politics
May 8, 2026
This is how the illegal market for fake license plates in Bogotá operates: they deliver them in less than two hours
The falsification of license plates in Bogotá has become a phenomenon that worries the authorities. An exclusive investigation by La FM showed how clandestine workshops operate in sectors of the capital, manufacturing fake license plates for cars and motorcycles in a matter of hours, without requiring documentation and at costs around $150,000.
TL;DR
- Clandestine workshops in Bogotá are producing fake license plates for cars and motorcycles quickly and cheaply.
- These workshops operate without requiring documentation or background checks.
- The demand for fake plates comes from drivers avoiding fines and from criminal groups "cloning" vehicles.
- Some drivers resort to fake plates due to delays in obtaining legal duplicates.
- Fake plates can be identified by examining paint shine, finishes, and other physical details.
- A license plate appearing too new compared to the vehicle's condition, or showing recent screw replacements and lack of wear marks, can be a red flag.