Car rentals

I have rented here in Colombia from Localiza numerous times.  As a visitor you will need to have your passport, your credit card, and your US drivers license.

There is insurance available and I HIGHLY recommend you take the full coverage insurance.  However be aware that some things are not covered.  I had a blowout and discovered (no surprise, same as in the US) that things like tires are not covered by insurance.

Also be aware that in Colombia the law requires you to have a very specific list of items for emergencies including jack, wrench, hazard markers, fire extinguisher.  Be sure to check that those items are in the trunk before you leave the rental counter. 

Ditto the above comment to rent from Localiza as most of my visiting friends from the US have taken my suggestion and they are just about as solid of a rental company as you can get here in Colombia.

Now I have my own personal car and been driving everywhere almost non-stop in Medellin (almost 15 years) and the all of Colombia for that matter and was just at the Medellin airport last week picking up my visiting family from LA, California, you will see that Localiza has a manned check-in counter right in the lobby of the airport as you exit the secure area through the doors you can't miss it, and their yard is like 2 miles away and they have a large stock of vehicles at the ready.

Yes get the full coverage if you could only step inside my mind for a moment and understand what I have seen you would understand.

Please don't drive at night city to city, of course from the Medellin airport to your hotel in the Aburra valley of Medellin if you have to but this is different roads than you may be accustomed to.

Use google maps to help you get around, have some pesos with you are there are toll roads from the airport to your hotel.

And most importantly I don't suggest that you rent a car to get around Medellin only if your considering visiting out and around the countryside on day and overnight trips outside Medellin. Having a car within Medellin is a hassle and traffic is usually bad and to boot you need to understand the pico y placa driving restriction days.

Hope this helps.