I love traveling around Colombia with the Uber app.
With that said, you need to know what you are doing in order to travel with this app.
In Colombia, Uber is illegal.
You need to sit in the front seat, so if you are pulled over do not talk, if the police ask you questions, tell them you can not speak Spanish.

Uber, the popular ride-hailing service, has been facing a number of legal challenges in countries around the world, including in Colombia. Despite its popularity and convenience, Uber has been deemed illegal in Colombia since 2015, when a judge issued a ruling that declared the service to be in violation of the country's transportation laws.

The legal battle over Uber in Colombia has been long and contentious. In December 2014, the country's Ministry of Transport issued a statement declaring that Uber was operating illegally in Colombia, as it did not comply with the country's transportation regulations. However, Uber continued to operate in the country, arguing that it was not a taxi service but rather a technology platform that connected riders with drivers.

In early 2015, the Colombian Association of Radio Taxi Companies (Asociación Colombiana de Empresas de Radio Taxi, or ACERT) filed a lawsuit against Uber, alleging that the company was engaging in unfair competition and violating the country's transportation laws. The case went to court, and in December 2015, a judge issued a ruling that declared Uber to be illegal in Colombia.

The ruling stated that Uber was engaging in unfair competition with taxi companies, as it did not comply with the same regulations and taxes that were required of traditional taxi operators. The judge also noted that Uber was not registered with the Ministry of Transport, and was therefore operating illegally.

Following the ruling, Uber announced that it would continue to operate in Colombia while it appealed the decision. However, in 2017, the Colombian government began cracking down on Uber drivers, imposing hefty fines and impounding their vehicles. In response, Uber announced that it would suspend its operations in Colombia as of February 1, 2020.

The suspension of Uber's operations in Colombia was a blow to the company, which had been operating in the country since 2013 and had over two million active users. However, the decision was welcomed by taxi drivers and their unions, who had been lobbying for Uber to be banned for years.

One of the main reasons why Uber has been deemed illegal in Colombia is because it does not comply with the same regulations and taxes that are required of traditional taxi operators. In Colombia, taxi companies are required to register with the Ministry of Transport and pay a variety of taxes and fees, including a road tax, a vehicle registration fee, and a special tax on airport pickups.

Uber, on the other hand, does not register with the Ministry of Transport and does not pay these taxes and fees. Instead, it charges a commission to its drivers and relies on them to comply with local regulations and taxes.

This lack of compliance with local regulations has been a major sticking point for governments around the world. In many countries, Uber has been accused of undermining traditional taxi services and creating unfair competition. This has led to protests and legal challenges, with some countries imposing fines and other penalties on Uber and its drivers.

However, despite the legal challenges that it faces, Uber continues to be a popular service around the world. It has revolutionized the way that people think about transportation, providing a convenient and affordable alternative to traditional taxis. While it may face legal challenges in some countries, it is likely that Uber will continue to grow and expand in the coming years, as more and more people around the world embrace the sharing economy and the benefits that it can offer.

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