How to Get Your Driver License Colombia in 2025

A complete guide for expats in Colombia

So you’ve settled (or are planning to settle) in Colombia—and now you’re wondering: Can I drive here? Do I need a local license?

The short answer: Yes, if you’re staying long-term, especially with a visa and cédula de extranjería, you’ll need to get a driver license Colombia.

Even if you’ve driven for years in your home country, Colombia has its own rules—and this guide will walk you through them, step by step.

Types of Driver’s Licenses in Colombia

Before we get into the process, it’s important to understand what type of license you actually need. In Colombia, licenses are grouped into three categories:

▶️ Category A – Motorcycles
A1: Motorcycles up to 125 c.c.
A2: Motorcycles over 125 c.c., including moto-tricycles

▶️ Category B – Private Use (Non-Commercial)
B1: Private cars, SUVs, vans, small buses
B2: Vans, rigid trucks, and buses
B3: Tractor-trailers or articulated vehicles

▶️ Category C – Commercial / Public Transport
C1: Commercial cars, SUVs, vans, minibuses
C2: Commercial trucks and buses
C3: Commercial articulated vehicles

💡 If you’re just planning to drive your own car or motorcycle in Colombia, you’ll probably only need a B1 or A2 license. That will be your first driver license Colombia accepts for private use.

How Long Is a Colombian Driver’s License Valid?

The validity of your driver license Colombia depends on two things: the type of license you hold, and your age.

If you’re applying for a Category A or B license (for motorcycles or private cars), here’s what you need to know:
If you’re under 60, your license will be valid for 10 years.
If you’re between 60 and 80 years old, it will be valid for 5 years.
If you’re over 80, it must be renewed every year.

For Category C licenses (for commercial or public transport vehicles), the validity is 5 years, regardless of your age—although in practice, it may be shorter if you’re over 60, depending on your medical exam results.

🔁 Renewal is easy: you’ll just need to take a new medical exam and be paz y salvo—no need to retake driving classes or exams.

Requirements to Get a Driver’s License in Colombia

Let’s get this clear before we dive in. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

✅ Minimum age: 16 (private), 18 (commercial)
✅ Valid passport and cédula de extranjería
✅ Enroll at a certified driving school (CEA)
✅ Pass a medical exam at a CRC (Centro de Reconocimiento del Conductor)
✅ Be registered in the RUNTPRO system
✅ Pass theoretical and practical driving exams
✅ Be paz y salvo (free of traffic fines or debts)

✍️ If you’re a tourist, you can drive for up to 6 months with your foreign license + an International Driving Permit (IDP). But if you’re a resident, you must get a driver license Colombia issues through the national system.

Step-by-Step: How to Get Your License

1. Register in the RUNTPRO system

This is Colombia’s official transport database, and it’s step zero.
Go to a Ventanilla Única de Servicios (in-person or online)
Present your ID + passport
Pay ~COP 19,400
Your biometric info and driver history will be linked to your ID

2. Enroll at a certified driving school (CEA)

Yes, even if you’ve been driving for 30 years.
You must take driving classes with biometric attendance.
For cars: ~25 hours
For motorcycles: 15–43 hours depending on class
Costs range between COP 680,000–1,100,000

All classes and exams are in Spanish, so ask if the school offers help for foreign students.

3. Take your medical exam at a CRC

This is not just a vision test. It includes:
Motor coordination
Mental health
Reflexes
Visual and auditory acuity

You’ll need this before taking the final exams.
It’s valid for 30 days, and the cost is ~COP 100,000–130,000.

4. Make sure you are “paz y salvo”

You must not have any unpaid traffic fines or legal sanctions.
You can check and pay online through the SIMIT or ask at the transit office.

5. Pass your theory and practical exams

Once you’ve completed your course and medical exam, it’s time to prove it.
Exams are taken through a CALE (Centro de Apoyo Logístico de Evaluación):
Theory exam: 30 multiple-choice questions about Colombian traffic laws
Practical exam: Driving a real vehicle in local traffic or test circuits
Both exams are in Spanish and monitored biometrically.

6. Get your license! (physical or digital)

Once you pass everything, your info is uploaded to RUNTPRO.
Visit your Tránsito office to get your printed license
Or download your digital license from the official government portal

Make sure to carry your license (or digital copy) every time you drive!

If you’re wondering how to verify your driver license Colombia status or expiration date, you can do it through the RUNTPRO portal using your ID number.

What Happens If You Drive Without a License?

Driving without the proper license in Colombia is not only risky—it’s expensive.

If you’re caught driving without a license at all, the fine in 2025 is COP 1,207,800, and your vehicle can also be immobilized on the spot.
If you do have a valid license but aren’t carrying it with you, the fine is still COP 379,600.

🧠 Always keep your license on hand—whether it’s the physical card or the official digital version downloaded from the government’s portal.

Renewing Your Colombian License

The good news: you don’t have to repeat classes or exams to renew.
You just need to:
Take a new medical exam
Be paz y salvo
Pay the renewal fee

Done correctly, renewal is simple—and many driving schools offer packages for it.

If you’ve already obtained your driver license Colombia offers, set a reminder for when it expires based on your age and category, so you don’t miss the renewal window.

What If You Already Have a Foreign License?

Here’s the rule:
If you’re on a tourist visa, you can drive up to 6 months using your foreign license + IDP.
But once you have a Colombian visa and cédula de extranjería, you must go through the full licensing process—no automatic conversions to a driver license Colombia recognizes for residents.

Colombia’s process for getting a driver license Colombia requires might feel bureaucratic at first—but it’s clear, structured, and very doable with the right guidance.

Whether you need help choosing a school, understanding the paperwork, or preparing for your tests, our legal team at Nexo Legal is here to support you.

👉 Want help getting started?
Book your free consultation and we’ll walk you through the process—step by step.