Rental
Security deposit when renting a car in Colombia: how it works
How much the security deposit is when renting a car in Colombia, when you pay it, how, why it comes back 15 days later and what can be deducted from it.
Short answer: at Andes Auto Rental the security deposit is 30% of the total rental price, paid when you pick up the car —not when you book— by credit card or bank transfer, and returned 15 days after you drop it off.
It is the part of renting that raises the most questions, especially among foreign travelers. This guide explains each step and the reason behind each deadline.
What the security deposit is
It is an amount the customer leaves when picking up the car and the agency returns after drop-off. It exists to cover what is not known on the day you return the car: mainly, traffic fines that arrive weeks later.
How much it is and when you pay it
- Amount: 30% of the total rental price.
- When: when you pick up the car. No deposit is paid when you book.
- Payment: credit card or bank transfer, in the name of the person who drives and signs the contract.
Being able to pay by bank transfer matters if you travel with a debit card or if your bank blocks large charges abroad.
Why it comes back 15 days later
In Colombia traffic tickets and camera fines are sent to the vehicle owner, which for a rental is the agency, and they don’t arrive the same day. Law 1843 of 2017 gives the authorities three business days to send a ticket after validating it, but validation and delivery take time, so the fine usually shows up after the car has been returned.
That is why the deposit is held for 15 days: to cover those late notices. We go into detail in our guide to camera fines in a rental car.
What can be deducted from the deposit
Traffic tickets and camera fines from your rental dates. The contract shows who had the car at the time of the offence, and the amount is deducted from the deposit. If there were none, it comes back in full.
If you want to check yourself, tickets can be looked up on SIMIT, Colombia’s national traffic fines system, with an ID number or the plate.
What the deposit does not replace
The deposit is not insurance. Damage to the car is covered by full-coverage insurance, added to the rate at 10% of it: it covers 80% of total loss, partial loss and theft, and the driver pays the remaining 20%. Injuries to people are covered by SOAT.
How to avoid deductions
- Respect pico y placa: cameras detect it and the fine is deducted from the deposit.
- Respect speed limits: 50 km/h on urban roads and 30 km/h in school and residential zones.
- Return the car with the same fuel level it had when you got it.
The figures in this guide were verified against official sources on the update date. Tolls and rates are adjusted every year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the deposit to rent a car in Bogotá?
- At Andes Auto Rental it is 30% of the total rental price. It is paid when you pick up the car, not when you book.
- Can I pay the deposit without a credit card?
- Yes. The deposit can be paid by credit card or by bank transfer, in the driver’s name.
- When do I get the deposit back?
- 15 days after you return the car. That deadline exists because traffic tickets are sent weeks after the offence.
- What can be deducted from the deposit?
- Traffic tickets and camera fines from your rental dates. If there were none, the deposit comes back in full.
- Does the deposit cover damage to the car?
- The deposit is not insurance. Damage is covered by full-coverage insurance, which covers 80% of total loss, partial loss and theft; the driver pays the remaining 20%.
