So, last week I went in for a Kontrolfahrt to exchange my existing Indian drivers license for a Swiss drivers license. The test was for the B license. The test was all ok, and the examiner informed me that I should expect to receive my license in a couple of days. I was happy and all that rot... that is until i received the thing in the post. Now i don't know if should be overjoyed or remain just happy.

When I applied to convert my car and motrocycle licenses (about 3 odd months ago), the strassenverkhersamt sent me a letter saying i was allowed to test for the B license. No word about the A license, so I assumed I had no chance of converting the motorcycle license.

The converted license came in the post along with my Indian drivers license. The indian drivers license has a cheap but ominous sounding sticker on it - "not valid in switzerland". And, the swiss drivers license indicates that I am permitted to drive vehicles in categories A and B.

I did not test for category A at all! That said, I would rather be driving motorcycles than cars

I am truly stumped. What the @#$%^ is going on? Is a single Kontrolfahrt in a car sufficient to convert both the licenses?

If someone has a valid licence from another country, I could imagine that the test here is more a case of whether they understand the Swiss Road Signs and Laws in Switzerland, than whether they are capable of handling the vehicle, motorbike or car, itself.


By the way, I cannot understand why it is no longer the norm to say simply 'What is going on?' instead of adding 'colour' to the question, especially when what has happened is to the recipient's advantage.

Edit: The OP very nicely had already edited his post in the time between my writing this and posting it.

The reason, why I was surprised was this:

Sofern sie die kontrollfahrt nicht auf einem Fahrzeug jener Kategorie ablegen, die zum Führen aller im Ausweis eingetragenen Kategorien berechtigt, können Sie innert 2 Jahren gerechnet ab Einreisesdatum, dies nachholen.

I (maybe) misunderstood that I am expected to undergo the Kontrollfahrt for every category listed on my original drivers license within 2 years.

They've put it very politely, but I think the idea is that you should do a 'Kontrollfahrt' for each type. I expect the point is that you need your licence to be allowed to drive. It would be idiotic* to give you one for one type, then you do another test drive and they have to alter your licence again. However, I expect they have a little list somewhere with a star by your name that you haven't yet completed the 'transfer'...

*Not that this would usually stop the Swiss doing it!

Maybe you want to send a registered letter to the stva complaining that you did not test for A and therefore you would like them to remove the category? *irony off*

I think you need to do a course for the A1 license which is a group drive and no need to give any more tests. just go to the strasseverkherampt office and ask for a learners license for a1 and then do a group course and then you will get a1. right now you can ride any bike upto 45 km per hour under the A category.

You know this is exactly what I was thinking. The "A" is really only for scooters & vespas under x not for a full on motorcycle. For that you'll need the A1.


A
Motocycles d'une puissance maximale de 25 kW et un rapport puissance/poids maximal de 0.16 kW/kg

A1
Motocycles d'une cylindrée n'excédant pas 125 cm3 et d'une puissance maximale de 11 kW

It is the other way around.
http://www.astra2.admin.ch/media/pdf...-15_2264_e.pdf

A1 permits you to ride motorcyles not exceeding cubic capacity of 125 cm3 and power 11kW. (i.e. smaller of the scooters and mofas)



What was your source of information?

Ah. Yes, you are right. The A1 is limited to under 125cm3. My source is the canton of Vaud which I quote above. The info I quoted was correct. It was my interpretation of it that was wrong. It was the 25kw vs the 125cm3 thing that confused me.