Categories for Driver’s License in Switzerland

Motorcycles (New rules from April 1st 2016): If you wish to ride a bike with a high engine capacity legally, you’ll need to apply for a category A provisional licence. This temporary licence will allow you to ride motorcycles with a power output of at least 40KW and a weight of more than 0.2KW/kg. You must be at least 25 years old to ride such a vehicle. If you don’t meet this requirement, you’ll be restricted to cars with a maximum power output of 35KW and a weight of no more than 0.16KW/kg.

Cars: The Swiss driving license has three sub-categories under the B category: B, BE, and B1. With a B Swiss driving license, you are authorized to drive a motor vehicle and a motor tricycle that weighs up to 3,500 kg and can carry up to eight passengers, excluding the Driver’s seat. If you want to tow a trailer, the trailer’s maximum weight should be 750 kg or 3,500 kg, including the vehicle’s weight. If the latter is the case, the trailer’s weight should not exceed the towing vehicle’s empty weight. If you don’t meet these conditions, you must obtain a BE Swiss driving license to tow a trailer. To drive a four-wheeled or tricycle motorcycle with a weight of up to 550 kilograms, you need a B1 Swiss driving license. To register for the exam for all B-category permits, you must be at least 18 years old.

Cargo transport: If you want to drive a car weighing over 3,500 kg, you must obtain a C-category licence in Switzerland. However, you must first acquire a Category B licence. With a C Swiss driving licence, you can also tow a trailer with a gross total weight of up to 750 kg. If you need to tow a load that weighs more than 750 kg, you must first obtain the CE licence after receiving the C licence. Additionally, the C1E category licence allows you to drive a C1 category vehicle and a trailer with a combined weight of no more than 12,000 kilograms. Remember that the total weight of the vehicle and the trailer should not exceed 12,000 kilograms.

Passenger transport: If you want to transport more than 8 people in a motor vehicle, excluding the driver’s seat, you need a Swiss driving license of category D. This license also permits you to tow a trailer that weighs less than 750kg. To be eligible for this license, you must already have a B Swiss driving license. If you need to pull a load weighing more than 750kg but less than 12,000kg, you need to obtain a D1E license. You must be at least 21 years old to apply for either of these licenses.

Other vehicles: However, from the age of 14 years old, it is possible to obtain a specific category of the Swiss driving licence: the G and M category. The G permit allows you to drive an agricultural automatic or work vehicle with a maximum speed of 30 km/h. Finally, the M Swiss driving licence will enable you to move mopeds. It is obligatory to do the First Aid course to obtain all these categories of driving privileges, except if you have already got a Swiss driving licence in another type less than six years ago.

Rules and Regulations

Visiting another country requires tourists and other travellers to know its laws. This not-written requirement applies, especially to driving rules and regulations.

Switzerland has won multiple awards for having the safest roads in Europe, a continent known for looking after its thoroughfares as one of its top priorities. You can imagine how safe Switzerland’s roads are before visiting there. Read further to familiarize yourself with the driving rules in Switzerland.