CO · Expiry & renewal tracking
Never let an operating card in your fleet expire unnoticed
Every public passenger vehicle in Colombia needs an operating card, valid for two years (collective, intercity, mixed and special service) or one year (taxis) under Decreto 1079 de 2015. The company applies for renewal two months before expiry (one month for taxis); an expired card may be retained by the authorities.
The operating card (tarjeta de operación) is the single document that authorises a motor vehicle to provide public passenger transport under the responsibility of a transport company, in line with the services the company is authorised to run (Article 2.2.1.1.11.1 of Decreto 1079 de 2015). The competent transport authority issues it only to vehicles lawfully attached to duly licensed public transport companies, within the transport capacity set for each company (Article 2.2.1.1.11.2). Attaching a vehicle to a company is formalised by the contract between the owner and the company and made official by the issue of the card (Article 2.2.1.1.10.2).
The card is issued for a term of two (2) years and may be amended or cancelled if the conditions required of the company for its licence change: this is the rule for metropolitan, district and municipal collective transport (Article 2.2.1.1.11.3), intercity passenger transport (Article 2.2.1.4.9.3), mixed transport (Article 2.2.1.5.9.3) and special service (Article 2.2.1.6.9.3). For taxis the term is one (1) year (Article 2.2.1.3.8.3). In special service, when a vehicle is close to the end of its permitted service life, the card's validity may not exceed that service life (Article 2.2.1.6.9.3, paragraph).
Companies must obtain operating cards for their entire fleet, hand them to the owners in good time and apply for renewal at least two (2) months before the expiry date (Articles 2.2.1.1.11.6, 2.2.1.4.9.6, 2.2.1.5.9.6 and 2.2.1.6.9.9). In the taxi service the company applies for renewal at least one (1) month in advance and owners hand in their paperwork to the company at least two (2) months in advance (Article 2.2.1.3.8.6). The driver must carry the original card and show it to any authority that asks for it (Article 2.2.1.1.11.7).
At a glance
| Validity: collective, intercity, mixed and special service | Two (2) years (Articles 2.2.1.1.11.3, 2.2.1.4.9.3, 2.2.1.5.9.3 and 2.2.1.6.9.3 of Decreto 1079 de 2015) |
|---|---|
| Validity: taxis | One (1) year (Article 2.2.1.3.8.3) |
| Renewal application | At least two (2) months before expiry; for taxis, the company applies one (1) month before and owners hand in documents two (2) months before (Articles 2.2.1.1.11.6, 2.2.1.3.8.6, 2.2.1.4.9.6, 2.2.1.5.9.6 and 2.2.1.6.9.9) |
| Issued by | The competent transport authority; for intercity and special service, the Ministry of Transport (Articles 2.2.1.1.11.2, 2.2.1.4.9.2 and 2.2.1.6.9.2) |
| Documents for renewal (collective transport) | Application signed by the legal representative, certification of the attachment contracts, vehicle registration document, SOAT, valid roadworthiness inspection (except latest-model vehicles), insurer's certification of the liability policies and proof of payment of fees (Article 2.2.1.1.11.5) |
| Duplicate after loss | May not be valid for longer than the original card (Article 2.2.1.1.11.5, paragraph; Article 2.2.1.6.9.8) |
| Returning expired cards | Within 3 days of receiving the new card in collective transport; within 10 days for taxi, intercity, mixed and special service (Articles 2.2.1.1.11.6, 2.2.1.3.8.6, 2.2.1.4.9.6, 2.2.1.5.9.6 and 2.2.1.6.9.9) |
| Cost to the vehicle owner | The company may not charge anything for handling the card (Articles 2.2.1.3.8.6, 2.2.1.4.9.6, 2.2.1.5.9.6 and 2.2.1.6.9.9) |
Who is responsible?
The licensed transport company: it must obtain operating cards for its whole fleet, hand them to the owners in good time and apply for renewal with the required notice (Articles 2.2.1.1.11.6, 2.2.1.3.8.6, 2.2.1.4.9.6, 2.2.1.5.9.6 and 2.2.1.6.9.9 of Decreto 1079 de 2015). The driver must carry the original (Article 2.2.1.1.11.7).
If the deadline passes
Traffic and transport authorities may retain an expired operating card and must send it to the issuing authority so that the corresponding investigation is opened (Articles 2.2.1.1.11.8, 2.2.1.3.8.8, 2.2.1.4.9.8 and 2.2.1.5.9.8 of Decreto 1079 de 2015). In special service, if it is established that the vehicle has no card or that it has expired, traffic authorities must immobilise the vehicle for the time needed to clarify the facts (Article 2.2.1.6.9.11). Ley 336 de 1996 provides for fines for conduct that breaches transport rules without a specific sanction (Article 46(e)) and for immobilising the vehicle when the documents supporting its operation are found to be missing or altered (Article 49(c)). In mixed transport by motor tricycle (motocarro), allowing a vehicle to operate without an operating card or with an expired one is punished with a fine (Article 2.2.1.5.10.2.1(2) of Decreto 1079).
Taxis: the operating card also gates driver registration
When reporting a driver to the Driver Register, a taxi company must ensure that, at the time of registration, the vehicle's SOAT, roadworthiness certificate and operating card are all valid (Article 2.2.1.3.8.11(b) of Decreto 1079 de 2015).
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each attached vehicle as a record and enter the expiry date printed on the operating card (the card shows, among other details, its expiry date: Article 2.2.1.1.11.4(3)).
- Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the day; the 60-day reminder matches the two months' notice with which the company must apply for renewal.
- The vehicle owner or whoever handles the paperwork can upload the renewed card through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
- Assign a responsible person to each vehicle, such as the fleet manager or the company's legal officer; if a card expires, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the operating card valid?
- Two (2) years in collective, intercity, mixed and special service transport (Articles 2.2.1.1.11.3, 2.2.1.4.9.3, 2.2.1.5.9.3 and 2.2.1.6.9.3 of Decreto 1079 de 2015) and one (1) year for taxis (Article 2.2.1.3.8.3). It may be amended or cancelled if the conditions required of the company for its licence change.
- How far in advance must renewal be requested?
- At least two (2) months before the expiry date (Articles 2.2.1.1.11.6, 2.2.1.4.9.6, 2.2.1.5.9.6 and 2.2.1.6.9.9). For taxis, the company applies at least one (1) month before and owners hand in their paperwork at least two (2) months before (Article 2.2.1.3.8.6).
- Who has to apply, the company or the vehicle owner?
- The transport company: it must obtain the cards for its entire fleet and hand them to the owners in good time, without charging them anything for the procedure (Articles 2.2.1.1.11.6, 2.2.1.3.8.6, 2.2.1.4.9.6, 2.2.1.5.9.6 and 2.2.1.6.9.9).
- What happens if the card has expired?
- Traffic and transport authorities may retain it and send it to the issuing authority to open an investigation (Articles 2.2.1.1.11.8, 2.2.1.3.8.8, 2.2.1.4.9.8 and 2.2.1.5.9.8); in special service the vehicle is immobilised for the time needed to clarify the facts (Article 2.2.1.6.9.11). Ley 336 de 1996 provides for fines and immobilisation for breaches of transport rules (Articles 46 and 49).
- What about the card when a vehicle moves to another company?
- The application for the new card after a change of company must state the number of the previous card (Article 2.2.1.1.11.5(1)), and the originals of the cards from the previous company must be returned to the authority within 10 days of receiving the new ones (Articles 2.2.1.3.8.6, 2.2.1.4.9.6, 2.2.1.5.9.6 and 2.2.1.6.9.9).
Sources
- Decreto 1079 de 2015, Single Regulatory Decree for the Transport Sector (Función Pública, Gestor Normativo; in Spanish)
- Ley 336 de 1996, National Transport Statute, Articles 44 to 49 (Función Pública, Gestor Normativo; in Spanish)
Last checked: Oct 7, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.
Made for operating card (public passenger transport) (Colombia)
A ready template for operating card (public passenger transport) (Colombia) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.
Reminders on time
Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each operating card (public passenger transport) (Colombia) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
Assign an owner
Give each operating card (public passenger transport) (Colombia) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.