Driving in Colombia as a United States National

Colombia offers diverse driving from Bogota's pico y placa restrictions to the Caribbean coast and coffee region. Security has improved; toll roads and mountain passes require attention.

Key Things to Know First

IDP Required

Colombia requires an International Driving Permit for foreign visitors. Obtain one in United States before departure.

How to get an IDP

Same Side of the Road

Both United States and Colombia drive on the right. No adjustment needed.

Speed Signs Use km/h

United States uses mph, but Colombia uses km/h. Verify your GPS or navigation app is set to the correct unit.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Rule	United States	Colombia	Change?
Traffic side	Right-hand traffic	Right-hand traffic	Same
Speed unit	mph	km/h	Yes
IDP required	—	Yes	Yes
Min. driving age	16	18	Differs
Emergency number	911	123	Different
Road difficulty	Easy	Moderate	—

Speed Limits in Colombia

Urban

50-60 km/h

Rural / Open road

80 km/h

Highway / Motorway

80-100 km/h

Speed limits in Colombia are posted in km/h (kilometres per hour). Quick reference: 50 km/h ≈ 31 mph · 100 km/h ≈ 62 mph · 130 km/h ≈ 81 mph.

Documents to Carry in Colombia

Original driving licence from United States — must be valid and unexpired
International Driving Permit (IDP) — required in Colombia. Obtain from your national motoring association before travelling.
Passport or national ID — carry at all times while driving
Car insurance certificate — verify it covers Colombia before departure
Vehicle registration / rental agreement

Emergency Number in Colombia

123

Primary emergency number in Colombia. Save it before you drive.

Emergency numbers for all countries

Full Colombia Driving Guide

Road rules, toll system, fuel types, parking, regional quirks — everything you need for driving in Colombia.

Read the complete guide