I'm just gonna share my story because it may contradict a few others with the whole 12 month thing.

Basically, I missed the 12 month deadline cause I had no idea until it was too late. I figured "oh well, I don't have a car nor do I need one in Zurich anyway". I have a valid Swedish drivers license and figured it was fine to drive around on that.

Then some of my expat friends started saying "You can still transfer it up to 5 years from your entry date". I checked everything and couldn't find any details on 5 years. Their website has "12 months" written everywhere.

But I figured as so many were saying this (and one had even called them up and had it confirmed) I would try it anyway. So I did my 20 CHF eyetest at Visilab on BH-strasse, got my 8 CHF photo at a HB photo machine, took it all with my B-ausweis and Swedish license up to them this very morning. Super friendly people there I must say. Anyway, the guy didn't bat an eye, started fiddling with the computer and then tapped the entry date printed in my B-ausweis with a pen and said "lucky you didn't wait much longer!".

I figure that's confirmation enough that within 5 years is fine. Some points however:

- My license "issue date" is earlier than my Swiss entry date. Apparently this matters or you might need an additional document proving you've had a license prior to the current one (document from homecountry-drivers-license-office, whatever it may be. My US-friend has to do this.)
- My license is from an EU country, I don't know if this applies to non-EU countries, the US-people may still have to do a driving test. I can't say.
- They took my license and they're sending it back to Sweden. According to their website that's just how it is with EU-licenses.

So all of those who are in the same boat, go do it!

Edit: After posting an update on my Facebook today I can add that;
- Spanish friend did same thing, no problems. Waited 4.5 years.
- Canadian friend did same thing, no problems. Waited 3.5 years.

Hi Everyone
I moved to Lausanne in January and I do drive a lot. I am Hungarian, but my driving licence is from UK (as I lived there for 6 years)
I would like to change my licence for the swiss one! My questions are, do I have to do the test drive too? How long does it take to get the swiss licence?
Thank you, and have a nice day!!
Timea

You found the thread....did you read the thread too?
The answer is very simple and you will be happy but start on page 1 and you'll see very quickly the answer to your question.....

Hi everyone,

Unfortunately, I failed in my Kontrolfahrt test for the conversion of my Iranian driving license to the Swiss one . Why? I have absolutely no idea. Anyway, I was wondering if somebody could help me with the following questions:

1. The officer took my original Iranian license. Is he supposed to send it back to me? Of course, I am not allowed to drive in Switzerland anymore, but I need my license to drive in my country.
2. Am I still allowed to drive with my international driving license in other EU countries (If I could get my license back)?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Did you read the thread from page 1? Your license has been sent back to Iran.

Hi all,

A few months back I was pick pocketed in the Migros in Adliswil , they took my purse and it had my South African driver's licence in it.

I now want to do my conversion as we finally got around to buying a car. I can not get a replacement SA license without going to SA in person, all they can do is send me an official letter stating that I do have a valid drivers license in SA.

Does anyone know who I can contact to find out if the Swiss Authorites will accept the letter or not.

Any help appreciated.

Thank you!

Have you tried talking to the SA Consolate or Embassy?

Yip, they were my first stop after the insident...their response...sorry you must go back to SA and apply for a new license, we do not know anything about the letter you speak of.

I have not had good experiences with them so far.

seeing as there are over 1000 replies in this thread, i thought i'd just post my recent experience of converting my license, so that it is easy for people to find.

- i live in lausanne, so i downloaded the forms from http://www.vd.ch/themes/mobilite/automobile/
- i went to the service de la population in flon, where they verify your details and stamp your forms. this cost 12chf
- i then had a quick and simple eye test at the place in the metropole centre, the guy spoke basic english, and it cost 20chf
- i took my forms to the service des automobiles in blecherette. because my drivers license was from south africa, i had to do a supplementary test to get a swiss license. they gave me a 4 month window to complete it in and issued me with a piece of paper stating that i could drive in this time
- i went for a few driving lessons to get used to swiss rules and driving on the "wrong" side of the road. i used http://www.eca-auto-ecole.ch/ and had a great instructor by the name of joseph (who spoke english). lessons were 85chf an hour
- joseph booked my test for me. i explained to the examiner that my french was non-existent and he was nice about it - just know your left and right and straight commands
- the test is a basic 30 minutes of going on the autoroute, city driving, speed limits and right of way awareness
- after passing, they said they would send me my license
- the exam cost 130chf

hope this helps anyone who is wanting to convert their license and who isn't from an eu country

It does help, but can you tell me if all of this was done within the first year of arriving in Switzerland?

Hi all, I figured I'd give you my experience as of 2 weeks ago with converstion.

I have been in Switzerland for over 3 years now. I have a USA driving License. I never did the coversation because:
A. I'm lazy.
B. I dont give a Hoot, I have a US license it works Globally. I haven't been questioned by the Police or ever stopped for that matter.

But I finally did it in Canton Vaud. Since a couple of my work colleagues were going to do it, so it was done as a "team activity" over a prolonged lunch hour.

I got the eye test, got the certification from the Town Hall of the date of my arrival in Switzerland (2009). Got the Photo and filled out the form.

I walked into the Vehilce Control Place in Nyon, gave them my stuff. They made photocopies of my B permit, my New York State Driver's license (issued like last year due to expiration..so they made photo copies of the old one too).

They gave me my NYS license back with stupid sticker saying it was not valid in CH.

3 days later, brandie new Swiss License with my dumb looking mug shoot.

Issue date is consistent with day I did the conversion. But one of the bullet points on the back says I've been able to drive since 2004 (year of my previous license issue).

I can only try Car and tow a Trialer, and drive moped.

No drivers test, no B.S. And this is 3 years post arrival in Switzerland..recent as two weeks ago.

Good luck and thanks to Canton Vaud for not give me crap.

I'm about to convert my Swedish driving license into a Swiss one. I am aware of the procedure but there is something I still haven't been able to figure out. Back in Sweden I used my driving license as ID card and found that very handy, will I be able to do this with my Swiss one as well or do I have to get a separate card? I reckon the "Ausländerausweis" is a valid identity document but it's big as a passport and therefore not really suitable for a wallet.

Thanks in advance!

Why is your Ausländerausweis so big? Ours is the same size as a drivers licence i.e credit card size.

I have no idea. My "Ausländerausweis" looks like these two on the picture:

http://www.flaach.ch/de/images/466eb3be3d233.jpg

As I tried to find a picture of the one I have, I saw the credit card sized version which looked much better. Maybe it's different from canton to canton.

EU (and EU affiliates, like Norway) get the big things, and non-EU get the credit card size. don't know why though.

I got checked for alcohol the other day (why? I don't know. definitely not 16), and showed my Swiss driver's license and that seemed to work. So, I guess?

As an ID yes informally, but not enough to cross borders. If you're Swedish have you applied for a Swedish official ID card, not the ID-Kort that comes with your Posten/Banken card or driving license, this ID-Kort is only valid in the Nordic Union, which you have left.

@anowheels @magyir Thanks a lot for your help! From what I understand, the Swiss driving license seems to work as an ID in most cases but to be on the safe side, I'll make sure to obtain a Swedish national ID next time I'm in Sweden. It's also possible to do it at the embassy in Bern but since I'm going home in a couple of weeks, I may as well wait until then.

What happens if you fail the practical test? Do they take your original license?So what does that mean? We can't drive anymore? What happens to our car then?

You won't be able to drive, nothing happens to your car.