Techno-mechanical inspection in Colombia: validity for cars and motorcycles, 2026 rates, and RUNT inquiry

Short answer: The deadline for the mechanical technical inspection (tecnomecánica) is counted from the date the license plate was registered, not the model year. A new private car undergoes its first inspection starting from the fifth year; a motorcycle, after two years. Afterward, it is every year. And you don't calculate the actual validity yourself: you read it on the RUNT.

I say this because it is the classic mistake: someone buys a "2023 model" motorcycle and assumes a date from memory, or a car owner remembers a rule from years ago. Here is the organized version, with the rule used today by the Ministry of Transport.

What is the RTM and who issues it

The RTM is the mechanical technical and pollutant emissions inspection. It is done at an authorized CDA (Automotive Diagnostic Center), and the result is registered in the RUNT. You don't need an intermediary: the certificate is consulted by license plate in the official system.

I am not going to recommend any center. Whichever one is most convenient for you works, provided it is authorized and gives you the receipt in writing.

When is your first time

The rule comes from article 52 of Law 769 of 2002, modified by article 179 of Law 2294 of 2023, and that is how the Ministry of Transport summarizes it in its opinion dated October 29, 2024 (reference 20241341346531).

Watch out for school or tourist service: the RUNT guide groups them with public service at 2 years, but the law cited by the Ministry expressly names only public service. If your vehicle is in one of those classes, read the service class on the transit license and confirm the date on the RUNT.

The dated exception

Private vehicles that are not motorcycles and were registered between May 20, 2017, and May 19, 2018, have their first RTM starting from the sixth year, per the legitimate expectation guideline of External Circular 20234000000637. All other private vehicles follow the 5-year rule.

And a warning: you will see it said that "during the first six years it is every two years" (text from Law 1383 of 2010) or that "the first one is at 6 years for everyone" (an old PDF from the vehicle history). Neither is today's general rule. Furthermore, there is no official list of license plates exempt throughout 2026; each case depends on its registration date.

After the first: annual, and the certificate is what matters

Except for the first inspection, the current reading from the Ministry and the RUNT is annual renewal. If your license plate has already passed one RTM, do not count from registration again: use the date of the certificate that appears in the system. If that date has already passed, the inspection is not valid, even if the paper you keep in the glove compartment says otherwise.

A short note on trailers and semi-trailers: they have their own rule and price range in the Ministry's resolution, so do not apply the motorcycle or car rules to them.

How to check validity on the RUNT

Go to the citizen query on the RUNT public portal and search by license plate. According to the RUNT instructions, you can filter by RTM and see the type of inspection, dates, CDA, status, if it is valid, the certificate number, and the download.

This query is different from viewing owners, liens, or ownership limitations. For that, you have the guide for vehicle history and certificate of tradition; here you only care about knowing when the RTM expires.

What to bring to the CDA

To have the inspection done, the RUNT guide asks for: the owner's or driver's ID, transit license, and valid SOAT. If you doubt that your digital SOAT is authentic, check first how to verify it on the RUNT.

On the road, Law 2251 of 2022 says that the authority considers the carrying of the certificate fulfilled through a query in the information systems. In other words, they cannot demand the physical paper. Even so, I would carry the screenshot of the query on my cell phone; not because of an obligation, but because sometimes the signal fails right when you need it.

How much it costs in 2026: the price in three layers

There is more confusion here, so let's separate it.

1. Regulated service band, in UVB. According to Resolution 20263040030265 of 2026 from the Ministry of Transport, the CDA can charge: motorcycles from 10.96 to 12.98 UVB; light vehicles from 17.84 to 21.36; heavy vehicles from 28.92 to 34.86; trailers and semi-trailers from 14.40 to 17.22.
2. 2026 UVB Value: $12,110 as of January 1, 2026 (Resolution 3488 of December 31, 2025).
3. RUNT fee for data entry: $5,600 (Resolution 20253040051705 of 2025).

What you pay at the register is not just one of those figures: the CDA adds other third-party charges (IVA, RUNT, SICOV, ANSV, and collection) to the service. There is no official table of those items in pesos in the sources I reviewed, so I'm not going to invent a total for you. The RUNT guide publishes ranges that it marks as approximate; take them as a reference, not as a rate. My practical advice: ask for the written settlement before they begin the inspection.

And be wary of anyone offering to "expedite" things or pay a middleman outside of the CDA. It is not necessary.

If you do not pass the inspection

It happens, and it's not the end of the world. According to the RUNT guide, you have 15 calendar days to correct and return to the same CDA for a new inspection at no additional cost. The center uploads the result to the RUNT and may notify the registered email. If you exceed the 15 days, you no longer have that free option, so schedule the repair quickly.

If you drive with an expired RTM

Not doing the inspection on time, or driving without the mechanical technical or emissions conditions even if you have a certificate, is infraction C.35 of article 131 of Law 769: a fine of 15 current daily legal minimum wages and immobilization. The sanction is discussed when the vehicle is in circulation. Verify the current figure in pesos at the Ministry of Transport; I prefer not to convert it because it depends on the salary for the year.

If you are going to sell or buy a used motorcycle

The first thing a serious buyer asks is if the motorcycle has a tecnomecánica and SOAT. The good answer is not a photo of the certificate, but the RUNT query by license plate, with the expiration date. If you are selling, check it before posting and put it in the ad; you save yourself repeated messages. You have more details in the guide to sell your motorcycle in Colombia for free.

A piece of data from Colombia Move: as of September 30, 2026, the motorcycle category has 13 active ads, and in the internal search, the word "motos" yielded 16 results. These are two separate figures: there is supply, but it is still thin. If you want to explore more vehicles, look at the vehicles section.

Frequently asked questions

❓ Does a new private car need its technical-mechanical inspection at 5 or 6 years?

Starting from the fifth year after registration. If it was registered between May 20, 2017, and May 19, 2018, the Ministry applies the sixth year. The date counts from the registration, not the model year. Confirm it on RUNT (verify at the official source).

❓ When does a motorcycle have its first RTM and how often is it renewed?

A motorcycle has its first inspection upon reaching two years from registration, and then renews it every year. If it already has a registered certificate, the expiration date shown by RUNT is what matters, not a new calculation from the registration (verify at the official source).

❓ Where can I check if the RTM for my license plate is valid?

In the citizen inquiry section of the public RUNT portal, by searching with the license plate. There, you will see the type of inspection, dates, the CDA (Diagnostic Center), status, whether it is valid, the certificate number, and the download option. If the expiration date has already passed, the inspection is not valid.

❓ How much does the technical-mechanical inspection cost in 2026?

There is no single national price: the CDA service fee moves within a band in UVB, and the receipt adds other charges. For motorcycles, the band ranges from 10.96 to 12.98 UVB, with the 2026 UVB at $12,110 and a RUNT fee of $5,600. The total is confirmed at the CDA (verify at the official source).

❓ What do I take to the CDA and can I be asked for the printed certificate on the street?

Take the owner or driver's ID, transit license, and valid SOAT to the CDA. On the road, the authority considers the requirement to carry the certificate fulfilled by consulting the systems and should not demand the physical document according to Law 2251 of 2022 (verify at the official source).

❓ What happens if the motorcycle does not pass the inspection?

You have 15 calendar days to correct and repeat the inspection at the same CDA at no additional cost. The center uploads the result to RUNT and can notify you via the registered email. After that period, this free service no longer applies, so it is best to fix the fault soon (verify at the official source).

❓ Will I be immobilized if I drive with an expired RTM?

Yes, a C.35 ticket can be issued, with a fine of 15 current daily legal minimum wages and immobilization when the vehicle is in circulation. The value in pesos changes every year with the minimum wage, so it is convenient to check it before driving (verify at the official source).