Hi there,
I'm a new comer in Zurich and wondering if I could convert my Australian driving licence in to the Swiss licence . I live in Regensdorf so How and where If I could do it please. Thanks a lot for your help.
Cheers,

Try the search function and you'll get your answer, but basically go to the local STVA office and fill in a form, take your residence permit, a photo and your driving licence.

I think there is an office in Regensdorf but check here www.stva.zh.ch

You have 1 year before you can't drive any more

Dear Nigelr, thank you very much for your suggestion ,I will check it now
Cheers,
P.

Nigelr is right, but he means "You have 12 months to drive in CH on an Australian licence".
You can still drive in other EU countries or wherever as long as your licence is valid.
You have a period of 5 years in total to convert your Australian licence.


You will need an eye test as well (about 25chf or so) and it will cost about 125chf all up for the procedure.
The STVA will post your new licence & Australian licence to you (the Aussie licence will have a sticker on it to say it's void). This takes about 2 working days.

You have to prove that you held the licence BEFORE your entry date to Switzerland.

........ that's all there is to it really.

One inaccuracy: You can not drive in Germany with any license which is not valid in your country of residence. § 29 Abs 3 Ziff 5 FeV.

.... woops

I drove in Germany for 3 years assuming that was OK.

Is this just a German thing? Other countries I went to to hire cars just asked for my licence and didn't question it for a second..... Germany on the other hand was always in someone elses car and I didn't need to hire so I was never questioned.

When i convert my driving licence to the Swiss one, i have to make a test drive with the expert from STVA. It last for about 45 minutes, driving from Schaffisheim, Brugg, Aarau, Lenzburg and back to STVA in Shaffisheim.

The expert was not that happy with me (didn't understand his Schwitzerdütch at that time), but he still thinks that i am good enough to hold the swiss driving licence though. Then i get a temporary driving licence (befristet) which valid for 3 years. They require me to attend this 2 days course in an stva approved driving school in order to be eligible for the right driving licence .

It is a German thing. The Swiss law is not that strict and just request that a visitor has a valid license. Art. 42 VZV. Neither is the Austrian Führerscheingesetz § 23.

But on the other hand the Swiss (ARV1 Art 4 Abs 2 Lit a) and German (FPersV § 18 Abs 1 Num 9) law are less strict about driving certain D1 vans compared to the Austrian law (Lenker/innen-Ausnahmeverordnung), which does not implement the voluntary exception according to REGULATION (EC) No 561/2006 Art 13 Abs 1 Lit i.

For other countries: I do not know. My French and Italian is a bit rusty, other languages than English absolutly non readable, and British law is with specific Wales, Scotish, English, and Northern Ireland Acts and many amendments a total mess.

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In Zurich I think I made an appointment but just walked in and they did it on the spot but they would only give me a car/truck licence up to 3 tonne and I can tow a trailer. To get my truck licence I would have needed a medical/eye exam and have to do a driving test. Now my Australian licence has expired and they won't renew it (Sth Australia) as I am not a resident, if I don't renew the Australian licence inside 5 years then they (Aust) will not recognise my prior licence, only what is on my Swiss licence. A bit of a catch 22 situation.

For me and I think it might be right was that, yes the medical/eye test was required but only a written test for a truck bus licence - no driving test if you already had the licence, was told don't give up anything you had before as it's harder to get it later.

I had to give up my truck licence (HR) on the Swiss Licence because they told me I had to have both a medical and practical test.

I'm not going to need to drive a truck here, so I didn't see the point.