Okay, so, I needed to get myself a Colombian driver’s license, and let me tell you, it was a bit of a journey. I’m not a resident, just a tourist, but I wanted to be able to drive around legally while I was there. I’d heard different things about whether I could use my license from back home or not, so I figured I’d just go for it and get the Colombian one to be safe.
First thing I did was look up driving schools. I found a list of approved ones online, somewhere on a Ministry of Transport page, I think. I picked one that was close to where I was staying and headed over there.
When I got to the driving school, they told me all about the different types of licenses, like for cars, motorcycles, that kind of stuff. I just needed the basic one for a regular car. They gave me a list of documents I needed to gather – you know, the usual stuff like passport, ID photos, medical certificate, all that jazz.

The medical exam was interesting. It wasn’t anything too intense, just some basic vision and hearing tests, and they checked my reflexes. I also had to do a theory test about traffic rules and signs. It was a bit tricky because, obviously, some of the rules are different from what I’m used to, but I managed to pass it after studying their driving manual for a bit.
Then came the practical driving lessons. I had to take a certain number of hours with an instructor before I could take the driving test. The instructor I got was pretty cool, we drove around the city, and he pointed out all the things I needed to be aware of, like specific traffic rules, how to navigate roundabouts, parking, the whole nine yards.
After I finished my lessons, it was time for the big test. I was a bit nervous, but I tried to stay calm and remember everything I’d learned. We drove around for about half an hour, and the examiner asked me to do different maneuvers, like parallel parking, three-point turns, that kind of thing. I think I did okay, I didn’t hit any cones or anything!
In the end, I passed! I was so relieved. They took my photo and gave me a temporary paper license while they processed the official one. It took a few weeks, but I finally got my shiny new Colombian driver’s license in the mail.
It was a bit of a process, but honestly, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. If you’re planning on driving in Colombia, I definitely recommend just going through the process and getting the local license. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and it’s a cool souvenir to have, too!
Here’s a quick rundown of what I did:
- Found a driving school: Looked up approved schools online.
- Gathered documents: Passport, photos, medical certificate.
- Took a medical exam: Vision, hearing, reflexes.
- Studied the rules: Read the Colombian driving manual.
- Passed the theory test: Multiple-choice questions about traffic laws.
- Took driving lessons: Learned from an instructor about local rules and maneuvers.
- Took the practical driving test: Demonstrated my driving skills to an examiner.
- Got my license: Received a temporary one first, then the official one in the mail.
It was a pretty interesting experience, and now I can say I have a Colombian driver’s license. Not that I plan on breaking any traffic laws, but hey, it’s a cool story to tell, right?