Vehicle Preliminary Sale Agreement Colombia (Promesa de Compraventa de Vehículo)

A Vehicle Preliminary Sale Agreement (Promesa de Compraventa de Vehículo) in Colombia is a preparatory contract by which the seller and buyer of a motor vehicle mutually commit to execute the definitive sale contract on a future date, place, and terms agreed in advance. Governed by Article 1611 of the Colombian Código Civil, the agreement must satisfy four validity requirements: it must be in writing, identify the promised contract with sufficient clarity, set the deadline for executing the final contract, and concern a contract the law does not declare ineffective.

In vehicle transactions, the Promesa de Compraventa is particularly important because the definitive transfer of title through the transit authority — the RUNT (Registro Único Nacional de Tránsito), administered under Ley 769 de 2002 (Código Nacional de Tránsito Terrestre) and Decreto 1079 de 2015 — requires several administrative steps that may take days: a valid technical-mechanical inspection (revisión técnico-mecánica), an active SOAT (Seguro Obligatorio de Accidentes de Tránsito), a paz y salvo clearance certificate for outstanding traffic fines and comparendos in the SIMIT (Sistema Integrado de Multas e Infracciones de Tránsito), and payment of the municipal vehicle transfer tax (impuesto de traspaso). The promise formalizes the agreement while all these requirements are being fulfilled.

The agreement fixes the total vehicle price in Colombian pesos (COP), the arras or deposit delivered as earnest money — which under Article 1859 of the Código Civil the buyer forfeits if they default, or which the seller must return doubled if the seller defaults — the deadline for completing the RUNT transfer, and the vehicle's condition at delivery. Essential details include the license plate (placa), engine number (número de motor), chassis or VIN number (número de chasis o VIN), and the current tarjeta de propiedad showing the RUNT-registered owner.

Vehicle fraud is a serious risk in Colombia's used-car market, which handles over one million transactions annually. Common frauds include: sale of vehicles with undisclosed outstanding pledges (prendas), cloned vehicles with altered engine or chassis numbers, vehicles reported stolen in the SIJIN or DIJIN of the Policía Nacional, and vehicles with unpaid traffic fines in the SIMIT or overdue impuesto de rodamiento. Verifying the vehicle's legal status at www.runt.com.co before signing the promise is the most important protective step a buyer can take in Colombia.

The Corte Suprema de Justicia — Sala de Casación Civil has confirmed in multiple rulings that a Promesa de Compraventa de Vehículo, once perfected under all requirements of Article 1611 of the Código Civil, creates fully enforceable reciprocal obligations and constitutes sufficient title to bring a compulsory enforcement action (acción de cumplimiento forzoso) before the Juzgado Civil Municipal or del Circuito of the defendant's domicile. The buyer who delivered arras and does not receive the vehicle by the agreed date may seek a court order compelling the seller to execute the final contract, or claim compensation equal to double the arras plus proven damages. The Decreto 1079 de 2015 regulates the vehicle transfer procedure before transit authorities and sets out the documents required for each type of vehicle transaction in Colombia. forms-legal.com provides this Vehicle Preliminary Sale Agreement template with seller representations and warranties regarding the vehicle's legal status, with liability for eviction under Articles 1893 to 1934 of the Código Civil.

A Vehicle Preliminary Sale Agreement in Colombia is required in all motor vehicle transactions — for used or new vehicles — where the definitive RUNT transfer cannot be completed immediately at the moment of the agreement.

Pending bank financing: When the buyer is processing a vehicle loan with a commercial bank, savings cooperative, or fintech lender, the bank typically requires the Promesa de Compraventa as a prerequisite to approve and disburse the credit. The agreement evidences the transaction and the agreed price, enabling the bank to calculate the financing percentage against the vehicle's commercial value.

Existing pledge (prenda) on the vehicle: When the seller has an outstanding secured credit with a bank or cooperative, they must cancel that pledge and release the certificate of freedom and tradition before the RUNT transfer can occur. The promise allows the buyer to deliver arras so the seller can discharge the pledge, conditioned on the transfer occurring once the Superintendencia Financiera or the transit authority confirms the lien release.

Unpaid traffic fines: Under Ley 769 de 2002, transit authorities cannot process a vehicle transfer when the vehicle has outstanding fines or comparendos in the SIMIT. The agreement gives the seller time to clear all SIMIT records and obtain the paz y salvo needed for the RUNT transfer.

Pre-purchase technical inspection: The buyer may condition the promise on a satisfactory inspection of the vehicle's mechanical condition by an independent technician, on RUNT verification confirming no pledges, embargoes, or theft reports, and on confirmation that engine and chassis numbers match official records. This condition protects the buyer from acquiring a vehicle with hidden defects.

Transactions between parties in different Colombian cities: When the negotiation involves parties in different cities — Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bucaramanga — the promise formalizes the agreement before the vehicle is physically relocated. It may be signed remotely using certified electronic signature under Decreto 2364 de 2012 or with notarized signature authentication.

Installment payments prior to transfer: When the vehicle price is paid in multiple installments before the definitive transfer, the Promesa de Compraventa is the only document that protects the buyer against the risk of the seller reneging or selling to a third party after receiving partial payments. Without a formalized promise under Article 1611 of the Código Civil, the buyer would have a very weak legal position to claim reimbursement or compel performance.

Fleet purchases — multiple commercial vehicles: When a company acquires multiple cargo vehicles, buses, or automobiles from an existing fleet, the Promesa de Compraventa establishes the global terms — total fleet price, payment terms, staggered delivery conditions — while each unit's RUNT transfer is processed separately. Article 1611 of the Código Civil allows the promise to identify vehicles through technical lists or annexes attached to the main document. Leasing financing under Ley 1328 de 2009 (Estatuto del Consumidor Financiero) also typically requires a Promesa de Compraventa to establish the base price for calculating the lease canon and end-of-term purchase option.

A Vehicle Preliminary Sale Agreement in Colombia must contain the following essential elements for legal validity and enforceability under Article 1611 of the Código Civil and Ley 769 de 2002.

**Complete identification of the parties:** Full names, cédulas de ciudadanía, domiciles, and contact details of both seller and buyer. If a party is a legal entity, include NIT, corporate name, and legal representative with power of attorney or certificate of existence and legal representation from the Cámara de Comercio.

**Technical vehicle identification:** Current license plate (placa), make (marca), model line (línea), model year, color, engine number (número de motor), chassis or VIN number (número de chasis o VIN), current property card number (tarjeta de propiedad), SOAT number with insurer and expiration date, and date of the most recent revisión técnico-mecánica. All data must match exactly what is registered in the RUNT under Ley 769 de 2002 and Decreto 1079 de 2015 — any discrepancy can block the transfer.

**Total price and payment terms:** Total amount in Colombian pesos (COP), value of arras or deposit delivered with the promise, payment method for the balance (cash, installments, bank credit), and deadline for full payment before the RUNT transfer.

**Arras with clear legal regime:** Amount delivered as earnest money. Under Article 1859 of the Código Civil, if the buyer defaults they forfeit the arras; if the seller defaults they return double. The agreement must specify whether these are retractación arras (allowing withdrawal with financial consequence) or confirmatory arras (no unilateral withdrawal permitted).

**Deadline for the definitive transfer:** Express final date to appear before the competent transit authority or to complete the RUNT registration. The deadline is an essential validity requirement under Article 1611 of the Código Civil — its absence can invalidate the promise.

**Seller representations and warranties:** The seller declares under oath that the vehicle is free of pledges, liens, judicial or administrative embargoes, theft reports in the SIJIN or DIJIN of the Policía Nacional, unpaid traffic fines in the SIMIT, and overdue impuesto de rodamiento. The seller must disclose any total-loss accidents or major bodywork repairs. Liability for eviction and warranty of quiet enjoyment is governed by Articles 1893 to 1934 of the Código Civil colombiano.

**Vehicle condition and delivery terms:** Description of the vehicle's general condition, odometer reading at signing, included accessories (spare tire, jack, keys, manuals, documents), and delivery conditions (place, date, and time). If the vehicle is delivered before the RUNT transfer, the buyer assumes custody and risk of the asset while the seller remains the legal owner — this interim situation and its risks must be expressly regulated in the promise.

**Penalty clause for default:** Additional penalty amount for breach, which may be cumulative with the forfeiture or double-return of arras under Article 1600 of the Código Civil, plus compulsory enforcement before the Juzgado Civil Municipal or del Circuito.

**Pre-signing verifications:** Before signing, the buyer should consult the RUNT (www.runt.com.co) to verify pledges, embargoes, theft reports, and the registered owner; consult the SIMIT for outstanding traffic fines; and check the relevant Secretaría de Hacienda for overdue impuesto de rodamiento. forms-legal.com provides this template updated to Ley 769 de 2002, Decreto 1079 de 2015, and the Código General del Proceso in force in Colombia 2025. Signature authentication before a notario or via certified electronic signature under Decreto 2364 de 2012 gives the promise greater evidentiary weight. Any suspensiva or resolutoria condition must be clearly drafted under Article 1530 of the Código Civil to avoid disputes about whether it was fulfilled within the agreed timeframe.