[Drivers licence] Conversion and questions, Mark II - Page 11

dmanor · #**201** 13.01.2021, 22:10

	Quote:	hcase
	Hi all, I've been in Switzerland for the past year and maintained my Italian residence as well, last month I took the exam in Italy for the cat. A driving license and now I'd like to convert my driving license (A & B) to a Swiss one. Problem is I didn't know I couldn't do that: Can I exchange ANY license into a Swiss license? - Unless special circumstances, it must not been issued aboard while you were a Swiss resident. - You must have acquired your license while you were not a Swiss resident (exceptions apply). Now my question is, what are those special circumstances/exceptions? I couldn't find anything official / unofficial on this topic. Thank you in advance!

Hallo all

Same Q. as OP above, with a twist. I have B Permit in switzerland and last year I had failed the kontrolfahrt (I am a citizen of a non-happy country). Due to covid I havent yet started the process for getting the new license from scratch.

I am also a permanent resident in Sweden, where I never bothered to get a driving licence since I did not drive much. I am considering getting a DL there next month, and bringing it back into switzerland to simply exchange it.

Would there be any problem in this? Any help appreciated!

Sussex · #**202** 25.02.2021, 14:45

Hi all,
I'm getting contradictory advise about converting my UK licence......I am a UK citizen, working in Switzerland. I am a resident of both the UK and Switzerland, and I will need to drive frequently in both countries. If I convert my UK issued licence to a Swiss licence, which of the following will happen 1) my UK licence will be returned to ME in Switzerland noting that it is no longer valid in Switzerland, and a Swiss licence can be issued, or 2) my UK licence will be returned to the UK authorities and will be invalid anywhere. If it's 1) above, then no problem, I still have it to drive in the Uk. If it's B) above, then I won't be able to drive in the UK. Anyone have a definitive answer please.......Thanks

Zurigal22 · #**203** 25.02.2021, 15:22

Hi,

When I converted my UK license to the Swiss license they took my beloved pink card and I have never seen it since. This does not stop you from driving in the UK as I have done several times since converting, but what it does is makes it more difficult to get UK insurance as most companies do not want to insure. Post-brexit I am not sure if that has changed anything as unfortunately I have not been able to get back thanks to Ms Sturgeon up in the north!

Ato · #**204** 25.02.2021, 15:23

	Quote:	Sussex
	Hi all, I'm getting contradictory advise about converting my UK licence......I am a UK citizen, working in Switzerland. I am a resident of both the UK and Switzerland, and I will need to drive frequently in both countries. If I convert my UK issued licence to a Swiss licence, which of the following will happen 1) my UK licence will be returned to ME in Switzerland noting that it is no longer valid in Switzerland, and a Swiss licence can be issued, or 2) my UK licence will be returned to the UK authorities and will be invalid anywhere. If it's 1) above, then no problem, I still have it to drive in the Uk. If it's B) above, then I won't be able to drive in the UK. Anyone have a definitive answer please.......Thanks

Unless someone corrects me it is 2). A Swiss licence is vaild in the UK so you can drive there. Should not be any problem.

aSwissInTheUS · #**205** 25.02.2021, 15:28

	Quote:	Sussex
	If I convert my UK issued licence to a Swiss licence, which of the following will happen 1) my UK licence will be returned to ME in Switzerland noting that it is no longer valid in Switzerland, and a Swiss licence can be issued, or 2) my UK licence will be returned to the UK authorities and will be invalid anywhere. If it's 1) above, then no problem, I still have it to drive in the Uk. If it's B) above, then I won't be able to drive in the UK. Anyone have a definitive answer please.......Thanks

If you convert your UK license it might very likely be returned to Swansea as explained in the {FEDRO circular license exchange} . In General this only applies to EU/EFTA countries but there are also some other countries like Tunesia, Taiwan, and special Jersey on the list which have never been part of the EU/EFTA. Hence, I suspect it will be returned also post Brexit.

If you have a permit G, than there is no need to convert the license. If you have a permit B you must apply for a exemption based on No. 127 of ASA directive 1. You will need to go back to the UK at least for 2 consecutive days twice each month. If this still does not apply you just have to hope for an exemption or acquire a Swiss license from scratch.

aSwissInTheUS · #**206** 25.02.2021, 15:29

	Quote:	Ato
	Unless someone corrects me it is 2). A Swiss licence is vaild in the UK so you can drive there. Should not be any problem.

It wont be valid when you are a UK resident in the same sense as a UK license is not valid in Switzerland if you are a Swiss resident. In addition UK car insurer are quite picky in this regard.

Sussex · #**207** 01.03.2021, 23:53

Thanks for all your help.........So, it looks like if I want to keep my UK licence, I can drive in Switzerland for a year after registering in my Canton. If I want to drive in Switzerland after that, I must take a driving test (written and road test) so that I can hold a Swiss licence in addition to my UK licence. The one year period is reset if I spend 3 months consecutively in the UK. Is that correct?