Basic Requirements to get a Driver’s license in Switzerland

Introduction

If you plan to drive in Switzerland and have a foreign driver’s license, you can use it for up to 12 months, provided you are at least 18 years old. After 12 months, foreign Driver’s claims must be exchanged for Swiss rights to drive legally. It is important to note that this exchange is mandatory, and failure to do so can result in legal consequences.

If you are from the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes EU member states Iceland, Norway, and Lichtenstein. If you move to Switzerland, you can exchange your foreign Driver’s license for a Swiss one without a test, as long as you do it within 12 months of moving to Switzerland.

After 12 months of residency outside the European Economic Area (EEA), individuals must take a practical driving test in Switzerland to exchange their license. Nationals from certain non-EU countries must also sit the Swiss driving theory test.

Suppose your Driver’s license is in a language not recognized by Swiss authorities (English, French, German, or Italian). In that case, you need to carry an International Driving License, a translation of your driving license.

Specific categories of international diplomats and civil servants are exempt from exchanging their licenses. They can drive using a foreign request for an unlimited period.

Steps to Apply for a Driving License in Switzerland

The Swiss driver’s license for cars is known as a Category B driving license. To get this, you first need to obtain a provisional license, which you can apply for one month before your 17th birthday.

To apply for a provisional license, you must:

• Attend a 10-hour first-aid course by a certified instructor (information available from your canton’s road traffic office)
• Complete an application form and take it to your canton’s road traffic office along with a valid ID, a passport photo, and a valid eye test.
• Pass the Swiss driving theory test.

You will then receive your provisional Swiss Driver’s license, which is valid for two years. During this time you can drive under the supervision of someone who is at least 23 years old and has completed their three-year driving probation period.

To get a full Swiss driving license, you will then need to:

• Complete the compulsory 8-hour road awareness theory course (Verkehrskunde/sensibilization)
• Pass your practical driving test (see below).

You will be given a probationary driving license for the first three years of driving. This means that you will be under observation and scrutiny during this period. To exchange your probationary license for a permanent license, you must:

• Complete a further one-day training course (recently reduced from two days) within the first 12 months of getting a probationary license.
• Do not commit severe driving offences that result in a suspension of your license.

You will need to provide the following:

1. Application form.
2. Original foreign Driver’s license (with translation, if applicable)
3. Eye test certificate from a registered optician.
4. Two passport-sized photos (in colour, not black and white)
5. Proof of residency and visa.
6. Valid ID.

Driving tests in Switzerland

The Federal Office of Roads (ASTRA/FEDRO) administrates driving tests in Switzerland, working together with the cantonal road traffic offices. The test has two parts – a theory test and a practical test. However, residents from certain countries exchanging their foreign Driver’s licenses only take the practical test.

You apply for the driving test’s theory and practical parts at your local road traffic office.

Driving Theory Tests in Switzerland

The theory test is the first part of the Swiss driving test. You can generally book online by completing an application form on your canton’s road traffic office website, choosing a date, and paying the exam fee.

Tests take place at examination centres within the cantons. They last 45 minutes and consist of 50 multiple-choice questions. You need to score at least 135 to pass. If you fail, you can take the test as many times as you like. However, you will need to pay the fee each time.

Until the end of 2020, those who passed the test must also pass their practical test within two years. However, rules changed in January 2021 and Swiss theory tests are now valid indefinitely.

Tests are usually in one of the national languages (French, German, Italian). However, in some cantons, you can request to take the exam in English. If the exam is in a language you must be fluent in, you can have a certified translator present. You can buy study guides and practice questions in shops and online, for example, here at Fahrscultheorie.

Practical Driving Tests in Switzerland

Once you have passed your theory test and feel sufficiently prepared, you can book your practical driving test. You can do this yourself or your driving instructor can do this for you. It is possible to book online through your local road traffic office.

From January 2021, anyone under 20 years old who is taking a test needs to have had their provisional license for at least 12 months before taking the practical test.

You can test in any roadworthy car that meets the standard regulations, such as Swiss license plates. You will need to provide the following to book a test:

• Valid photo ID
• Provisional driving license
• Registration details for the vehicle used in the test

The Swiss practical driving test takes place at a driving school where you will drive accompanied by a qualified examiner who will mark you on your ability to operate your vehicle, drive in traffic, follow verbal instructions, adhere to road signs, manoeuvre, and park the car. Tests usually last around 40-60 minutes.

If you pass the test, you will immediately receive a stamp on your provisional license, permitting you to drive unsupervised in Switzerland. You should receive your probationary Swiss driving license within 10 working days.

If you fail the test, you need to wait one month before retaking it. If you fail three times, you will need to take a driving aptitude test before taking another practical test. You will lose your provisional license if you fail the aptitude test. Passing the aptitude test and then forgetting the practical test for a fourth time means that you will have to go for a psychological assessment of your driving ability.