Driving your private car during a pico y placa restricted hour and digit has both a financial and an operational consequence. Here’s what the official sources of Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Bucaramanga and Cartagena say — and it’s the exact same rule across all five.
How much is the fine?
The fine is 15 SMLDV (daily legal minimum wage units) in all five Colombian cities with an active pico y placa that we checked. The peso amount depends on the current year’s minimum wage — since it changes every January 1st, we don’t fix it here to avoid going stale; check the current year’s SMLDV and multiply by 15, or check your city’s official source for the already calculated amount.
What’s the legal basis?
All five cities cite the same national basis: Art. 131-C.14 of Law 769 of 2002 (National Traffic Code), amended by art. 21 of Law 1383 of 2010. It’s a national rule, not a municipal one — what varies between cities is the schedule and restricted digit, not the fine amount or the article behind it.
What happens besides the fine?
All five official sources report the same additional consequence: vehicle impoundment. That means, on top of the fine’s monetary value, the car can be towed and held — with towing and storage costs that are separate from the fine itself.
How do I avoid the fine?
- Check your city’s restricted digit and hours before you leave, not once you’re already on the road.
- If your vehicle is electric, hybrid, or falls into one of your city’s exempt categories, confirm it — you may not need to worry.
- Remember the restriction is normally suspended on public holidays in most of these cities, but confirm it for your specific city before a given holiday.
- If you’re unsure about your vehicle category (motorcycle, taxi, special transport), those usually follow different rules than private vehicles — don’t assume the same rules apply.
Check today’s pico y placa status, by plate, in any of these cities: Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Bucaramanga or Cartagena. Or check all of Colombia’s cities in one place.