Okay, so, I needed to get a Colombian driver’s license, and let me tell you, it was a whole thing. First off, I’m not even living there full-time, just bouncing back and forth, so I wasn’t sure if I could even do it. Turns out, if you’re just a tourist with no visa, you can just use your regular license from back home. But that wasn’t gonna cut it for me. I needed the real deal.
So, I started digging around. I heard you gotta be at least 16 to get a license, which, you know, I’m way past that, thankfully. Then there’s the whole thing about getting the right kind of license for whatever you’re driving. Makes sense, but it’s another thing to figure out.
I found out that even if you have an international license from your home country, you should make sure it’s not expired. Some countries have special agreements with Colombia about this, so it’s worth checking. I checked out some transit office websites, but it wasn’t super clear, and I got no help from there.
Next, I learned that I needed some documents. I don’t even remember them all, but it was a whole stack. Plus, I had to get a medical exam. It wasn’t too bad, just a basic check-up, but still, another hoop to jump through. And of course, there were fees. Always fees. They got me good on those, not gonna lie.
So, I gathered all my documents, went to the medical exam, paid the fees. Then there’s the actual application, I went and did it, and guess what? I got the license! It took a while, lots of waiting around, but I did it. I walked out of that office feeling like I’d conquered the world, or at least the Colombian DMV.
What Did I Learn?
- Be prepared. Have all your documents ready, know what kind of license you need, and be ready for some fees.
- Be patient. Things might take a while. There will be waiting.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I had to ask around a lot to figure things out. Locals were generally helpful, even though my Spanish isn’t the best.
All in all, it was an adventure. Not the most fun adventure, but hey, I got my Colombian driver’s license. Now I can cruise around those Colombian streets like a boss. Or at least, you know, legally.
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