Part Four, The FAQ.
In this part I will collect the answers to frequently asked questions. Such that you do not have to read through all subsequent posts.
Q: What means FAQ?
A: Frequently Asked Question.
Q: What means FAK?
A: Swiss driving license in credit card format. See {2003 FEDRO circular swiss driving license}
Q: What means StVA and SAN.
A: Strassenverkehrsamt and Service Auto et de la navigation. It is what is known in the US as DMV and in the UK as DVLA. The difference? The waiting time is shorter than in the DMV.
You can find your local one here :
http://www.strassenverkehrsamt.ch/index.html
Q: What about all the text in {curly braces}
A: Please see Part Five of this post.
Q: Do I have to convert my license?
A: Please read part One of this post.
Q: Is there a minimum residency requirement before I can convert my license?
A: No. Bu you might wait until the end of your jobs probation period. (Unless your license expires sooner)
Q: What are the time limits?
A: Please read part Two of this post.
Q: What are step by step procedures?
A: Please read part Three of this post.
Q: Where can I find the legal background?
A: Please read part Five of this post.
Q: Is there an English translation of the Road Traffic Licensing Ordinance?
A: I translated the most relevant part in part Six of this post.
Q: The translation is wrong, incorrect, and non-proper English.
A: Sorry. Please drop a line and I will correct it.
Q: Where can I find the FAQ?
A: You are already there.
Q: I have been a resident for more than 12 months. Can I still exchange the license?
A: Yes you can silly. Please read part 2 of this post.
Q: I have been a resident for more than 12 months. As my license is no longer valid for driving in Switzerland how can I prepare for the Kontrollfahrt.
A: Apply for a license exchange and at the same time request permission to practice for the Kontrollfahrt. In some cantons it is granted automatically in some you have to request it specifically.
Q: I just handed in all documents to get my license exchanged. Can I drive w/o a license, till I get my shiny new Swiss one?
A: When you hand in the license you should get a paper statement or a photo copy of your old license which allows you to drive in Switzerland. You may have to ask for it. It is not advisable to drive aboard with only the photo copy or paper statement.
Q: I did not get such a paper statement or a photo copy can I still drive in Switzerland till I have my new Swiss license?
A: Please call your StVA/SAN and inquiry if you are allowed to drive till the license arrives by post. I hope you followed step 2 and made photocopies of your old license.
Q: I heard I might get a "special" license if am under a certain age or had done my driving test just recently. Under what condition will I get one, and what does that mean?
A: Age is not important. You will get a provisional license in case you did your driving test less than 12 months before you moved to Switzerland. The license you get will have an expiration date. During this period you must not drive with more than 0.01% BAC, must attend one 2-phasen driving course, and should not make a driving infraction which could lead to a driving ban as this leads to an extended probation period and in case of repeat offence with a driving ban to revocation of your license.
Q: What means 2-phasen, WAB, WAB1 and WAB2?
A: This are the mandatory driving courses you have to do when you have a provisional license. See
https://2-phasen.ch for providers. See also step eleven of part 3. Edit: In the past young drivers had to take two courses. This changed, now it is only one.
Q: Are the WAB courses offered in English.
A: Those providers offered courses in English in the past, check websites if they still do. If you know another provider, please mention it in the thread.
Verkehrszentrum Tuggen SZ
https://www.verkehrszentrum.ch
2pa in Wohlen AG
https://www.2pa.ch
Drivers Competence Centre AG Basel
https://drivers-cc.ch/
Q: How do I know I was issued a provisional license?
A: It has an expiration date on item 4b on the license. {2003 FEDRO circular swiss driving license}
Q: How do I know I was issued a non-provisional license?
A: It is valid forever and thus has stars ******** at item 4b on the license. {2003 FEDRO circular swiss driving license}
Q: Is the provisional license a learners permit? Do I have to pass any exams? Do I have to show a special plate on the back of the car?
So many question

Sort answer: No, no, and no. Long answer: The provisional license is NOT a learners permit. It is in most and all regards a full license but on probation only. You do not have to pass further exams. There is no additional speed restrictions and you do not have to show a special plate (like in Australia or France). However you must do the one mandatory course, cannot have a BAC of more than 0.01%, and the license will be revoked after the second driving ban within the probation period.
Q: Is it true Swiss driving license are valid forever?
A: Yes, it is true. {Art. 15c SVG}
Q: But what about the photo? What if I use it as an ID and the photo is 20 years old?
A: The Swiss driving license is just a driving license and not any kind of formal ID.
Q: What means CZV/OACP?
A:
Chauffeur
zulassungs
verordnung (Or in French Ordonnance réglant l’admission des chauffeurs). It is the ordinance which regulates driving commercial vehicles specialy minimum rest periods and maximum hours of driving per day and week.
Q: What are commercial vehicles?
A: Vehicles such as taxis, ambulance, school bus and mini buses (more than 9 seats + driver), trucks (more than 3.5 tons) etc.
Q: Is there any fine for converting late?
A: No, as long as you do not drive any motor vehicles in Switzerland you are perfectly fine ;-).
Q: Is there any special procedure for converting after X years of residence in Switzerland?
A: Yes, after 5 years you may do a test drive even when you are from one of the exempt/happy countries unless you can proof you have regular driving practice.
Q: Is there any special procedure or conditions for converting after more than 1 year but less than 5 years of residence in Switzerland?
A: No. But as usual your driving license must still be valid.
Q: Oops, my foreign driving license is no longer valid and I did not exchange it yet. What can I do?
A: You can try to exchange it for a Swiss license, but you might not be successful.
If not make a photo copy of your old license (in case you have to surrender it to get a new one). Try to get a fresh valid one from the country which issued the expired license. If this is not possible get a drivers record which shows your driving privileges and when you passed the driving test in the foreign country. If you get the statement but the Swiss authorities still make a fuss refer them to Art. 24h VZV/OAC. In the worst you would have to do a Swiss license from scratch.
Q: I am not from one of the "happy countries" and have to do the "test drive", unfortunately one year has passed since my move and thus my license is no longer valid to drive in Switzerland. How can I legally practice for the test drive/Kontrollfahrt?
A: Apply for license conversion and mention that fact. You should get an exemption which allows you to drive and practice.
Q: How did they came up with list of countries that have to do a test drive and which are exempt?
For ex. countries with very different road rules as Switzerland are on the list (USA) whereas South Africa with very similar rules and signs as Switzerland is absent.
A: I do not know. Politics?
Q: I am from the U.S. where can I get my driving record to show that I had a driving license for more than one year?
A: For California the form to request your drivers record from the CA DMV is INF 1125 and is available here.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1...ms/inf/inf1125
Q: I have never ever driven a stick shift. I heard if you did the Swiss driving license test with an automatic car you are only allowed to drive automatic. Will this also apply to me?
A: If your current license has no such restriction your Swiss license will have neither. You can even do the Kontrollfahrt with an automatic car {asa guidline 19}. Anyway, since 2021 there is no longer an automatic only license unless an automatic car is necessary due to medical reasons.
Q: On Swiss my license there is a restriction for automatic car, can I get it removed as it no longer exists?
A: Yes you can get it removed unless there is a medical reason why you need an automatic car.
Art. 151l VZV
Q: If I do not convert my license, can I still drive aboard?
A: Please check the law of the country you want to drive. Some countries require a driving license which is valid in your country of residence.
Q: My foreign license was handed back with a sticker which says "Not valid in Switzerland" can I remove it?
A: Yes. But this does not make it valid for using in Switzerland. If you intend to use it aboard check the local law if you just need any valid license or a license which is valid in your country of residence.
Q: My foreign license was handed me back with holes in it! WTF?
A: That may happen if it was fake license. If it was genuine it should only happen upon explicit request. Normal procedure is to give it back with a removable sticker which says it is no longer valid in Switzerland. {asa guidline 1, Section 36}
Q: What is the difference between residency and citizenship?
A: Country of citizenship is your nationality, the country you can request a passport from. It is possible to have more than one nationality. Nationality is absolutely not important regarding driving license conversion.
Place of residence is where you live and pay taxes (exemptions to U.S-Americans and Eritreans). It is possible to have more than one residency. Residency is very important and the key regarding driving license conversion.
Q: Does all of this also apply to Swiss people?
A: Yes, all those rules apply to Swiss as well when they come from aboard and do not have a Swiss license.
Q: Can I drive in country X with a Swiss license.
A: For all EU and EFTA countries a definite yes. For countries, which have ratified the {1968 convention}, you may need an international driving license accompanying your Swiss one. For countries, which did not ratify the {1968 convention} but the {1949 convention} only, it gets a bit tricky as Switzerland signed the {1949 convention} but never ratified it.
Q: Can you make an example of such a country?
A: The U.S.A. Here my personal view on this topic: I never had a problem renting a car in the U.S.A. But, on the other hand my Swiss driving license was also never inspected, questioned, or deemed non-valid by a judge or police officer. I know in some states, such as Illinois, the Swiss license is perfectly valid. But I also know that by the strict letter of the law in some other states like Michigan a Swiss license may not be valid.
Q: What means to ratify a convention.
A: To put into a countries legal code. First, an international convention or treaty is just signed and at a later day it is ratified by the body with the corresponding power (Parliament, Senate etc).
See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratification
Q: I have only an international driving license but lost my original foreign license, is this O.K.?
A: No, an international driving license is only a translation and has always to be shown together with your original foreign license. The international driving license alone is useless.
Q: I have a 1968 UK license, what Swiss categories will I get?
A: The Swiss categories A, A1, B, B1, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE correspond with the UK categories from 2013 See:
https://www.gov.uk/old-driving-licence-categories to find out which old classes are the new categories.
Q: I have a EU license with category A2, what Swiss category will I get?
A: You will get the Swiss A(restricted 35 kW).
Q: The application form ask about medical details, what about them?
A: As with any government form better be truthful. Depending what your medical issue is you may be denied a license, get a license with restrictions, or you may have to do a yearly medical check to keep your license. If in doubt better discuss this topic with your doctor.
Q: If I move within Switzerland must I renew the license?
A: No. But you must inform the StVA/SAN of your new commune about the change of address within 14 days.{Art. 26 Abs. 2 VZV}
Q: If I move aboard can I keep my Swiss driving license
A: Yes. But you must inform your old Swiss StVA/SAN about the change of address within 14 days{Art. 26 Abs. 2 VZV}
Q: What if I do not notify the StVA/SAN about a change of address?
A: If moved within Switzerland: A fine. of CHF 20. {OBV Item 106.2}, If moved aboard: Most likely nothing. But if they have to send you a traffic fine, and you have no mail forwarding, and you miss the payment deadline the case will go to a judge, additional fees (up to hundred of francs) and a higher fine my incur!
Q: If I move aboard how long before I have to convert my licenses to a license of the new country?
A: Check the regulations of your new country of residence. It could be immediate, 14 day, 6 months, a year, or some other time period.
Q: I moved aboard and lost my Swiss driving license, can I get a new one?
A: No. But you can get from your old StVA/SAN an official statement which license categories you have. With this you should be able to get a new license in your current country of residence. The German name of the statement is "Bestätigung über die in der Schweiz registrierten Fahrberechtigungen nach Art. 24h VZV" or in French "Attestation des autorisations de conduire enregistrées en Suisse. Art. 24h OAC"
Q: Are you a lawyer?
A: No.
Q: This all does not answer my question what should I do? Open a new thread?
A: Simple state your problem in THIS thread. Someone will hopefully answer your question soon. I will try to update this FAQ accordingly.
Q: The information in this FAQ and this whole thread in general is outdated and no longer accurate, why did you not change it?
A: I am very sorry should that be the case. Hopefully I am well and sound. If you think I am gone for good feel free to request the closure of this thread and begin to write and maintain "[Drivers licence] Conversion and questions, Mark III". I wish you all the best, you can copy over what ever you like from this thread or start all anew.
Last question, a very common question: I have driving license from country Y can I drive a non-commercial car with license plate X.
Here is the answer: All you need is A) _Any_ valid license AND B) The car's custom, duty, tax, insurance and road worthiness status must be in good order.
For the definition of "valid license", see all of the above. For the definition of "be in good order" wait for another thread.
Note: For motorized bicycles, light motorcycles, and motorcycles with a capacity of up to 125 ccm special provisions apply if you are between 14 and 18 years old. See {Art. 43 VZV}.