industry habit but something written into Colombian law.

This guide explains which rule allows it, for how long, which documents you will be asked for at the counter, what to carry in the car while you drive, and what happens if the traffic police stop you. No fine print.

Can a foreigner rent a car in Colombia?

Yes. A foreigner who enters the country legally as a tourist can rent and drive a vehicle in Colombia with no extra immigration paperwork, by showing their passport with the entry stamp and a valid driver’s license. You do not need residency, a Colombian foreigner ID (cédula de extranjería) or a Colombian license.

What does vary between companies are the commercial requirements: minimum age, how the deposit is paid and how long you must have held your license. Each company sets those, not the law.

Is my home driver’s license valid in Colombia?

Yes, as long as it is valid and your stay does not exceed six months. It is set by Article 25 of Law 769 of 2002, Colombia’s National Traffic Code, developed by Article 50 of Decree 1743 of 2015: valid foreign licenses are accepted for driving in Colombia when used by tourists or people in transit, for the length of their authorized stay.

This is not a gray area or informal tolerance: it is an explicit rule. You can check it in the FAQ of Bogotá’s Mobility Department (in Spanish), which is the city’s traffic authority.

Do I need an International Driving Permit?

It is not required. Colombian rules recognize your valid national license, not an international permit. If you already have one, bring it —it does no harm and helps if your license is not in the Latin alphabet— but do not spend time or money getting one just for this trip.

If your license is not in the Latin alphabet, bring an official translation or the international permit as support, because the traffic officer has to be able to read the document.

What if I stay in Colombia longer than six months?

Your foreign license stops being valid for driving and you must obtain a Colombian license for the first time, under Article 196 of Decree 019 of 2012. Tourist or in-transit status cannot exceed 180 days, continuous or not, within the same calendar year.

There is also recognition by agreement, which lets you exchange your license without taking the full course again. Colombia has that agreement with a limited number of countries —including Spain, Peru and South Korea— under Resolution 1244 of 2019 of the Ministry of Transport. For a normal tourist stay, none of this applies to you.

Which documents do I need to rent the car?

Three documents, all in the name of the person who will drive and sign the contract: a valid passport with the Colombian entry stamp, a valid driver’s license from your country, and a means of payment for the security deposit.

• Valid passport with the entry stamp or the corresponding immigration record.
• Valid driver’s license from your home country, legible and not expiring during the rental.
• Credit card or bank transfer in the driver’s name, for the security deposit.
• Confirmed booking with dates, times and the delivery point.

A common mistake: booking in one person’s name and showing up to collect the car with someone else’s card. Even within a family, the contract, the license and the means of payment must match. If two people will drive, the second one must be registered as an additional driver with their own license —registering them is free.

What is the minimum age to rent a car in Colombia?

At Andes Auto Rental the minimum age is 25 and there is no minimum time holding a license. That is a company requirement, not a legal one: other companies in Colombia set different ages, some from 21 with a young-driver fee.

If you travel as a group and only some of you are over 25, decide at booking who will be the main driver. It takes a minute to settle in writing and can ruin an afternoon if it comes up at the counter.

Do I need a credit card for the deposit?

Not necessarily. The security deposit can be left by credit card or bank transfer. That is a real difference from the international chains, which in Colombia almost always require a credit card in the driver’s name with no alternative.

If you will use a card issued outside Colombia, tell your bank your travel dates. Deposit charges abroad are often blocked for security, and that tends to happen right when you are at the counter with your luggage.

The rental itself can be paid with Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club and American Express, or with a payment link that works the same from abroad.

How much is the security deposit?

The deposit is 30% of the total rental amount, it is paid when you receive the vehicle, not when you book, and it is refunded 15 days after you return the car.

That 15-day wait is what foreign travelers most often misunderstand, and there is a concrete reason for it: in Colombia traffic tickets reach the vehicle owner weeks after the offense, not immediately. The deposit is the guarantee that covers them if they arrive after you have left the country. If there was a fine during your rental, it is deducted from there; if there was nothing, you get the full amount back. We explain the whole process in our guide to speed camera fines in a rental car.

Before signing with any company, ask for three things in writing: the exact amount, whether it is a charge or just a hold, and how many days after drop-off it is released. A serious company gives you those without hesitation; if they dodge the question, that is a warning sign.

Which insurance does the car carry, and what does SOAT cover?

Every vehicle legally on the road in Colombia carries SOAT, the mandatory traffic accident insurance, and it is included in the rental. But SOAT covers injuries to people, not damage to the vehicle. It is the most common confusion among foreign travelers.

• SOAT: medical costs, disability and death of the people involved in an accident. Mandatory and included.
• Full-coverage policy: added to the rate and worth 10% of it. It covers 80% of the vehicle’s value in case of total loss, partial loss or theft, and includes 24/7 roadside assistance nationwide.
• Third-party liability: damage to others is covered within that policy. The insured amount depends on the vehicle model and is stated in the contract before you sign.
• Minor damage: there is no fixed price list. Any damage is quoted first and you are told the amount before it is deducted from the deposit.

Before you travel, check whether your credit card includes rental car insurance abroad. Many do, but they usually require the whole rental to be paid with that same card and that you decline the counter coverage. Read that condition before deciding.

Which documents must I carry while driving?

Four things, always in the car: your passport with the entry stamp, your valid driver’s license, the vehicle registration card (tarjeta de propiedad) and the SOAT. The rental company hands over the last two with the car, and they usually go in the glove box.

Add the road kit: fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, reflective warning signs, lug wrench and spare tire. It is mandatory in Colombia and missing it can get you a ticket, even in a rental car. Check it when you receive the vehicle, because the fine is issued to you, not to the company.

What happens if the traffic police stop me?

It is normal and frequent on Colombian roads, not a sign of trouble. The officer will ask for your license, passport and vehicle documents, check the SOAT and let you go. The whole thing takes a few minutes.

• Roll down the window, say hello and hand over the documents when asked.
• Highway Police checkpoints are routine on national roads. They do not imply suspicion.
• Never offer money. Any legitimate fine is paid through a written ticket with a reference number, never in cash to the officer.
• If you get a ticket, ask for a copy and tell the rental company right away. The amount is deducted from the deposit once the authority notifies it, which is why the deposit is held for 15 days after you return the car.

Can I drive the rental car anywhere in Colombia?

At Andes Auto Rental driving anywhere in the country is included, so you can leave Bogotá for Boyacá, the Coffee Region, Santander or the coast. Mileage is unlimited in and around Bogotá; for long trips a daily limit is agreed at booking, so it pays to share your itinerary in advance.

Two limits apply in Colombia with any company: you cannot leave the country with the rental car, and a foreign license does not allow public service. That means you cannot use the rental car for ride-hailing apps, taxi, cargo or deliveries: that requires a Colombian license of the right category. It is worth saying because it is a real question we get often.

If your trip does not end in Bogotá, you can also drop the car in another city; the cost depends on the distance from the capital and we quote it when you book. And with the full-coverage insurance you have 24/7 roadside assistance nationwide, not only in Bogotá.

If you plan to explore the Bogotá savanna, there are ready-made routes in our guides to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá and to driving to Villa de Leyva, with times, tolls and budget.

How much does it cost to rent a car in Colombia as a foreigner?

Rates start from COP 139,000 per day for a manual economy car, with nationwide driving included. There is no surcharge for being a foreigner: the rate is exactly the same.

• Automatic transmission: from COP 195,000 per day. Automatics are limited in Colombia, so book early.
• 7-seat SUV: from COP 379,000 per day.
• Insurance: added to the rate and worth 10% of it.
• Long stays: book three weeks and the fourth is on us — 28 days for the price of 21.
• Additional driver, child seat and Colombian data SIM: all three free. The SIM sorts out GPS from day one if your plan has no roaming in Colombia.
• Delivery at El Dorado Airport from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; outside those hours, arranged on WhatsApp.

Two more things worth knowing before you compare: rates do not change by season —they are the same in December and at Easter as in any other month— and the fuel policy is same level: you return the car with as much fuel as you received it, with no refueling charges.

Budget tolls and fuel separately. In Colombia fuel is sold by the gallon, not the liter: regular gasoline in Bogotá is around COP 16,000 per gallon, about COP 4,200 per liter. And stations are not self-service; an attendant always fills the tank.

How do I book a car in Colombia from abroad?

You book online before you travel, on WhatsApp or through the form, with your dates, flight arrival time and vehicle type. You do not need to be in Colombia or complete any prior paperwork. WhatsApp is answered 24 hours a day, so the time difference with your country is not a problem.

1. 01Send the exact pick-up and return dates and times, with your flight number if you land at El Dorado Airport.
2. 02Say whether you need an automatic, how many passengers are traveling and how many bags.
3. 03Register everyone who will drive.
4. 04Confirm in writing what the rate includes, the deposit amount and the payment method.
5. 05Keep the confirmation with the name of the person who helped you.

For entry requirements and authorized lengths of stay, the official source is Migración Colombia. If you arrive by plane, the terminal handover is covered in our guide to renting a car at Bogotá airport, and every car we rent has its own page in our fleet.

28 years operating in Bogotá, delivery at the airport, and 24/7 nationwide roadside assistance with the full-coverage insurance.