Colombia
Driving Abroad
Last verified August 15, 2026
Written for U.S. passport holders
Driving as a Tourist
- Under Article 25 of Colombia's Ley 769 de 2002 (National Traffic Code), a valid foreign driving license is recognized for driving in Colombia for the duration of your authorized stay as a tourist, which unlike some countries on this site, means the driving privilege actually tracks your full visa status rather than expiring on a separate, shorter clock.
- Since a tourist/transit status can run up to 180 days in a calendar year, your foreign license stays usable for that entire period, no separate IDP requirement or shorter driving-specific cutoff.
If You Stay Longer
- If your stay extends past the tourist/transit period (beyond roughly 6 months) or your immigration status changes, you're required to apply for a Colombian license under the first-time applicant process, following the standard requirements.
Road Basics for Americans
- Like the U.S., Colombia drives on the right side of the road, so the basic flow of traffic will feel familiar.
- Speed limits and distances are posted in kilometers (km/h), not miles. A 100 km/h limit is about 62 mph; a 50 km/h limit, common in towns, is about 31 mph.
The Gotcha
Colombia is a pleasant exception on this page: several other countries in this dataset grant a generous tourist stay but cap actual driving privileges at a shorter window (Panama's 90-day driving cutoff inside a 180-day stay is a good example). Colombia's rule ties the two together, so as long as you're within your authorized tourist period, your home license keeps working without a separate countdown to track.
Sources
This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change, so check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.
- Trámites y Servicios: Tránsito - Licencia Internacional (Ministerio de Transporte, Colombia)