How Much Does Each Traffic Fine Cost in Colombia (Types A, B, C, D)
You get a ticket, look at the paper, and see a code like "C" followed by a number. No peso amount anywhere. You search online and find tables from past years that no longer apply. The question is simple, and the answer should be too: how much does this traffic fine actually cost? Here's how it's calculated, what each violation type means, and how to get the exact figure without relying on outdated tables.
Why fines aren't written in pesos
This is the key thing almost no one explains. Colombia's National Traffic Code (Ley 769 de 2002) doesn't set fine amounts in pesos, but in SMLDV: daily minimum legal wages (salarios mínimos legales diarios vigentes).
Why? Because if fines were set in pesos, the law would need to be amended every year. By expressing them in daily minimum wages, the value updates automatically whenever the minimum wage goes up.
This has two practical consequences:
- Any peso-based table becomes obsolete on January 1. If you find a list with exact figures, check what year it's from before trusting it.
- You can calculate it yourself in ten seconds if you know the formula.
The formula to calculate your fine
It's two steps:
SMLDV = current monthly minimum wage ÷ 30
Fine amount = SMLDV × multiplier based on violation type
The SMLDV is simply the monthly minimum wage divided by 30 days. And the multiplier depends on the severity of the violation, which is what the letter on your ticket indicates:
| Violation type | Fine | What kind of conduct it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Type A | 4 SMLDV | The mildest, largely related to pedestrians and cyclists |
| Type B | 8 SMLDV | Minor driving and documentation violations |
| Type C | 15 SMLDV | Expired documents, vehicle inspection, mandatory insurance, and medium-risk conduct |
| Type D | 30 SMLDV | The most serious: high risk to life and to others |
Type C and D violations show up most often in queries, because that's where the things that happen to everyone fall: expired documents, ignoring signs, dangerous maneuvers.
Keep something important in mind: the monetary fine isn't always the whole cost. Several violations also come with vehicle impoundment, adding towing and storage fees that can cost as much as or more than the fine itself. In the most serious cases there's also license suspension or cancellation, and driving under the influence carries its own regime with much harsher penalties.
Example of how to do the math
Say the current monthly minimum wage is $X. Then:
- SMLDV = $X ÷ 30
- A type C violation costs you: (X ÷ 30) × 15, which is half a monthly minimum wage
- A type D violation costs you: (X ÷ 30) × 30, which is one full monthly minimum wage
That mental shortcut is the most useful one of all: type C = half a minimum wage, type D = a full minimum wage. Type B is a quarter of that (8 days), and type A just 4 days.
We're not publishing a peso table here on purpose: it would be outdated by January, and we'd rather give you the formula, which never expires. For today's exact figure, use this year's minimum wage or let the calculator do it for you.
What can actually lower the price
Before paying, check two things that change the real amount:
The early-payment discount. If you accept the violation and pay within the first few days, and attend the road safety course, you can pay considerably less. The deadlines are short and don't come back. We cover it in detail in traffic ticket discounts in Colombia.
Whether the ticket is appealable. Paying means accepting it. If you think the violation doesn't hold up — especially with speed camera tickets — don't pay before checking: when a speed camera ticket is valid and how to appeal it.
And don't forget the obvious: if a ticket goes unpaid for a while it can move into collections, where interest gets added and the final amount goes up instead of down. Check its status at the SIMIT lookup.
How to know the exact amount without doing the math
Doing the division by hand works, but you need to know your violation code, the current year's minimum wage, and whether a discount applies. That's why we built a fine calculator into ChatVial, our traffic app for iPhone.
Ask it in plain language — "how much does a type C ticket cost me?", "do I still qualify for the discount?" — and it answers with the peso amount based on the current SMLDV, citing the article of the National Traffic Code it's based on. The AI runs entirely on your iPhone, so it responds fast and your queries never leave the phone.
It also checks your tickets in SIMIT and warns you before your SOAT (mandatory insurance), vehicle inspection, and license expire: the three easiest fines to avoid, and among the most expensive when they hit.
Notice: this article is informational and does not constitute legal advice. The figures are for reference and depend on the current minimum wage, the exact violation code, and any additional charges the traffic authority applies. Always verify in SIMIT.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I see the violation type on my ticket? In the code printed on the ticket itself and in the detail shown in SIMIT. The starting letter is what determines the value.
Do all fines go up every year? Yes, because they're tied to the minimum wage. When the minimum wage rises, the value of every traffic fine rises with it.
Is the fine the only thing I pay? Not always. If there was impoundment, towing and storage fees get added. Interest can also apply if the ticket is already in collections.
Can I pay in installments? Traffic authorities usually offer payment plans, but signing up for one means accepting the violation and losing the early-payment discount.
Do speed camera tickets cost the same? The value is calculated the same way, based on the violation type detected. What changes is how it's notified and the grounds available to appeal it.
Clear it up in 10 seconds
Knowing how much your ticket costs shouldn't mean digging through old tables or doing division. With the formula, you don't need anyone else, and with the app, it's handled without even thinking about it.
Download ChatVial free on the App Store and calculate the value of any fine, check your tickets, and ask an AI-powered traffic advisor whatever you need. Want to see how it works first? Learn about ChatVial.