Colombia · Santa Marta

Car Rental Software Santa Marta | Movialy

Movialy gives Santa Marta car and motorbike rental operators one mobile app to track fleets, deposits, and vehicle condition.

Rental market study · updated on 02/09/26

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Local market

The car and motorbike rental market in Santa Marta

population

Around 500,000

peak season

Drier months outside April-May and September-October rainy season

main visitors

Mostly domestic Colombian tourists; international tourists made up about 6% of 2025 visitors

typical fleet

Motorcycles and 125cc scooters dominate budget rental offers; cars available from traditional agencies

Market context

Understanding the Santa Marta car and motorbike rental market

Santa Marta's vehicle-rental market is shaped by a tourism base that drew 72,276 visitors from 134 countries in 2025. 81% of those arrivals came for tourism, equal to 58,648 international tourists, but international visitors only made up about 6% of the tourist total, leaving domestic Colombian travelers as the dominant source of demand. Budget mobility favors two-wheelers: local listings show motorcycle rentals from 75,000 COP per day with deposits of 400,000 COP for TVS100 and 125cc scooter models. Short urban hops by mototaxi cost only a few thousand Colombian pesos, setting a low price reference for very brief trips. Rainy months in April-May and September-October suppress riding activity, while drier windows concentrate demand. Foreign visitors must purchase a tourist card at the airport before arrival, adding a documentation step for cross-border customers. The competitive landscape mixes informal mototaxi operators, small motorcycle rental shops, and established car rental counters, with no single booking channel dominating the city.

Two-wheel price floor

A local Facebook rental post advertises motorcycle rental from $75,000 COP per day with a $400,000 COP deposit.

Domestic demand base

International tourists made up only about 6% of Santa Marta's 2025 visitors, so rental demand comes mostly from Colombian travelers.

Mototaxi competition

Short mototaxi rides cost a few thousand Colombian pesos, setting a price anchor below daily motorcycle rental rates.

Airport tourist card

Foreign visitors must purchase a tourist card at the airport before arrival, adding a pre-rental documentation requirement.

Challenges

Specific challenges for local operators

High deposits for two-wheelers

Local motorbike rental listings mention deposits of $400,000 COP, which can deter short-term visitors and increase the operator's need to track deposit returns accurately.

Rainy-month demand drops

Santa Marta's rainiest months are April-May and September-October, reducing riding days and fleet utilization for open-air vehicles.

Mototaxi price pressure

With short mototaxi trips costing only a few thousand COP, daily motorcycle and scooter rental rates face competition for very short urban journeys.

Foreign visitor paperwork

Travelers arriving from abroad must purchase a tourist card at the airport, adding a document check before a rental contract can be finalized.

How Movialy helps

How Movialy is adapted for Santa Marta

Proof & vehicle condition

In Santa Marta, where motorcycles rent from $75,000 COP per day and deposits can be $400,000 COP, timestamped photo check-in records odometer, fuel level and bodywork at the start and end of each rental. This creates a tamper-proof condition history for each TVS100 or 125cc scooter.

Money & customers

Movialy records rental revenue, extras, discounts, deposits and refunds in Colombian pesos for Santa Marta operators. It gives a customer balance with paid, overdue, and doubtful debt status using the cash, transfer, or card methods the operator already accepts locally.

Fleet & scheduling

The per-vehicle occupancy calendar keeps Santa Marta fleets aligned with drier demand windows and quieter rainy months. Colour-coded statuses show available, rented, maintenance and out-of-service units at a glance.

Built for the field

Santa Marta's coastal deliveries and remote pickups can experience unstable 4G, so the mobile app tolerates brief internet drops and syncs automatically when the network returns. It supports local formats including Colombian peso values and date conventions.

Practical tips

Running a car or motorbike rental business in Santa Marta

Benchmark local motorbike prices

Use the local advertised rate of $75,000 COP per day and $400,000 COP deposit for motorcycles as a reference when setting your own two-wheeler prices. Keep short-hop pricing responsive to mototaxi fares that run only a few thousand COP.

Plan maintenance for rainy months

Steer non-essential fleet maintenance and downtime into April-May and September-October, Santa Marta's rainiest periods, when riding demand is lower. This protects revenue during the drier windows.

Prepare tourist card workflows

Foreign visitors must purchase a tourist card at the airport before arrival, so ask for it and a passport during check-in. Since international tourists were only about 6% of 2025 visitors, prioritize a fast process for the larger domestic Colombian market.

Track two-wheeler deposits tightly

Because local motorbike rental listings mention $400,000 COP deposits, maintain a clear record of collected and returned deposits for each scooter or motorcycle rental. This reduces disputes and simplifies end-of-day reconciliation.

FAQ

Common questions

What rental rates are common in Santa Marta?+

Local motorbike rental posts list daily prices around $75,000 COP and deposits of $400,000 COP for models such as TVS100 and 125cc scooters.

When is Santa Marta's rainy season?+

The rainiest months are April-May and September-October, which can reduce demand for open-air vehicle rentals.

Do foreign visitors need extra documents?+

Travelers arriving in Colombia must purchase a tourist card at the airport before arrival, as stated in travel advisories.

What is a typical mototaxi fare?+

Short mototaxi rides in Santa Marta cost a few thousand Colombian pesos, making them a low-cost option for brief urban trips.

Does Movialy handle payments for my customers?+

Movialy records payments, deposits and refunds in Colombian pesos, but the operator collects and refunds those amounts through their own local methods.

How much does car rental software cost for a small Santa Marta fleet?+

Movialy is free up to 20 vehicles with no card required.

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