Transfer of Vehicle to an Indeterminate Person in Colombia: End of the Procedure and What to Do

Selling a car or motorcycle in Colombia and leaving the paperwork "open-ended" (in carta abierta) has for decades been an endless source of headaches for thousands of owners. To solve the limbo for those who did not know where their old vehicle was but continued to receive coercive collection notices and tax bills, the Ministry of Transport created an extraordinary measure at the time: the transfer to an indeterminate person. However, this window of relief has come to a definitive end.

As of February 6, 2026, the option of transfer to an indeterminate person was eliminated throughout the national territory under the guidelines of the Ministry of Transport. Today, traffic authorities no longer receive unilateral requests to unbind vehicles without an identified buyer or possessor. According to active ads on Colombia Move (August 2026), the car category had 1 active post and 83 views: there is interest, but still very little supply.

In this guide, we explain the regulatory landscape as it stands in 2026, what the deadline is for those who currently have a vehicle under this condition, and what legal alternatives exist if you sold without a transfer.

1. The end of the transfer to an indeterminate person in 2026

The transitional scheme that allowed former owners to unbind themselves from a vehicle after proving they had not had possession of it for more than three years ended on February 6, 2026 (Ministry of Transport Resolution 20253040049955). The authorities' goal is to clean up the National Registry of Traffic (RUNT) database and ensure that every vehicle on the road has an owner or possessor with a name and ID number.

Before the rule was closed, a citizen could go to the Mobility Secretariat, declare under oath that they did not know the whereabouts of the asset, and request the "indeterminate person" annotation. Since February 2026, no traffic authority in Colombia processes this procedure unilaterally. If you go to the service window today, your request will be rejected immediately.

2. Key calendar: window until February 2027 for possessors

Although sellers can no longer initiate new requests, the regulations provide for a transition period so as not to leave vehicles that were already registered under this figure before the February 2026 deadline in a state of illegality.

Holders who bought a car or motorcycle without complete documents but whose registration is listed as an indeterminate person have a unique window of time:

• February 6, 2026: Definitive expiration for filing new requests for transfer to an indeterminate person by the seller.
• February 6, 2027: Deadline for the current possessor to perform the Registration in favor of the interested party and formally place the property in their name.

If you are the current possessor of a car in this condition, you must approach the traffic authority where the vehicle is registered before February 2027 to legalize the ownership.

3. How to legalize a vehicle if you are the current possessor

If you have a vehicle registered as an indeterminate person in your possession, it is essential to complete the formalization process before the deadline granted by law expires. To request registration in favor of the interested party, you must fulfill the following checklist before the corresponding traffic secretariat:

1. Prove continuous possession of the vehicle for a period of no less than one (1) year.
2. Be registered and active on the RUNT platform.
3. Be up to date with traffic fines and infractions in the SIMIT. If you have pending traffic tickets, you can check payment options in our guide to consult SIMIT fines and penalties by license plate.
4. Have the Compulsory Traffic Accident Insurance (SOAT) valid and registered in the system.
5. Have the current Technical-Mechanical and Pollutant Emissions Review up to date.
6. Pay the processing fees to the traffic authority and the corresponding RUNT fee (verify the current amount at your municipality's local secretariat, as fees vary by region).

4. What happens if you sold a car in the past and didn't get to finish the process?

If you sold a vehicle years ago, the buyer never performed the transfer, and you did not take advantage of the indeterminate person status before February 2026, you are in a delicate legal position. The law indicates that you remain the legal owner of the asset in the RUNT, which exposes you to vehicle tax liens, coercive collection for traffic cameras, and indirect civil liability in the event of accidents.

Since mobility secretariats no longer accept unilateral requests, the available legal alternatives are limited:

• Location and negotiation with the possessor: The fastest way is to track down the current holder of the car or motorcycle and meet them at a notary or traffic authority office to sign the Single Request for Procedure Form (Formulario Único de Solicitud de Trámites) to formalize a standard transfer.
• Ordinary or declaratory judicial action: If the buyer refuses to sign or you do not know who has the vehicle, you must seek the advice of a lawyer to file an ordinary civil lawsuit or complaint. The objective is for a judge of the Republic to recognize the change of possession or order the formal detachment of the property.
• Cancellation of registration for taxative cause: It is not legal to request the cancellation of the traffic license simply because you do not know the whereabouts of the vehicle. Article 40 of the National Traffic Code (Law 769 of 2002) requires documented causes such as total destruction, proven scrapping, or loss due to theft with the respective criminal report filed with the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation.

5. Risks of registration suspension in 2027 and how to sell safely today

What will happen to vehicles under an indeterminate person that fail to be legalized before February 6, 2027? The regulations empower traffic authorities to proceed with the preventive suspension and subsequent ex officio cancellation of the registration. A car with a suspended registration is totally prohibited from driving; if a traffic officer or speed camera identifies it on a public road, the vehicle will be immobilized and taken to the impound lot immediately.

To avoid falling into these situations again when selling your used vehicle today, follow these three golden rules:

• No "open letter" (carta abierta): Never hand over the keys or the ownership card without having filed the Single Procedures Form (Formulario Único de Trámites) signed by both parties at the Mobility Secretariat.
• Verify the buyer: Ensure the person buying is registered in the RUNT and free of any traffic tickets that could block the process.
• Publish on direct platforms: Use transparent portals like Colombia Move to agree on a direct sale with individuals, requiring as a condition to go to the traffic office counter together. If you are selling a motorcycle, also check out our guide on how to sell your used motorcycle in Colombia with a direct transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Can I file a new transfer to an indeterminate person at the traffic office today?

No, the Ministry of Transport definitively closed the reception of new transfer requests to an indeterminate person on February 6, 2026. Since that date, all vehicle transfers must be carried out mandatorily to a fully identified buyer or holder.

❓ How long do holders have to register the vehicle in their name?

Current holders of a vehicle that already has the indeterminate person notation have until February 6, 2027. During this period, they must proceed with the registration process in favor of the interested party at the corresponding traffic authority.

❓ What happens if a vehicle registered to an indeterminate person is not legalized before February 2027?

The traffic authority will proceed to suspend and eventually cancel the vehicle's registration ex officio. This will make the vehicle unable to legally circulate in the country and will result in its impoundment in vehicle lots if intercepted on the road.

❓ What options do I have if I sold my car years ago and didn't manage to complete the paperwork?

You must try to locate the current holder to process a consensual ordinary transfer before the traffic authority. If this is not possible or they refuse, you must initiate a legal action through a civil declaratory process so that a judge can order the update of ownership.

❓ Is it legal to sell a used car in Colombia with an open contract or 'carta abierta'?

Although it is a common informal practice, it does not legally transfer ownership of the vehicle. The seller continues to be listed in the RUNT as solely responsible for traffic camera fines, liens for vehicle taxes, traffic accidents, and coercive collections.

❓ Where and how to post a used car to sell it safely in Colombia?

You can post your ad completely free of charge on Colombia Move, stating in the description that the transfer is immediate at the traffic secretariat. This allows you to clarify the condition of formal transfer and negotiate directly with interested parties.