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

Selling a car or motorcycle in Colombia and leaving the paperwork "open-ended" has been an inexhaustible source of headaches for thousands of owners for decades. To solve the limbo for those who did not know where their old vehicle was but continued to receive coercive collections 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 for 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 uncouple vehicles without an identified buyer or possessor. According to the ads active on Colombia Move (August 2026), the car category had 1 active listing and 83 views: there is interest, but still very little supply.

In this guide, we explain what the regulatory landscape looks like 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 disassociate themselves from a vehicle after proving they had not had possession for more than three years ended on February 6, 2026 (MinTransport Resolution 20253040049955). The objective of the authorities is to purge the National Single Traffic Registry (RUNT) database and ensure that every vehicle on the road has an owner or possessor with a name and ID number.

Before the rule closed, a citizen could go to the Mobility Secretariat, declare under oath that they were unaware of the vehicle's whereabouts, and request the "indeterminate person" annotation. Since February 2026, no traffic authority in Colombia processes this procedure unilaterally. If you go to the service counter 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 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 appears as an indeterminate person have a unique window of time:

• February 6, 2026: Final expiration for submitting 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 put 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 ownership.

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

If you are in possession of a vehicle registered as an indeterminate person, 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. Demonstrate 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 citations, you can check payment options in our guide to check citations and fines in the SIMIT by license plate.
4. Have the Compulsory Traffic Accident Insurance (SOAT) in force registered in the system.
5. Have the Technical-Mechanical and Pollutant Emissions Inspection up to date.
6. Pay the procedural fees to the traffic authority and the corresponding RUNT fee (check the current amount at your local municipality's secretariat, as fees vary by region).

4. What happens if you sold a car in the past and didn't manage to complete 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 figure before February 2026, you are in a delicate legal position. The law states that you continue to be the legal owner of the asset in the RUNT, which exposes you to liens for unpaid vehicle taxes, coercive collections for traffic camera fines, and indirect civil liability in the event of accidents.

Given that mobility secretariats no longer accept unilateral requests, the current 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 summon them to a notary or traffic authority to sign the Unique Procedure Request Form to formalize an ordinary transfer.
• Ordinary or declarative judicial action: If the buyer refuses to sign or you do not know who has the vehicle, you must resort to legal advice from a lawyer to file an ordinary civil lawsuit or claim. The objective is for a judge of the Republic to recognize the change of possession or order the formal disassociation of the property.
• Cancellation of registration for taxative cause: It is not legal to request the cancellation of the transit license simply because the whereabouts of the vehicle are unknown. 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 complaint filed with the Attorney General's Office.

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

What will happen to vehicles under an indeterminate person that fail to be legalized before February 6, 2027? The regulations authorize traffic authorities to proceed with the preventive suspension and subsequent official cancellation of the registration. A car with a suspended registration is totally prohibited from circulating; if a traffic agent or traffic camera identifies it on public roads, 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:

• Zero "open documents": Never hand over the keys or the registration card without having filed the Single Procedures Form signed by both parties at the Mobility Secretariat.
• Verify the buyer: Make sure that the person buying is registered in RUNT and free of traffic fines 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 that you go together to the transit office counter. If you are selling a motorcycle, also consult 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 transit office today?

No, the Ministry of Transport definitively closed the reception of new transfer procedures to an indeterminate person on February 6, 2026. Since that date, every vehicle transfer must mandatorily be made to a fully identified buyer or possessor.

❓ Until when do possessors have to register the vehicle in their name?

Current possessors of a vehicle that already has an indeterminate person annotation have until February 6, 2027. During this period, they must carry out the registration process in favor of the interested party at the corresponding transit authority.

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

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

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

You must try to locate the current possessor to process a consensual ordinary transfer at the transit office. If it is not possible or they refuse, you will have to initiate a legal action through a civil declaratory process so that a judge can order the update of the title.

❓ 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 appear in RUNT as the sole person responsible for photo-fines, vehicle tax liens, traffic accidents, and collection proceedings.

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

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