If you travel with a small motorcycle or use public transport, get ready: the price could rise a bit next year.
Colombia’s financial regulator is adjusting tariffs for 2026 and, according to a draft circulating, small-capacity motorcycles and taxis would be hit the hardest, with an increase of almost 5%.
For example, motorcycles under 100 cc would rise from $243,700 this year to $256,240 in 2026, a 5.1% increase. Motorcycles between 100 and 200cc will also see an increase, from $326,600 to $343,336, not including the contribution to Adres.
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The situation is similar for taxis, minibuses and company cars.
For vehicles under 1,500cc and up to nine years old, the fare would rise from $268,200 to $281,929 if it is a taxi.
Other public transportation and business vehicles cost between $183,900 and $230,000, depending on vehicle type and age.
Why does it only increase for these vehicles and not for all? According to Darío Hidalgo, professor of transportation at the University of Javeriana, this is because these vehicles have already received a special 50% discount since the current government took office.
“The real cost of what we have this year will be in the order of 5%, which is the cumulative inflation of the first few months.
It applies directly to those who receive a 50% Soat discount today, that is, motorcycles and public transport vehicles,” explained Hidalgo RCN News. In addition, the number of road accidents has increased, so the adjustment attempts to maintain a balance between frequency and risk.
If you have a personal car, a family car, an RV or a truck, there is good news. The rate for cars under 1,500cc and up to nine years old would fall slightly, from $445,600 to $442,440, a 0.7% reduction.
This trend would also apply to family cars, RVs, trucks and large displacement motorcycles, with reductions of nearly 1%. The regulator explained that this decrease was justified because, according to insurers, the accident rate in these vehicles fell in 2025.
Another important change concerns the way Soat health insurance is calculated. Previously this was done in minimum wages, but from 2026 this will be based on the Tax Value Unit (UVT), which is only adjusted for inflation. This allows costs to remain more stable year after year.
Despite this adjustment, small displacement motorcycles, taxis, Company cars and urban minibuses remain in the special category and continue to benefit from the 50 percent discount on the total fare.
In practice, this means that if you are a small displacement motorbike or taxi driver you will see a slight increase in your tax, while owners of family cars and vans will receive financial relief. All of these new rates apply to policies purchased on or after January 1, 2026.
But the changes don’t end there. The year 2026 will also bring important news for those who need to renew their driver’s license. The idea of the Ministry of Transport and the National Road Safety Agency is to ensure that all drivers have measurable and verified skills behind the wheel.
The Automotive Education Centers (CEA) are now dedicated exclusively to training, while the Logistics Evaluation Support Centers (Cale) will be responsible for the application of the theoretical-practical exams. The aim is to standardize the level of difficulty of exams across the country, increase transparency and reduce the possibility of cheating.
The frequency of driving license renewal depends on the age and type of vehicle: drivers of private vehicles under 60 years old are renewed every 10 years; between 60 and 80 years old, all five; and over 80, every year. For public service vehicles, the contract is renewed every 36 months for vehicles under 60 years old and every year for vehicles over 60 years old.
The process includes registration in the Runt, safe and secure compliance with fines, passing a physical and mental aptitude test, and passing a theoretical-practical assessment using simulators and real maneuvers. All results are automatically uploaded and biometric validation is done so no one can cheat.
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