Renting a Car in Bogotá
Driving in Bogotá is not easy, and mobility is becoming more chaotic. Unfortunately, this is the sum of several factors such as an old local infrastructure, the large number of vehicles, and, above all, the lack of road culture for citizens. Bogotá is known as the “jungle of cement”, as it is summed up by the law of the strongest, diving in the capital requires decision and cunning since, although some drivers have the driving skill, the vast majority don’t comply with the regulations traffic and don’t have the proper training to drive.
Before driving in Bogotá, we recommend knowing the road system, streets, nomenclatures, and traffic signs. Likewise, multiple platforms are very useful since they indicate the real-time of your journey, the state of traffic, and the fastest route.
If you want to take a different alternative to public transport, you can rent a vehicle which will give you the ease of getting around within the city and its surroundings.
Where Can I Rent A Vehicle?
On the first floor of El Dorado International Airport are the offices of the main car rental companies such as Localiza, Budget, Avis, Comfort Rent A Car, Europcar, Easy Rent, Royal Rent A Car, Prime Car Rent, Hertz and Sixt. Also, these and other companies have different locations so you can visit the one that suits you best.
Below, we list the 5 best car rental companies:
Position #1
Company: Alamo
Address: Calle 26 No. 96j-66 L.3
Hours: from Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. And Sunday 24 hours.
Telephone: +57 3173892518
Position #2
Company: Dolar Car Rental
Address: Calle 25g No. 73a-63
Hours: from Monday to Friday from 5:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. And Saturday from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Telephone: +57 3187079397
Position #3
Company: Budget
Address: El Dorado International Airport and Avenida Calle 26 No. 26j-66 Local 04
Hours: Airport, from Monday to Sunday from 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. / Calle 26, from Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Telephone: +57 3214277730 / +57 17454811
Price: from $69.751 per day
Position #4
Company: Hertz
Address: Avenida Calle 72 No. 20b-59 / Avenida El Dorado No. 96a-21 / Calle 134 No. 9-51 / Calle 170 No. 64-47 / Calle 26 No. 103-9 Piso 2 Pta. 2 / Km 2 Chía – Cajicá / Avenidas Las Américas No. 62-84
Hours: from Monday to Sunday from 00:00 – 23:59, please note that hours change varies from the office you visit.
Telephone: +57 16062536 / +57 3176674788 / + 57 3505268336 / + 57 3508119406
Price: from $193.784 per day
Position #5
Company: AVIS
Address: Avenida 19 No. 122-79 Local 59 / El Dorado International Airport National Arrivals and National Departures Gate 3
Hours: from Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. And Sunday from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. please note that hours change varies from the office you visit.
Telephone: +57 16291722 / +57 16291222
Price: from $90.206 per day
Requirements and Rental Process
The main requirements to rent a car are:
- Legal and valid identification document (Colombian Citizenship Card, Colombian Immigration Card or Passport)
- Current national or foreign driving license
- Credit card with enough limit for blocking as a guarantee
- Some companies have age requirements (over 21 years old)
The rental process is very simple if you fulfill all the requirements:
- Contact the agency of your choice by phone or What’s App
- Fill out the form
- Choose the vehicle and inform the reservation dates
- Confirm where you need your vehicle
Prices
The rental prices vary depending on the range of the vehicle (economic, medium, trucks, premium) and the agency, however, so that you have an idea and make a budget, we indicate average prices below:
- Average prices per day: $100.456 Colombian pesos
- The average price for an economic vehicle: $98.699 Colombian pesos per day
- The average price for a mini-vehicle: $99.675 Colombian pesos per day
- The average price for a compact vehicle: $107.662 Colombian pesos per day
- The average price for one week: $703.194 Colombian pesos
- The average price for a month: $3.013.686 Colombian pesos
Gas Prices
In Colombia, there are different types of fuel: MC, ACPM or Petrodiesel, and extra gasoline. The government sets a guide every month, so the price may vary by market.
Parking
Finding parking in Bogotá can be difficult, especially in rush hour, it’s recommended to use a secure parking lot and not leave the vehicle on the street, since in Bogotá there are constant thefts of vehicles and their parts. The apps can be quite useful, as they allow drivers to find the closest parking space and reserve it quickly and easily.
Among the most reliable applications are, Ruedaz, Parking app, Rent a Parking and Parkcero.
Pico y Placa
Due to the high vehicular flow in Bogotá, there are traffic restrictions, among them the measure known as “pico y placa”, which is defined by the type of vehicle. In the case of private service vehicles, the “pico y placa” applies from Monday to Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. And from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The last license plate number of your vehicle determines which days it has a restriction if it ends in an even number, it has a traffic restriction on even days at the time already Indicated; likewise, if your license plate ends in an odd number, you have circulation restriction on odd days.
In case you don’t comply with the “pico y placa” you can be fined according to the traffic code and your vehicle will be immobilized.
Speed Control
Currently, the maximum speed for the following main tracks is 50 km/h:
- Avenida Boyacá
- Avenida 68
- Avenida Calle 80
- Avenida Las Américas
- Avenida Ciudad de Cali
- Avenida NQS (Norte Quito Sur)
- Avenida 1ra de mayo
The zones with a limit of 30 km/h are residential areas, school zones when visibility conditions are reduced, in proximity to an intersection, places with high volumes fo pedestrians and cyclists.
If you are caught by the authorities driving at a higher speed you must pay a fine of $438.901 Colombian pesos.
Recommendations
- Find a safe parking lot and be wary of informal parking lots, don’t park on the street, avoid being fined $ 414,100 Colombian pesos.
- Keep your distance with the car in front, four seconds are perfect to react and avoid accidents.
- Be clear and safe when maneuvering and always make use of lights and turn signals. Always use caution since unfortunately in Bogotá when someone posts a directional to change lanes, the other vehicles accelerate to block your way.
- At an intersection, try to stop and check that the other person does not ignore the signal and respect the rules.
- Always have a panoramic view, don’t lose sight of pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, and loose animals even if they are not allowed crossing.
- In Bogotá, it rains very often, for rainy days it is recommended to reduce speed and increase distance.
- Be tolerant of some situations, try to remain calm when faced with the recklessness of another driver, and continue your journey with ease.
- Create a positive atmosphere that includes your favorite music!
- Due to Bogotá’s climate, a closed vehicle is recommended.
