This article has been prepared for Ukrainian citizens who live, work, or travel in the Republic of Colombia and plan to drive a car — their own, a rented one, or one provided by relatives or friends. It summarizes the main requirements of Colombian law for foreign drivers, basic traffic rules, and the procedure to follow in the most common situations.

This information is for general reference only and is current as of 2026. Colombian legislation, fine amounts, and administrative procedures may change, so before traveling we recommend verifying current information on the website of the Ministry of Transport of Colombia and the National Road Safety Agency (ANSV).

1. Can a Ukrainian citizen drive a car in Colombia?

Yes, under certain conditions. Foreigners entering Colombia as tourists (including Ukrainian citizens — a visa-free regime between Ukraine and Colombia for ordinary passports has been in effect since April 17, 2020) are entitled to drive a car using their valid Ukrainian driver's license for the entire period of their authorized stay in the country.

• The maximum period for using a Ukrainian driver's license is up to 180 days (6 months) from the date of entry, in accordance with Article 25 of Law 769 of 2002 and Article 50 of Decree 1743 of 2015, which govern Colombia's National Traffic Code.
• An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not a mandatory legal requirement for tourists, but it is strongly recommended: it is a translation of the license into several languages, it makes communication with police at checkpoints easier, and many car rental companies require it.
• Important nuance: if a Ukrainian citizen obtains a cédula de extranjería in Colombia (i.e., is no longer a tourist), the Ukrainian driver's license immediately loses validity for driving in the country, regardless of how many days remain of the 180-day period. In that case, a Colombian driver's license must be obtained. For more information on the cédula de extranjería (CE) procedure, see: migracioncolombia.gov.co – cédula de extranjería procedure
• It is important to clarify that driving on a foreign license while already a resident (holding a cédula de extranjería) constitutes infraction B01 — driving without carrying the required driver's license — punishable by a fine of 8 daily minimum wages (about 337,000 pesos in 2026) and possible impoundment of the vehicle. For more information on fines, see: transitovalledupar.gov.co – traffic fine amounts
• Colombia has a simplified procedure (without exams) for recognizing foreign licenses only for citizens of Spain, Peru, Chile, and the Republic of Korea. No such bilateral agreement currently exists between Ukraine and Colombia, so Ukrainian citizens who need a Colombian license must follow the standard procedure, including exams.

2. Documents to carry

When driving in Colombia, a foreign driver must carry with them at all times:

• a Ukrainian passport with a valid Colombian entry stamp;
• a valid Ukrainian national driver's license (not expired, with a photograph);
• an International Driving Permit (IDP) — recommended, though not always mandatory for tourists;
• the vehicle's registration or ownership card (for an owned or borrowed vehicle);
• a valid policy of Mandatory Traffic Accident Insurance (SOAT);
• the rental agreement — if the vehicle is rented.

SOAT and, in many cases, the driver's license can be presented in digital format, from a phone screen. However, it is advisable to carry the passport with the entry stamp in physical form.

3. Renting a car in Colombia

To rent a car, rental companies in Colombia generally require:

• a minimum driver age — usually 21–23 years; drivers aged 21–25 are often charged an additional "young driver" surcharge;
• a valid passport with an entry stamp and a valid Ukrainian driver's license; an International Driving Permit (IDP) is an additional advantage and, at some companies, a mandatory requirement if the national license is not in English or Spanish;
• a physical credit card (not debit) in the main driver's name to block the security deposit — cash and virtual cards are generally not accepted;
• a security deposit blocked on the card — approximately between US$500 and US$1,500, depending on the vehicle category;
• insurance coverage — basic SOAT is usually included by default in the rental, but it is worth checking the availability of additional damage/theft insurance (Todo Riesgo).

The average cost of renting a compact car is approximately US$25 to US$70 per day, depending on the vehicle category and the season.

4. Basic traffic rules

• Traffic drives on the right, with the steering wheel on the left;
• Seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers, both in the front and rear seats;
• Children under 10 may not travel in the front seat, and children under 2 may only travel in the back seat in a child safety seat. This is a simple rule worth remembering — it is advisable to check the specific requirements with the rental company or on the Ministry of Transport's website;
• Using a mobile phone while driving is only permitted in hands-free mode;
• The permitted blood alcohol limit is extremely low — 0.02% (essentially zero tolerance). Penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol are severe — license suspension of at least one year, vehicle impoundment, and substantial fines. REFUSING a breathalyzer test carries the highest penalty in the entire system (in 2026, over 60 million pesos, about US$15,000), in addition to suspension. We recommend never refusing the test;
• Motorcyclists must ride with their headlights on even during the day; in tunnels, headlights are mandatory for all vehicles.

4.1 Traffic fines

• It should be clarified that a traffic fine (comparendo/multa) is a document issued by a traffic officer indicating that a driver, pedestrian, or cyclist has violated the traffic laws in force in the municipality or city. For this reason, if you have a fine, you should check whether it is manual (issued on the road, always handed over by a traffic officer) or electronic (issued by city cameras, which can capture all types of infractions); you can also check online whether there is a fine under your name. If the infraction occurred in Bogotá, check it on the website of the Secretaría Distrital de Movilidad; if it occurred in any other city in the country, check it on the SIMIT website.
• On the same website where you checked the fine, you can pay it: select the fine issued under your name and choose the online PSE payment option, which will ask you to register the first time and then select your bank to complete the payment. If the fine is manual and the online payment option does not appear, you can pay it at any branch of Banco Caja Social.

5. Speed limits

The speed regime in Colombia is regulated by the National Traffic Code (as amended by Law 2251 of 2022) and depends on the type of road:

Road type / zone	Speed limit
Residential and school zones	30 km/h
Urban areas (city streets)	50 km/h
Rural roads	up to 80 km/h
National highways / some dual-carriageway sections	90–120 km/h (on dual-carriageway roads without pedestrian crossings)

Speed control is carried out mainly through automatic cameras; fines for speeding are significant — the fine for speeding (infraction C29) is 633,200 pesos in 2026 (52.29 UVB; the 2026 UVB was set at 12,110 pesos under Resolution 3488 of 2025 of the Ministry of Finance), i.e., about US$150–160. It is also a fixed amount: in Colombia the fine does NOT increase according to how much the limit was exceeded, unlike in other countries.

6. Particularities of traffic in Colombia

• Heavy, and at times chaotic, traffic in major cities — Bogotá, Medellín, Cali; congestion is driven both by urban density and by the "Pico y Placa" restriction system (a ban on driving at certain hours based on the last digit of the license plate), which is in force in many cities and generally also applies to rental vehicles, so it is worth checking the current schedule for each city in advance;
• mountainous terrain — numerous curves and steep climbs and descents, especially on intercity roads; driving at night on these roads is not recommended due to poor lighting and the presence of animals and pedestrians on the road;
• toll highways (peajes) — payment in cash or by electronic means at toll booths;
• rainy season (generally April–May and October–November) — increased risk of landslides, flooding, and deterioration of road conditions, especially in mountainous areas;
• large numbers of motorcycles on the roads — they often weave between lanes, so car drivers should exercise extra caution when changing lanes or overtaking.

7. If you are stopped by the police

If stopped by a traffic officer, you must present:

• your passport with a valid entry stamp;
• your Ukrainian driver's license (and your International Driving Permit, if you have one);
• your SOAT policy (which may be shown in digital format);
• the vehicle's documents (registration card or rental agreement).

Rights and obligations of the driver:

• the driver has the right to know the reason for being stopped and to have the police officer identify themselves with their service credentials;
• fines are formalized officially through a comparendo, which can later be checked and paid through the state system SIMIT
• failing to carry any of the mandatory documents (driver's license, technical-mechanical inspection, SOAT) results in separate fines; their exact amounts are indexed annually, so it is advisable to check the current figures shortly before traveling;
• in a disputed situation, it is best not to enter into conflict or to offer money "on the spot" to resolve the matter — this is illegal and risky for both parties; the fine can be challenged afterward through the established administrative procedure;
• if you believe your rights have been violated, or if the situation goes beyond a routine document check, contact the Defensoría del Pueblo (Ombudsman's Office), or you may also file an acción de tutela (a mechanism that allows any person to request a judge's immediate protection of their fundamental rights); a guide on how to file one is available at the following link: minjusticia.gov.co – how to file an acción de tutela

8. Traffic accident

Procedure to follow in the event of a traffic accident:

• Call the single emergency number 123 immediately (police/ambulance) — the call is free from any phone;
• Remain at the scene of the accident until the police arrive if there are injured persons or significant material damage;
• In the case of minor material damage and no injuries, by agreement of both parties, the accident can be settled without calling the police, through the insurance company or the SOAT assistance line (see the following link: sura.co – assistance services), by drawing up a joint accident report;
• SOAT covers medical care for persons affected by the accident, regardless of who is at fault, but it does not cover damage to the vehicle itself;
• Notify the rental company (if the vehicle is rented) and your insurance company as soon as possible;
• In the event of a serious accident (injuries, deaths, detention), you must inform the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Peru, concurrently accredited to Colombia. Embassy of Ukraine contact details: peru.mfa.gov.ua – embassy contacts

9. Obtaining a Colombian driver's license

A Colombian driver's license becomes mandatory as soon as a foreigner obtains a cédula de extranjería, i.e., once they move from tourist status to resident status. The general procedure for obtaining it is as follows:

• Registration in the national database of drivers and vehicles, RUNT (Registro Único Nacional de Tránsito), through a Ventanilla Única de Servicios (see the following link: ventanillamovilidad.com.co – service channels) — the approximate registration cost is 19,000 to 20,000 Colombian pesos;
• Undergoing a medical and psychophysical exam at an accredited center (Centro de Reconocimiento del Conductor, CRC);
• For citizens of countries without a bilateral license-recognition agreement (a category in which Ukraine currently falls) — training at an accredited driving school (Centro de Enseñanza Automovilística, CEA) and taking the theoretical exam (questions on traffic rules and signage) and the practical exam through an authorized evaluation center (CALE);
• Having no outstanding unpaid fines;
• Once all stages have been completed, the data is entered into the RUNT system and the driver receives the Colombian license (physical card and/or digital version).

For more information on driver's licenses for foreigners, see: cancilleria.gov.co – Resolution 1244 of 2019 (Ministry of Transport)

For citizens of Spain, Peru, Chile, and the Republic of Korea, a simplified license-exchange procedure exists without the need to take exams; at present, this benefit does not apply to Ukrainian citizens.

10. Useful contacts

Institution / service	Contact details
Colombia's single emergency number	123 (police, ambulance, fire brigade — free call from any phone)
Colombian Traffic and Transport Police (Policía de Tránsito y Transporte)	Carrera 59 26-21 CAN, Bogotá, Colombia Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Switchboard / PBX: +57 601 5159000
Ministry of Transport of Colombia	Helpline: (+57 601) 3240800, option 1 mintransporte.gov.co – service channels
National Road Safety Agency (ANSV)	Landline from Bogotá: +57 601 7399080 Citizen service, ext. 1100 ansv.gov.co – citizen service
Checking and paying traffic fines	National line: #767 (from a mobile phone in Colombia) — Bogotá landline: 601 5934020 simitporplacamultas.com.co
Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in Colombia	peru.mfa.gov.ua – Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in Colombia
Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Peru, concurrently accredited to Colombia	Calle Lizardo Alzamora Oeste 256, San Isidro, Lima, Perú 15073 Tel.: +51 (1) 639-6856 Duty line: +51 993 458 779 (WhatsApp)

In the event of a threat to the life or health of a Ukrainian citizen, a serious traffic accident, detention by the authorities, or the loss of documents, contact the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Peru, which is also in charge of Ukrainian citizens on the territory of the Republic of Colombia.