Colombia SOAT for motorcycles: what it covers
SOAT is Colombia’s mandatory traffic accident insurance. It covers every victim of a crash —rider, passenger and pedestrians— with four benefits: medical costs (up to 701.68 UVT, about COP 36.7 million in 2026), transport to hospital, permanent disability and death. Hospitals must treat victims without upfront payment. It does not cover damage to the motorcycle or other vehicles. For bikes of 200 cc or less, the insurer pays a smaller share and the state fund ADRES covers the rest.
Updated on · By Pablo Porras (ChamoenMoto)
What does SOAT cover, and up to how much?
| Benefit | Limit | Approximate value, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Medical, surgical and hospital costs | 701.68 UVT | ≈ COP 36.7 million |
| Transport of the victim to hospital | 8.77 UVT (one payment) | ≈ COP 459,000 |
| Permanent disability | 180 daily minimum wages | ≈ COP 10.5 million |
| Death and funeral costs | 750 daily minimum wages | ≈ COP 43.8 million |
Medical and transport limits are set in UVT (Colombia’s tax value unit) for policies issued since 30 December 2022. Peso figures are our own calculation using the 2026 UVT (COP 52,374) and the 2026 minimum wage (COP 1,750,905). The exact value is the one in force on the day of the crash.
The death benefit applies if the person dies within one year of the crash.
What changes for motorcycles of 200 cc or less?
Motorcycles up to 200 cc pay a discounted SOAT. In exchange, the insurer covers medical costs only up to 263.13 UVT (about COP 13.8 million in 2026). Anything above that, up to 701.68 UVT, is paid by ADRES, the state health fund. For the victim, care does not change: the hospital bills whoever is responsible after treatment.
Once the SOAT limit is used up, further costs fall to the victim’s health insurer (EPS), their occupational risk insurer (ARL) if it was a work accident, or their special health scheme.
Who does SOAT cover?
Anyone injured in a traffic accident: the rider, the passenger, pedestrians and occupants of other vehicles. In the words of La Previsora’s policy terms, SOAT is not subject to any exclusion. It does not matter whether the victim has health insurance.
What SOAT does not cover: damage to your motorcycle, other vehicles or property. That requires voluntary liability or own-damage insurance.
How do you use SOAT after a crash?
- Call 123 and ask for an ambulance. If you are a bystander, follow our motorcycle accident first aid guide.
- You do not pay upfront at the hospital. Hospitals must treat crash victims regardless of their ability to pay and bill the insurer or ADRES afterwards.
- Give the SOAT details (vehicle plate or policy number) and the victim’s ID. The hospital claims medical costs directly.
- Keep copies of the police report, the discharge summary and invoices: you will need them for disability or later claims.
The victim claims permanent disability; beneficiaries claim the death benefit (half to the spouse or permanent partner and half to the children; failing them, the parents, then siblings).
What if the motorcycle had no SOAT or the driver fled?
The victim is still treated. If the vehicle was uninsured or could not be identified, ADRES pays medical costs up to 701.68 UVT, and beneficiaries can claim the death benefit directly from ADRES.
The problem is for the owner: riding without SOAT is offence D.2, with a fine of 30 daily minimum wages (about COP 1.75 million in 2026) and impoundment of the motorcycle. According to ConsultorSalud, in February 2026, 96.8% of ADRES claims for identified uninsured vehicles involved motorcycles.
How long do you have to claim?
- From ADRES: 3 years from the crash.
- From the insurer: 2 years (ordinary) or 5 years (extraordinary) under article 1081 of the Commercial Code.
- Disability assessment: must be requested within 18 months of the crash.
SOAT does not set a number of days of care: the limit is the money cap of each benefit.
How does an emergency QR code fit in?
SOAT pays for treatment, but it does not tell a paramedic who you are. If you arrive unconscious, the hospital needs your blood type, allergies, whether you take blood thinners and who to call. That is what the profile behind an emergency QR code on your helmet shows. One pays, the other informs.
Frequently asked questions
Does SOAT cover the motorcycle passenger?
Yes. SOAT covers anyone injured in a traffic accident, which includes the passenger, the rider and pedestrians. The passenger’s medical costs are charged to the policy of the motorcycle they were riding, with the same limits. If that motorcycle had no SOAT, ADRES covers the care and can later seek repayment from the owner.
Does SOAT cover damage to my motorcycle?
No. SOAT only covers harm to people: medical costs, transport to hospital, permanent disability and death. Damage to your motorcycle, another vehicle or property is not included. For that you need voluntary liability or own-damage insurance, bought separately from an insurer, with its own terms, prices and deductibles. If you rent a motorcycle, ask whether that extra cover is included.
Do foreign riders in Colombia need SOAT?
Yes. SOAT is tied to the vehicle, not the person, so every motorcycle on Colombian roads must carry it, including rentals. If you rent a motorcycle, ask to see the SOAT before riding off. Without it, the bike can be impounded and you face a fine of about COP 1.75 million in 2026.
Can a hospital charge me if I have SOAT?
Not for emergency care after the crash. ADRES Circular 9 of 2025 reminds hospitals that they must treat traffic accident victims regardless of ability to pay and bill the insurer or ADRES afterwards. If the SOAT limit runs out, the bill passes to your health insurer or occupational risk insurer, not directly to you.
Sources
- La Previsora, SOAT policy terms (SOP-001-007, July 2025), in Spanish.
- ADRES, Circular 9 of 2025 and Resolution 12758 of 2023, in Spanish.
- Colombian Health Superintendency, Opinion 81321 of 2025, in Spanish.
- Financial Superintendency, article 1081 of the Commercial Code, in Spanish.
- DIAN, Resolution 000238 of 2025 (2026 UVT), in Spanish.
- Ministry of Transport, Opinion 20241340325781 (offence D.2), in Spanish.
- ConsultorSalud, traffic accidents without SOAT, 2026, in Spanish.
Information checked on 14 October 2026. This is not legal advice: for a specific case, contact the insurer or ADRES.