Can I drive in Colombia with a foreign driver’s license?
The question often arises as to whether a tourist or expat needs to have a Colombian driver’s license in order to drive legally in Colombia. In this article, we will examine the law that governs foreign drivers and what documents are required for them to drive legally in the country.
Can I drive with my foreign driver’s license in Colombia?
The law that governs this issue is Article 25 of Colombian Law 769 of 2002. This Article roughly states that an active foreign driver’s license is valid for use by foreign tourists or foreigners in transit to drive in Colombia during the time allotted them as a tourist or foreigner in transit:
“ARTÍCULO 25. LICENCIAS EXTRANJERAS. Las licencias de conducción, expedidas en otro
país, que se encuentren vigentes y que 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.”
This Article has been interpreted to mean (and is specifically expounded on in various other local regulations) that if a foreigner is visiting Colombia on a tourist permit, they are legally permitted to drive (and rent a car) using only a valid foreign driver’s license. And, as the maximum time allowed on a Colombian tourist permit is 180 days, this rule is interpreted to apply only for an 180 day period.
The way this law has been interpreted means that two groups of foreigners must get Colombian driver’s licenses in order to drive legally in the country:
A) Non-tourists - meaning any foreigners who have applied for and received a visa, received a cedula de extranjería, or otherwise legalized their situation in the Colombia; and
B) Tourists who stay longer than 180 days - which are generally those who have overstayed their tourist permits and are in the country illegally.
There is an exception to this law for citizens of 3 countries: Spain, Peru, and South Korea. These three countries have signed a treaty with Colombia which bilaterally recognizes the driver’s licenses of the other country and allows them to legalize their use in the other country.
What documents do I need in order to drive in Colombia as a Tourist?
If you qualify under Article 25 and do not require a Colombian driver’s license, you are still required to carry certain documents on you as you drive in case you are stopped by the Transit Police or an official roadblock. These documents are:
Passport with your entry stamp into Colombia
Valid foreign driver’s license
Required Colombian vehicle documents (SOAT, Matricula del Vehículo, Revision technomecánica)
Conclusion
If you are only visiting Colombia as tourist on vacation, you probably do not need to obtain a Colombian driver’s license to drive around the country. If you are in Colombia for the long term or have otherwise legalized your immigration situation through a visa and cedula, you probably are required to legalize your driving situation by obtaining a Colombian Driver’s License.
If you have any further questions about the law in Colombia, do not hesitate to contact Restrepo Legal. We are here to help.