🔄
top of page

🏍️ How to Buy a Motorcycle in Colombia

Thinking about buying a bike in Colombia? 🇨🇴 You’re in the right place.
This guide walks you through the exact steps — from registering with RUNT to taking your first ride.

👉 Whether you’re staying a few weeks or planning a big adventure, these steps will keep your purchase legal, safe, and hassle-free. Need some help? Give us a call anytime and we're happy to answer any questions.​

This Will Help You A Lot:

What is a “tramitadora de tránsito”?

A “tramitadora de tránsito” in Colombia is a licensed agent or professional who specializes in handling vehicle-related paperwork and administrative procedures with the transit authorities (Secretarías de Tránsito y Transporte).

They act as intermediaries between you and the government offices to make the process faster and easier — especially for foreigners who might struggle with Spanish paperwork or local bureaucracy.

​

🚗 How They Can Help:

  • Register your motorcycle with the RUNT system (Registro Único Nacional de Tránsito).

  • Handle ownership transfers (traspaso) and verify legal documents.

  • Process license plates, registration cards, and SOAT renewals.

  • Assist with fines, expired permits, and lost documents.

  • Guide foreigners through temporary import extensions or local registration rules.

Essentially, a tramitadora saves you from long lines, confusing procedures, and language barriers — ensuring your motorcycle paperwork is done correctly and legally.

🪪 Can foreigners buy a motorcycle in Colombia?

Yes — foreigners can buy motorcycles in Colombia, but there are some steps and caveats.

  • You don’t need residency; a passport or visa is enough.

  • You can register the bike under your name in RUNT (Colombia’s transit registry).

  • You must get SOAT insurance and a valid Técnico-Mecánica inspection.

 

⚠️ What to Watch Out For

  • Used bikes: Verify no unpaid fines or debts before purchase.

  • Paperwork delays: Registration and title transfer can take days or weeks.

  • Address needed: Some transit offices require a local address.

  • Imports: Bringing a foreign bike permanently is not allowed — only temporary import for travelers.

  • License: A home-country motorcycle license is fine short-term; longer stays may require a Colombian license.

🪪 License Requirements in Colombia

  • ✈️ Foreign License Validity → You can ride with your motorcycle license from your home country for up to 6 months after entering Colombia.

  • ⏱️ After 6 Months → You must get a Colombian driver’s license. This involves medical exams, paperwork, and testing. It’s time-consuming and bureaucratic, so most short-term travelers stick to the 6-month rule.

  • 📋 Pro Tip → Carry your home license + passport (with entry stamp) when riding to prove you’re within the 6-month window.

✅ Step 1: Register with RUNT

Every vehicle in Colombia is tracked in the Registro Único Nacional de Tránsito (RUNT) — the national transit registry.

  • 🛂 Bring your passport

  • ✍️ Provide your fingerprints & photo

  • 🏠 You’ll need a Colombian address (hotel or Airbnb works)

  • 💵 Cost: Less than $40,000 COP

  • ⏱️ Time: About 15 minutes

👉 Do this first, before you even look at motorcycles. Once registered, your info shows up online in about 2 days.

​

Where to get registered with the RUNT:  

​

Sabaneta Transit Office

Address: CR 46 # 75 SUR 36 - SO 1

Lunes a Viernes de 8:00 am - 4:00pm

​

This office has fewer lines and less of a wait time compared to other transit offices. 

​

🏍️ Step 2: Find a Motorcycle

Colombia has 8.9+ million registered motorcycles — plenty of options!

  • 🔎 Search on:

  • 📍 Know your department

    • Antioquia = Medellín

    • Bogotá D.C. = Bogotá

    • Valle del Cauca = Cali

  • ⚠️ Expect: Many bikes in rough condition + sellers who rarely negotiate.

💡 Don’t stress — repairs are cheap here compared to North America or Europe.

🛠️ Step 3: Mechanical Inspection

Always hire an independent mechanic to check the bike.

  • 🔧 Full inspection + test ride

  • 🧾 Check all documents carefully

Documents to verify:

  • 📇 Matrícula (registration card) – VIN numbers must match

  • 🛡️ SOAT insurance – mandatory, check validity here

  • 💰 Taxes – annual + “traffic light” tax (~$60,000 COP), check here

  • 🧾 Tecnomecánica – yearly mechanical inspection after year 2 (price list)

  • 🚦 Traffic fines – unpaid fines transfer to you, check here

🏢 Where to Get Tecnomecánica: CDA

All Tecnomecánica inspections are done at a CDA (Centro de Diagnóstico Automotor) — certified inspection centers across Colombia.

  • 🛠️ They test brakes, lights, emissions, suspension, and general safety.

  • 📄 If you pass, you get your Tecnomecánica certificate (mandatory to ride).

  • 🌫️ Many speed/red-light cameras automatically check Tecnomecánica validity.

  • Expired Tecnomecánica = automatic fine

 

📍 Find a CDA near you:

🔗 Quick Links for Document Checks

​

Peritaje Mechanical Inspection

A “peritaje” in Colombia is a mechanical and legal inspection performed by a certified automotive expert (called a perito) to verify the true condition, identity, and legal status of a vehicle — usually before buying or selling it.

​

🔍 What It Includes

A full peritaje typically checks:

  • Mechanical condition: engine, brakes, suspension, and frame.

  • Electrical system: lights, signals, and onboard electronics.

  • Chassis & paint: verifies the vehicle hasn’t been in major accidents.

  • VIN and engine numbers: confirms they match official RUNT and police records.

  • Legal status: ensures the bike or car isn’t stolen, cloned, or under investigation.

 

⚙️ Why It Matters

  • Buyers: Confirms you’re getting a legitimate vehicle in good condition.

  • Sellers: Helps build trust with potential buyers.

  • Foreign riders: A peritaje can protect you from unknowingly buying a stolen or tampered motorcycle.

​

Most centros de peritaje are located near transit offices (Secretarías de Tránsito) or in automotive districts of major cities like Medellín, Envigado, and Bogotá. It’s highly recommended to do a peritaje before finalizing any motorcycle purchase in Colombia.

⚠️ Common Pitfalls & Scams to Avoid

Stay smart during the buying process. Here are the most frequent issues foreigners face in Colombia:

  • 👤 Wrong Owner on Paperwork → Always meet the person whose name is on the matrícula (registration card). Don’t buy from “friends” or “family members” selling for someone else.

  • 📄 Expired SOAT or Tecnomecánica → These must be valid at the time of purchase. Fines transfer to you if they’re not.

  • 💸 Unpaid Taxes or Fines → If the seller hasn’t paid, you inherit the debt and can’t transfer the bike until it’s cleared. Always check online (links provided above).

  • 🧾 Fake Improntas → Some sellers hand you old or photocopied imprints. Always make fresh improntas yourself with carbon paper + tape.

  • 🏍️ Too-Good-to-Be-True Prices → Usually means hidden problems (stolen bike, unpaid debts, missing paperwork). Trust your gut and walk away.

🖊️ Step 4: Transfer Ownership

At the transit office (tránsito), bring:

  • 🛂 Passport

  • 📇 Bike registration (matrícula)

  • 🛡️ SOAT insurance

  • 🧾 Tecnomecánica certificate

  • 🏠 Local address

  • 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Seller’s ID (photocopy front & back)

  • ✍️ Improntas (engine & chassis serial number rubbings — easy to do with carbon paper + tape)

  • 🖐️ Fingerprints + signatures of both buyer & seller

​

📄 You’ll also need to fill out the transfer request form (Formulario de Solicitud de Trámite).
👉 Download our Traspaso PDF here

​

💵 Cost: Around $100,000 COP + 1% of the bike’s value
⏱️ Time: Usually 1–3 days for the paperwork to clear

💵 Step 5: Payment

  • 💸 Cash is king — safest to deposit directly at the bank & get a receipt

  • 🏦 Bank transfer possible but can be slow with limits

  • 🌍 Many travelers use Western Union to bring money into Colombia

⚠️ Only pay once paperwork is in motion — otherwise the seller still “owns” the bike legally.

🏁 Step 6: Collect Your Papers & Ride

Before riding off, make sure you have:

  • 📇 Matrícula (registration)

  • 🛡️ SOAT insurance

  • 🧾 Tecnomecánica certificate

  • 🔑 Keys

🎉 Congratulations — you’re now the official owner of a motorcycle in Colombia!

🔄 Reselling Your Motorcycle in Colombia

Thinking of selling your bike at the end of your trip? Here’s what you need to know:

  • 🚫 No International Resale → You cannot legally sell a Colombian-registered motorcycle in another country. Borders won’t process the transfer.

  • 🏛️ Transfers Must Happen in Colombia → All sales must be done through a tránsito office with official paperwork.

  • ✅ Requirements for Resale → SOAT, Tecnomecánica, and taxes must be up to date before a new owner can take over.

  • 🤝 Who You Can Sell To → Locals or other travelers — as long as the process is done properly inside Colombia.

​

💡 Pro Tip: Plan to return to Colombia if you want to resell your bike. Many riders do this as part of a future trip.

📅 Ready to Ride?
Book your guided or self-guided motorcycle tour today and discover why riders from around the world trust Colombia Moto Adventures.

 

Colombia Moto Adventures – The Only Risk is Wanting to Stay

​

📧 Email: Jeff@colombiamotoadventures.com
📱 WhatsApp: +57 321-491-7060
🌐 Website: www.colombiamotoadventures.com

📍 Based in Medellín, Colombia

​

🌎 Your Colombian Adventure Starts Here

Whether you’re dreaming of winding mountain passes, hidden jungle roads, or quiet villages far from the tourist trail, our motorcycle trips put you right in the heart of the action. With well-maintained bikes, detailed routes, bilingual support, and hand-picked hotels, all you need to bring is your sense of adventure.

Motorcycle travel in Colombia guidebook by Jeff Cremer and Alan Churchill, featuring adventure riding routes, itineraries, and Andes landscapes with motorcycles on the cover.
Amazon Buy Now Button

We wrote the book on off-road travel in Colombia!

📸 Hundreds of photos of Colombia’s best riding routes
📖 162 pages of tips & local insights
💻 Available in Kindle, eBook, & print

bottom of page