Short answer: since 3 August 2026, Pico y Placa in Medellín runs Monday to Friday between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and restricts private vehicles by the last digit of the plate: Monday 5 and 8 · Tuesday 1 and 4 · Wednesday 0 and 2 · Thursday 3 and 6 · Friday 7 and 9. It applies just the same to a rental car, the penalty exceeds a million pesos plus impoundment of the vehicle, and hybrids and electric vehicles are exempt.
If you're visiting, this is the local rule most likely to derail a day of your trip. The good news is that it's predictable and easy to plan around.
Hours and rotation in force since 3 August 2026
Hours: Monday to Friday, between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Outside that window — at night, in the early morning, and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays — you can drive with any plate.
| Day | Restricted last digit (private and official cars) |
|---|---|
| Monday | 5 and 8 |
| Tuesday | 1 and 4 |
| Wednesday | 0 and 2 |
| Thursday | 3 and 6 |
| Friday | 7 and 9 |
Two details that often cause confusion:
- Private and official cars: the last digit of the plate counts.
- Two- and four-stroke motorcycles: the first digit counts, on those same days.
The rotation changes every semester by municipal decree, precisely so the restriction doesn't always fall on the same drivers. If your trip is after the next change, check the current calendar on the Medellín city or Mobility Secretariat website before setting out.
What Pico y Placa is and why it exists
It's a traffic and air-quality measure: on each working day, vehicles whose plate ends in certain digits are barred from circulating. In the Aburrá Valley there's an extra reason — geography. The valley is hemmed in by mountains, and in March and October pollution builds up, which tends to tighten the measure temporarily.
The restriction applies within Medellín's urban perimeter and in several municipalities of the metropolitan area, with hours that can vary between them.
How to check whether your rental car is restricted
- Look at the last digit of the vehicle's plate — it's on the contract and on the car — and find it in the table above.
- Keep the window in mind: in Medellín it's 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. Municipalities such as Envigado, Sabaneta, Itagüí or Bello may run their own hours.
- Check whether a special air-quality measure is active, typically in March and October.
When arranging delivery you can simply ask which digit the plate you'll be assigned ends in. It's information given freely, and it lets you organise your week before you arrive — or request a vehicle whose digit doesn't clash with your critical day.
What happens if you're fined in a rental car
Here's the part worth understanding properly. A Pico y Placa violation carries a fine — more than a million pesos, equivalent to 15 daily minimum wages — and impoundment of the vehicle, which means tow truck and pound.
With a rental car there are two scenarios:
- If an officer stops you: the ticket is issued against the driver. You pay, plus the tow and pound costs, plus the lost time.
- If it's a camera ticket: it arrives against the plate, meaning in the owner's name. The agency passes it to whoever was driving on that date, and it's deducted from the deposit.
That's the direct link to your money: camera tickets are the reason the deposit is released after 8 business days rather than on the day you hand the car back. The full detail is in how the deposit and camera tickets work.
Hybrids and electric vehicles are exempt
This is the most useful exception for a traveller. Hybrid and electric vehicles have no Pico y Placa restriction in Medellín. If you're staying several days and need to drive every day without thinking about the plate, renting a hybrid solves the problem outright.
It is, in fact, the strongest argument for that category on longer stays: you get the fuel saving on the valley's hills plus freedom of movement. You can see which hybrid cars are available for rent and compare.
Other common exemptions: emergency vehicles, public transport, foreign-plated vehicles under specific conditions, and registered drivers with reduced mobility.
Pico y Placa in neighbouring municipalities
The Aburrá Valley is ten conurbated municipalities and the measure isn't identical across all of them. Envigado, Sabaneta, Itagüí, La Estrella, Bello and Copacabana may run their own hours or coordinate with Medellín under the metropolitan area's decree.
In practice: if you're staying in Envigado and working in Medellín, you cross two jurisdictions on the same journey. The safe rule is to assume the stricter of the two.
Outside the valley there is no Pico y Placa: the roads to Guatapé, Santa Fe de Antioquia, the Suroeste and José María Córdova airport are all clear. Which makes restricted days, ironically, the best days to leave the city.
How to plan your week around it
- Schedule your highway trips on your restricted day. Leave early, return late, and the rule never touches you.
- Use the free windows: before 5:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m. Setting off at 4:30 a.m. for Guatapé or Santa Fe is perfectly legal even on your day.
- Weekends and holidays: normally no Pico y Placa for private vehicles. Colombia has a lot of public holidays; check the calendar.
- If your plan is 100% urban and Monday to Friday, consider a hybrid from the outset.
- Coordinate your delivery date with the plate in mind: when booking you can ask for a vehicle whose digit doesn't clash with your key day.
With a little planning, the restriction stops being a problem and becomes just another line in the itinerary — like the weather or the tolls. If you're filling those days with outings, the list of things to do with the car helps you organise them.
Before you rent
Three practical facts: the minimum rental is 48 hours, delivery within the Aburrá Valley is free, and the deposit is 2,500,000 COP for mid-range and 3,000,000 COP for high-end vehicles. If you'll be driving in the city for the first time, it's worth reading these tips for driving in Medellín, and if it's your first rental in Colombia, the guide to renting a car covers the whole process. You can see full availability for car rental in Medellín before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pico y Placa in Medellín today?
Since 3 August 2026 the rotation for private and official cars, by the last digit of the plate, is: Monday 5 and 8; Tuesday 1 and 4; Wednesday 0 and 2; Thursday 3 and 6; Friday 7 and 9. For two- and four-stroke motorcycles the first digit of the plate applies on those same days.
What hours does Pico y Placa apply in Medellín?
Monday to Friday, between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Outside that window, and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, there is no restriction for private vehicles.
Does Pico y Placa apply to rental cars in Medellín?
Yes. The restriction goes by the last digit of the plate, regardless of whether the vehicle is private, rented or from another city. There is no exemption for tourists or for rental vehicles.
How much is the Pico y Placa fine in Medellín?
The penalty equals 15 current daily legal minimum wages — more than a million pesos — and includes impoundment of the vehicle, with tow and pound costs charged to the driver.
Do hybrid cars have Pico y Placa in Medellín?
No. Hybrid and electric vehicles are exempt from the restriction, which makes them the best option for longer stays where you need to drive every day.
How often does the digit rotation change?
Every semester, by municipal decree, so the restriction doesn't always fall on the same drivers. The current rotation has been in force since 3 August 2026.
What if I get a camera ticket after returning the car?
It arrives against the plate, in the owner's name, and is passed to whoever was driving on that date. That's why the deposit is released after 8 business days: it's the time the system takes to reflect those infractions.
Does Pico y Placa apply on the road to the airport?
No. The restriction operates inside the Aburrá Valley. The roads to José María Córdova, Guatapé, Santa Fe de Antioquia and the Suroeste are clear.