Official Fees and Vehicle Transfer Costs in Bogotá and Medellín (2026)

Selling or buying a used car or motorcycle in Colombia requires doing the math clearly before signing the purchase agreement. One of the most common mistakes among buyers and sellers is assuming that the only expense involved is the signature at the notary, only to be surprised at the traffic authority window when discovering mandatory charges for transit fees, stamps, and withholding tax.

To avoid misunderstandings when negotiating, this guide details the official 2026 costs for the mobility secretariats of Bogotá and the Valle de Aburrá (Medellín, Envigado, and Itagüí), the legal formula to calculate statutory taxes, and the essential requirements to ensure the request is not rejected.

Complete Breakdown: How Much Does the Transfer Actually Cost?

The total cost of legalizing a change of vehicle ownership in Colombia consists of two main categories: local transit fees from the authority where the vehicle is registered and the withholding tax set by national tax regulations.

In Colombian commercial practice, the unwritten rule is that the transit fees and notary expenses for authenticating the form and the promise of sale are divided equally (50% for the buyer and 50% for the seller). However, the withholding tax is a tax on the disposal of fixed assets that, for tax purposes, 100% falls on the person selling the vehicle, unless otherwise expressly agreed upon by the parties in the contract.

If you want to avoid scams when buying or selling vehicles and last-minute financial surprises, agree on these percentages in writing in the promise of sale before scheduling the filing appointment.

Official 2026 Transit Tariffs (Bogotá vs. Medellín)

Each municipal or district transit authority updates its service fees annually based on local resolutions. Charges vary depending on the type of vehicle (car or motorcycle) and the registration jurisdiction.

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

In Bogotá, transit procedures are filed at the Ventanilla Única de Servicios (VUS). For the year 2026, the official tariffs approved for transit fees in the ownership transfer process are:

• Cars, camperos, SUVs, and machinery: $260,300 COP.
• Motorcycles: $145,400 COP.

This amount includes the validation of information in the National Registry of Traffic (RUNT) and the issuance of the new transit license (ownership card) in the buyer's name.

2. Medellín and Valle de Aburrá

In the Antioquia department, procedures vary slightly according to the registration transit authority (Medellín, Envigado, Itagüí, or Sabaneta). For 2026, local transit fees 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.

Both in Bogotá and Medellín, the exact amount of the withholding tax must be added to these transit fee tariffs.

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

The National Directorate of Taxes and Customs (DIAN), by virtue of Article 398 of the Tax Statute, requires a 1% withholding tax collection 1% for the disposal of motor vehicles belonging to individuals.

The transit authority mandatorily collects this money at the window before processing the transfer in the RUNT system. To calculate the taxable base for this 1%, the higher value between the amount declared in the promise of sale and the official commercial appraisal set by the Ministry of Transportation for the current taxable year is used.

As the table above demonstrates, for higher-end vehicles, the withholding tax amount often exceeds the actual cost of the mobility authority's transit fees.

Non-negotiable Requirements Before Going to the Transit Secretariat

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

1. Active RUNT registration: Both the seller and the buyer must be previously registered and enrolled in the RUNT with their national ID (cédula de ciudadanía) or foreign ID (cédula de extranjería).
2. Valid SOAT uploaded to the system: The Mandatory Traffic Accident Insurance must be valid and appear in the national RUNT database.
3. Valid Technical-Mechanical Inspection (RTM): For vehicles required by model, the RTM certification approved by a certified CDA must be uploaded electronically to the RUNT.
4. Traffic ticket clearance (SIMIT): Neither party may have outstanding fines or traffic tickets. If there are photo-tickets or open fines, they must be paid off or a formal payment agreement must be signed before filing.
5. Vehicle tax clearance: The vehicle must be up to date with the payment of the motor vehicle tax to the corresponding departmental treasury secretariat.

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

Post and Sell without Intermediaries or Extra Commissions

Performing the vehicle transfer directly between individuals is the best way to preserve the real 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 paperwork in order, the next step is to give your vehicle visibility. According to active ads on Colombia Move (September 2026), there are 8 motorcycle ads and 1 car ad; the motorcycles have 817 views, so an ad with paperwork ready for transfer does not get lost in a saturated market. When selling a used car without intermediaries through direct portals like the Colombia Move motorcycle and vehiclesection, you connect directly with interested buyers in your city, negotiate the terms of the withholding tax, and agree on secure payment before heading to the transit window.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

In 2026, the transit rights at the Single Service Window (VUS) in Bogotá cost $260,300 COP for cars and $145,400 COP for motorcycles. To this value, 1% withholding tax on the vehicle's commercial appraisal must be added.

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

Per Article 398 of the DIAN, the 1% is paid by the seller. The contract may stipulate a different distribution, but in 2026 the transit authority collects it at the window before the RUNT.

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

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

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

No: the RUNT requires valid SOAT and technical-mechanical inspection. If either is not shown as loaded in 2026, the filing is rejected on the spot and you must renew before the appointment.

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

The transit authority does not authorize the transfer filing if either party has pending tickets in 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 post your ad at no cost on Colombia Move, where you connect directly with buyers via WhatsApp without paying commissions on the agreed sale price.