Official Rates and Costs of Vehicle Title Transfer in Bogotá and Medellín (2026)

Selling or buying a used car or motorcycle in Colombia requires clear math before you sign the purchase-sale contract. One of the most common mistakes buyers and sellers make is assuming the only cost of the procedure is the signature at the notary's office, and then getting a surprise at the transit agency's window when they discover mandatory charges for transit rights, stamp duties, and withholding tax.

To avoid misunderstandings when negotiating, this guide details the official costs in force for 2026 at the mobility secretariats of Bogotá and the Valle de Aburrá (Medellín, Envigado, and Itagüí), the legal formula for calculating the applicable taxes, and the essential requirements so that the application is not rejected.

Full Breakdown: How Much Does the Transfer Really Cost?

The total cost of legalizing a change of owner for a vehicle in Colombia consists of two main items: the local transit rights of the agency where the vehicle is registered, and the withholding tax set by national tax regulations.

In Colombian commercial practice, the unwritten general rule is that the transit rights and the notarial costs for authenticating the form and the purchase promise are split equally (50% buyer and 50% seller). However, the withholding tax is a tax on the sale of fixed assets that, for tax purposes, must be paid 100% by the person selling the vehicle, unless the parties expressly agree otherwise in the contract.

If you want to avoid scams in vehicle sales and last-minute financial surprises, agree on these percentages in writing in the promise before scheduling the filing appointment.

Official Transit Fees 2026 (Bogotá vs. Medellín)

Each municipal or district transit agency updates its procedure fees annually based on local resolutions. Charges vary by type of vehicle (car or motorcycle) and by the jurisdiction where the vehicle is registered.

1. Bogotá D.C. (Ventanilla Única de Servicios - VUS)

In Bogotá, transit procedures are filed with the Ventanilla Única de Servicios (VUS). For 2026, the official fees approved for transit rights in the property transfer procedure are:

• Cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, and machinery: $260.300 COP.
• Motorcycles: $145.400 COP.

This amount includes validating the information in the Registro Único Nacional de Tránsito (RUNT) and issuing the new vehicle registration certificate (property card) in the buyer's name.

2. Medellín and Valle de Aburrá

In the department of Antioquia, procedures vary slightly depending on the transit agency of registration (Medellín, Envigado, Itagüí, or Sabaneta). For 2026, local transit rights usually range between:

• Cars: Between $162.000 COP and $198.000 COP depending on the municipality.
• Motorcycles: Between $124.000 COP and $163.000 COP.

In both Bogotá and Medellín, the exact amount of the withholding tax must be added to these transit rights fees.

How to Calculate the 1% Withholding Tax (Art. 398 of the Tax Statute)

The Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN), under Article 398 of the Tax Statute, requires a withholding tax of 1% on the sale of motor vehicles owned by individuals.

The transit agency mandatorily collects this money at the counter before processing the transfer in the RUNT system. To calculate the taxable base of this 1%, the higher of the value declared in the purchase promise and the official commercial appraisal set by the Ministry of Transport for the current tax year is used.

As the table above shows, for higher-end vehicles the withholding tax amount often exceeds the cost of the agency's own transit rights.

Non-Negotiable Requirements Before Going to the Transit Office

Even if the buyer and seller have the full amount for the fees, the RUNT platform will automatically block the filing of the transfer if the following five requirements are not strictly met at the time of the application:

1. Active registration in the RUNT: Both the seller and the buyer must be previously registered in the RUNT with their cédula de ciudadanía or cédula de extranjería.
2. Valid SOAT uploaded to the system: The Seguro Obligatorio de Accidentes de Tránsito (mandatory traffic accident insurance) must be in force and appear in the national RUNT database.
3. Valid Technical-Mechanical Inspection (RTM): For vehicles required to have it by model year, the RTM certificate approved by a certified CDA must be electronically uploaded to the RUNT.
4. Clearance of traffic tickets (SIMIT): Neither party may have unpaid fines or traffic tickets on record. If there are camera fines or open fines, they must be paid or a formal payment agreement must be signed before filing.
5. Vehicle tax clearance: The vehicle must be up to date on the motor vehicle tax with the corresponding departmental treasury office.

Keep in mind that failing to file the transfer on time after the sale and leaving the vehicle in the name of the former owner exposes the parties to having to resort to the figure of transfer to an unidentified person when the buyer does not appear to sign the official documents.

Publish and Sell without Intermediaries or Extra Commissions

Carrying out the vehicle transfer directly between private individuals is the best way to preserve the true value of your assets. Dealerships or informal intermediaries usually charge profit margins that reduce the total amount you receive for your car or motorcycle by between 10% and 15%.

If you have already calculated the transfer costs and have your papers in order, the next step is to give your vehicle visibility. According to active listings on Colombia Move (September 2026), there are 8 motorcycle listings and 1 car listing; motorcycles have 817 views, so a listing with papers ready for transfer does not get lost among saturated offers. When you sell a used car without intermediaries through direct portals such as the section of motorcycles and vehicles on Colombia Move, you connect directly with buyers interested in your city, negotiate the terms of the withholding tax, and agree on secure payment before heading to the transit counter.

Frequently asked questions

❓ How much does it cost to transfer a car or motorcycle in Bogotá in 2026?

In 2026, transit rights at the Ventanilla Única de Servicios (VUS) in Bogotá cost $260.300 COP for cars and $145.400 COP for motorcycles. To this amount, the 1% withholding tax on the vehicle's commercial appraisal must be added.

❓ Who must pay the 1% withholding tax in a vehicle transfer?

Under Article 398 of the DIAN regulations, the seller pays the 1%. The contract may agree on a different distribution, but in 2026 the transit agency collects it at the counter before the RUNT.

❓ How is the withholding tax calculated for a used vehicle?

It is 1% of the higher of the sale price and the RUNT appraisal. The Ministry of Transport publishes that table each tax year; confirm the value in force for 2026.

❓ Can the transfer be done if the SOAT or the technical-mechanical inspection has expired?

No: the RUNT requires valid SOAT and technical-mechanical inspection. If either is not uploaded in 2026, the filing is rejected on the spot and it must be renewed before the appointment.

❓ What happens if the seller or buyer has fines recorded in the SIMIT?

The transit agency does not authorize filing the transfer if either party has pending traffic tickets recorded in the SIMIT. Payment must be made or a payment agreement formalized before the appointment.

❓ Where can you post a car or motorcycle to sell directly without commissions?

You can publish your listing at no cost on Colombia Move, where you connect directly with buyers via WhatsApp without paying commissions on the agreed sale price.