Colombia drives on the right: 50 km/h in town, 90 on highways, 120 only on divided carriageways. The BAC limit is a near-zero 0.02% and pico y placa bans plates in Bogota on set days.
Driving in Colombia 2026: 0.02% BAC and Pico y Placa Days
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5 min readColombia drives on the right side of the road. The minimum driving age is 16. The motorway speed limit is 120 km/h. The general emergency number is 123. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.02% BAC. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended alongside a foreign licence.
Colombia's BAC limit is 0.02% — stricter than the US 0.08% and a 20+ km/h speeding ticket runs EUR 190. Police routinely set checkpoints on Friday and Saturday nights around Bogotá.
Driving Difficulty: Colombia
Mountain roads, variable quality, improving infrastructure
3.4/5 · Moderate (TyreMap difficulty index)
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Driving in Colombia means right-hand traffic, a 0.02% blood-alcohol limit that is close to zero tolerance, and speed limits of 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on national and departmental highways, with 120 km/h reserved for divided carriageways that have no pedestrian crossings. Licences start at 16, and pico y placa plate restrictions keep specific cars off the road in Bogotá and other big cities on set weekdays — the rule that most often catches visitors out.
Your case: At 0.02% a single drink can put you over, and police run checkpoints around Bogotá on Friday and Saturday nights — see where your own evening lands with the BAC Calculator before you drive back to the hotel.
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Emergency Numbers in Colombia
General Emergency: 123 | Police: 123
Save these numbers before you start driving. In Colombia, emergency calls are free from any phone.
Speed Limits in Colombia
The default speed limits for passenger cars in Colombia are 50 km/h in built-up areas — 30 km/h in school and residential zones — and 90 km/h on national and departmental highways. 120 km/h applies only where the road is a divided carriageway (doble calzada) whose design contains no pedestrian crossings, which describes the newer concessioned corridors rather than the bulk of the network (secretariasenado.gov.co).
Public freight transport is capped at 80 km/h whatever the road, and inside towns lorries are held to the same 50 km/h ceiling as cars.
For comparison, motorway limits in nearby countries: Brazil (110 km/h).
Important: Posted signs always override default limits. Watch for temporary restrictions in construction zones, near schools, and in residential areas.
Speeding Fines and Penalties
Other common fines:
- Mobile phone use while driving: COP 416,000 (approx. EUR 95) — 8 SMLDV
- Running a red light: COP 832,000 (approx. EUR 190) — 15 SMLDV
- Seatbelt violation: COP 416,000 (approx. EUR 95) — 8 SMLDV
Traffic Rules and Regulations
Drive on the right side of the road. Overtake on the left. At roundabouts, enter counter-clockwise and yield to traffic already circulating.
Seatbelts are mandatory for all occupants. Children must use appropriate restraint systems based on their age and height.
Using a hand-held phone while driving is illegal. The fine is COP 416,000 (approx. EUR 95) — 8 SMLDV. Use hands-free devices only.
Use headlights in poor visibility, tunnels, and at night. Some areas require headlights at all times.
Priority at intersections follows posted signs. When no signs are present, yield to traffic from the right.
Drink-Driving Laws and Alcohol Limits
The safest approach is to not drink at all if you will be driving. Alcohol affects reaction time and judgement regardless of the legal limit.
Tyre Requirements and Regulations
Winter tyres are not a consideration in Colombia’s tropical climate; tyres in good condition are what matter.
The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm, according to Colombia’s transport regulations.
For detailed tyre law information, see our Tyre Laws in Colombia guide.
Mandatory Vehicle Equipment
Vehicles in Colombia must carry the following:
Required:
- Warning triangle
- Reflective vest (high-visibility)
- First aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
Keep all equipment accessible — not buried under luggage. Police may check during routine stops.
Driving License Requirements
The minimum driving age is 16 years.
Foreign licence valid for tourists. IDP recommended.
Parking and Fuel
Parking rules vary by city. Look for designated parking areas and always check signs for time limits and payment requirements.
We do not hold a verified, dated fuel price for Colombia, so check a local price app or the board at the station before you budget.
Most fuel stations accept major credit and debit cards. In rural areas, keep your tank above half — stations may be far apart.
Seasonal Driving Conditions
Plan your journey according to regional weather patterns and avoid driving at night on unfamiliar rural roads.
Useful Driving Phrases in Spanish
Knowing a few phrases in Spanish helps at fuel stations, toll booths, and during police checks:
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Where is the nearest petrol station? | ¿Dónde está la gasolinera más cercana? |
| I need help / roadside assistance | Necesito ayuda / asistencia en carretera |
| Where can I park? | ¿Dónde puedo aparcar? |
| How do I get to the motorway? | ¿Cómo llego a la autopista? |
| I had an accident | He tenido un accidente |
| Speed limit | Límite de velocidad |
| No parking | Prohibido aparcar |
| One way street | Calle de sentido único |
| Toll road | Autopista de peaje |
| Fill up the tank, please | Lleno, por favor |
Download the Spanish language pack in your translation app for offline use.
Practical Driving Tips for Colombia
- Download offline maps of Colombia before your trip — mobile signal can be unreliable on rural roads.
- Take a break every 2 hours on long drives. Fatigue is a leading cause of road accidents.
- Use our interactive tools on this page — compare rules with your home country and calculate potential fines before you set off.
Speed Limits in Colombia
| Road Type | Cars | Trucks (>3.5t) |
|---|---|---|
| Urban | 50 km/h | — |
| Rural | 90 km/h | — |
| Motorway | 120 km/h | — |
Traffic Fines in Colombia
| Offence | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Mobile phone use while driving | COP 416,000 (approx. EUR 95) — 8 SMLDV |
| No seatbelt | COP 416,000 (approx. EUR 95) — 8 SMLDV |
| Running a red light | COP 832,000 (approx. EUR 190) — 15 SMLDV |
| Speeding (1-10 km/h over) | COP 416,000 (approx. EUR 95) — 8 SMLDV |
| Speeding (11-20 km/h over) | COP 832,000 (approx. EUR 190) — 15 SMLDV + licence suspension |
| Speeding (21-30+ km/h over) | COP 832,000+ (approx. EUR 190+) — 15 SMLDV + licence suspension (6 months) |
Penalties may vary by region and circumstances. Always check current local regulations.
Useful Driving Phrases in Spanish
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Where is the nearest petrol station? | ¿Dónde está la gasolinera más cercana? |
| I need help / roadside assistance | Necesito ayuda / asistencia en carretera |
| Where can I park? | ¿Dónde puedo aparcar? |
| How do I get to the motorway? | ¿Cómo llego a la autopista? |
| I had an accident | He tenido un accidente |
| Speed limit | Límite de velocidad |
| No parking | Prohibido aparcar |
| One way street | Calle de sentido único |
| Toll road | Autopista de peaje |
| Fill up the tank, please | Lleno, por favor |
Mandatory Equipment in Colombia
Licence Requirements for Foreign Drivers
Foreign licence valid for tourists. IDP recommended.
Emergency Numbers in Colombia
These numbers are free to call and available 24/7. When calling, state your location and the nature of the emergency.
Tyre Laws in Colombia
Winter tyre requirements, tread depth rules, and studded tyre regulations.
View tyre regulationsAvoid a fine in Colombia
Who pays a driving fine abroad, the hire-car admin-fee trap, and how to appeal.
Read the fine guideDriving in Colombia on a foreign licence
Nationality-specific licence, IDP & rules — pick where your licence is from:
Renting a Car in Colombia?
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Recent changes to this page
- Tyre rules corrected: template defaults (1.6 mm tread, winter tyres not required, studded tyres prohibited) replaced with sourced rules or removed where no official source exists.
- Undated, unsourced fuel price estimate removed.
- Speed figures corrected against articles 106 and 107 of Ley 769 de 2002 as amended by Ley 2251 de 2022. Towns are 50 km/h with 30 km/h in school and residential zones, not 60; national and departmental highways are 90 km/h, not 80; and 120 km/h applies only where the carriageway is divided and its design has no pedestrian crossings, so it is not a general motorway limit. Public freight transport is capped at 80 km/h. The old 60/70/100 lorry line, which had no basis in the code, was replaced. Source: http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/ley_0769_2002_pr002.html
- Opening paragraph rewritten to answer the broad driving-in-Colombia query with the side of the road, the three speed tiers, the 0.02% limit and pico y placa; added a BAC calculator bridge. Title, description and quick answer rewritten. The stock speed-limit/BAC recap line that followed the intro was dropped as it now repeated the opening answer word for word.
- Title and description tightened to the page's own data (title 50-60, description 140-155 characters).
- Title, description and introduction rewritten from this page's own data (no shared template wording).
- Replaced the speeding-fine calculator link: that tool covers 17 countries and Colombia is not one of them, so the link could not answer the question it promised. It now points to the speed-limit map, which does cover Colombia.
- Rewrote title and description around the verified figure this page carries.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Colombia, the default speed limits for passenger vehicles are: urban areas 50 km/h (31 mph), dropping to 30 km/h in school and residential zones, and national or departmental highways 90 km/h (56 mph). The 120 km/h figure applies only to a divided carriageway whose design contains no pedestrian crossings. Always follow posted signs as limits may differ on specific roads.
In Colombia, traffic drives on the right side of the road. Vehicles have the steering wheel on the left side. If you are visiting from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at intersections, roundabouts, and when overtaking.
The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in Colombia is 0.02% (0.2mg/ml). Stricter limits often apply to novice drivers and commercial vehicle operators. Penalties for exceeding the limit can include heavy fines, license suspension, and imprisonment.
Foreign visitors to Colombia should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their valid national driving license. An IDP translates your license into multiple languages and is recognized internationally. Check with the embassy of Colombia for the most current requirements.
Winter tyres are not a consideration in Colombia's tropical climate; tyres in good condition are what matter.
The general emergency number in Colombia is 123. These numbers are free to call and available 24/7. When calling, be prepared to state your location and the nature of the emergency.
Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is prohibited in Colombia. Hands-free systems (Bluetooth, speakerphone, or mounted devices) are permitted. Penalties for mobile phone use while driving typically include fines. For safety, always use hands-free solutions or pull over to use your phone.
When driving in Colombia, you should always carry: your valid driving license (and IDP if applicable), vehicle registration document, valid insurance certificate (Green Card for European countries), and your passport or national ID. Rental car drivers should also carry the rental agreement. Police may request these documents during routine checks.
The minimum age to drive a car in Colombia is 16 years old. Some categories of vehicles (such as motorcycles or heavy vehicles) may have different age requirements. Novice drivers may face additional restrictions during their first years of driving.
Driving in Colombia is generally safe for tourists who are prepared. Before driving, familiarize yourself with local traffic rules, road signs, and driving customs. Consider downloading offline maps, carrying emergency supplies, and purchasing comprehensive insurance. Avoid driving at night in unfamiliar areas if possible.
Key fines in Colombia that catch tourists: mobile phone use while driving (COP 416,000 (approx. EUR 95) — 8 SMLDV), not wearing a seatbelt (COP 416,000 (approx. EUR 95) — 8 SMLDV). Police in some countries can demand immediate payment from foreign drivers. Always carry local currency or a credit card for potential fines.
For Colombia: EU/EEA driving licences are valid. An IDP is recommended but not always required. Your licence is valid for up to 3 months. Always carry your original licence alongside the IDP.
Get Driving Law Updates
Speed limits, fines and tyre laws change frequently. Get monthly updates for the countries you drive in.
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