Hi there,

I need some information regarding the process of obtaining a drivers license here.

I have done my Nothilfer Kurs.

I had a Sehtest done some time back. Does anyone know how long are these valid?

The next step is to study for the theory exam. I have downloaded the Auto Theorie App. I heard that we can give the theory test in English. Could anyone direct me what I need to do next? Do I just contact Strassenverkehrsamt and book a date? The problem is that I still haven't gotten around to studying for the exam. I just wanted to know, how quick would the test date be if I applied tomorrow.

For those who gave the theory test here. Did anyone use this app? Give the exam in English? How long did you prepare for it before you sat the theory test. Is there some special application that one needs to make if you wish to give the theory exam in English?

Thanks in advance. I'd appreciate any information.

S

Hi,

I can answer what I know.

I am not sure how long the eye test is valid for.

There are usually fixed appointments for the dates you can have the theory test, having said that, perhaps you can check the STVA website for availablity or send them an email. I had a quick look and for example they mention specific dates (i could only see Saturdays) and the timing as well.

Yes, some cantons offer the test in English and some who don’t offer it in English can allow you to talk the theory in another canton in English (for example Fribourg used to do that). You have to double check if Zurich offer it in English.

I have no experience with the app, if it is of any help, a lot of people sell their CD/book as second hand after they pass the test. You can look for 2nd hand ones on ricardo.ch or similar.

Process: once you pass your theory test and if you have valid eye test and first aid course, you will be given a learner permit valid for two years. You can use it to drive only if accompanied by a driver who has a “permanent” swiss driving license”.
Once you are confident you apply for the practical exam and if you pass you get your provisional license. i’ll stop here.... once you get your provisional license let us know and we take it from there 😊
Good luck!

Zürich offers the theory exam in English, just contact your local road traffic office (Strassenverkehrsamt) and they will guide you.

Zurich offers the theory exam in English. On the day of your exam, you sit in front of a computer... one of the steps is to select exam language, and English is offered. You can call Zurich STVA if you want to be sure.


Just get any Driving CD and book. 2nd-hand is ok, the rules haven't change much anyway. The Driving CD will usually have about 150-200 questions for you to try. The exam if I remember had 50-60 questions, and I've already seen most of them in the CD.

Thank you for the info.

I just mailed them and got the info.

As you said, it is possible to sit the exam in English. Costs CHF 36. Takes place daily. 3 weeks waiting time from applying for it and taking the exam.

How long did it take you to practice all the questions and take and pass the test?

The time to go through all the questions of the book once in my case.

I would suggest getting the app. 80 % of all questions that will come are identical to the ones on the app. Practice there until you pass 3 tests in a row and then you're pretty much good to go.

Hey what is the name of the app?

I believe it's called "Introduction"

The app is https://simpli.ch/en
Be aware that it is a non official app and the question might be wrong, and the language a bit odd.

The official ones are listed here:
https://asa.ch/dienstleistungen/theo...ng/lernmittel/

Hello. Are you sure that the accompanying person must hold permanent swiss driving licence? From what I can read from the official website (https://www.ch.ch/en/accompanied-driving-practice/), it says the accompanying person needs to "be at least 23 years old" and "have held a licence in the same category" (e.g., B). It does not say anything about the Swiss driving licence. I also asked my driving teacher and he confirmed that the accompanying person does not have to carry the Swiss driving licence, and it is enough that it meets two of the conditions stated above. If what you say is the correct one, I should take actions accordingly and also tell my driving teacher that the information he gave was incorrect.

Non-provisional? For sure. Swiss? Maybe. Always good to check the actual wording as in the law. Art. 15 Abs 1. SVG/LCR/LCStr

Lernfahrten auf Motorwagen dürfen nur mit einem Begleiter unternommen werden, der das 23. Altersjahr vollendet hat, seit wenigstens drei Jahren den entsprechenden Führerausweis und diesen nicht mehr auf Probe besitzt.

Les courses d'apprentissage en voiture automobile ne peuvent être entreprises que si l'élève est accompagné d'une personne âgée de 23 ans au moins, qui possède depuis trois ans au moins un permis de conduire correspondant à la catégorie du véhicule et n'étant plus à l'essai.

L'allievo conducente può circolare con autoveicoli per esercitarsi alla guida solo se è accompagnato da una persona che abbia compiuto 23 anni e che possieda da almeno tre anni una licenza di condurre non più in prova corrispondente alla categoria del veicolo usato.

It does not explicitly say that you need a Swiss license. So the answer might in an other law or ordinance. For example the one which allows you to drive with a foreign license. This would be the VZV/OAC. There in Art. 42 https://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classifi...index.html#a42
it says you are allowed to drive vehicles of the corresponding category. But accompanying a student driver is not driving itself. So are you allowed? I do not know. The law and ordinances are in my opinion not super clear. With bad luck a federal judge has the same view as laid out above. With good luck nobody has any problem.

__________________
What?

This link should help:

So, it seems to be fine. However, I'm not sure if/how the "12-month rule" would apply in this case too (changing you license from international/foreign to Swiss license within 12 months).

Fahrlehrer24.ch

I did it in english 6 years ago and passed the first time. The questions were identical to the cd. I never did the pratical so now I need to start again.

I had the first aid course today and I was told that now the theory exam doesnt expire anymore. Also, on the licence they dont write anymore than you can only drive on manual or automatic. I plan to do the test around Glatpark as its too far of zurich city so they will not make you go into zurich.
I think the instructor said you can try 3 times. If you fail a thrid time you need a psychological exam.If you go for the simplified psychological exam you can only try one time but if you go for the more complex exam, you can try three more times....

Since when can you pick the location of the test? If you are from the Zurich area, you do the test either starting from Albisgüetli or in Regensdorf. I intentionally chose an instructor who would pick me up not far from Albisgüetli so I was able to practice on routes where exams take place.

Remember, the exam is to establish whether you are ready to drive on your own. If you don't feel confident that you can demonstrate this in Zurich City, then you are not ready full stop. Wouldn't you rather have a professional tell you that you need more practice than get into an expensive or, worse, fatal accident because of incompetence? You may save 300 francs in exam fees now but getting stuck/hit by a tram will cost you many multiples of that amount or even your life. Not worth it.

I've just logged in to book the appointment system and on the very first step I can select any location. But not sure if I would be able to finish a booking successfully - too early for me to actually do that.

I would totally agree that you should be able to drive in any place. But I can also imagine how you can fail an exam just because it was in Zurich city, even without endangering anyone. Please don't forget that there is an additional stress of being examined, which doesn't exist in daily driving.

I took my test in Zurich and had to take it twice because my nervousness (I am terrible with exams of any kind, in one case I actually threw up because my nerves were so bad) meant I made a stupid (and potentially dangerous!) mistake five minutes into the test. It was immediately clear to me that I had failed but we went through the exam until the end regardless. The examiner commended me on recovering very quickly from the disappointment of knowing I had failed and said that I would no doubt pass next time based on how I performed during the rest of the exam - which I did.

In order to drive safely, you should feel confident enough to do it even when there are factors that may make it difficult, such as bad weather, heavy traffic or multiple types of road users to watch out for. If you do not feel sufficiently confident to do this while someone watches for mistakes, you are not ready in my opinion. I know a lot of people who had to take the test twice, but only a handful where I feel that the examiner was maybe a little unfair. Driving in Zurich is challenging and the driving test is consequently more difficult than elsewhere, but I presume you don't plan on completely avoiding the city in the future, right? So suck it up and take the test in town. You can't take it departing from Glattpark anyway, the next best thing is to choose Regensdorf or Bassersdorf as your test site. But both are close enough to town for an examiner to take you there, so I would stop thinking of ways to avoid this.

Once you have decided on a location, make sure you practice driving about in that area to make sure you are familiar with it. This will help you get over your initial nerves. The test typically involves going on a stretch of motorway, some parallel parking, checking whether you understand the rules of the right of way in different situations including at intersections without lights. They are big on whether you look well ahead and plan your actions accordingly, as well as on indicating at the right time and checking your surroundings. Usually, driving instructors have an idea of the routes of the exam, mine certainly did. Any place that can be reached within the duration of the exam and allows for you to return to base at the end is fair game.

I did my Kontrollfahrt in Zürich, an exam for BE category in Pfäffikon (just because I had an instructor there). And to be honest it wasn't any easier - it was snowing that morning. So far I don't have any plans to drive with a trailer in the city - should be fine from a perspective that "you should be able to drive there as you'll do it in a normal life.

And one more exam for a motorbike is on the list. Probably, I will do it also in Zürich. But overall I don't know what is easier and if there is any difference at all. Indeed, there is more intensive traffic, more lanes, etc in the city. But on the other hand, average speed will be lower due to all traffic lights, pedestrians, etc.

Well, it might be even harder outside of the city - you will spend more time in 80 km/h zones and you have to show an ability to navigate in such conditions as well, which is the same problem as driving in the city - high amount of information per second you need to deal with.

At the end passing criteria in the same everywhere - you should be able to show skills and get enough points (and don't make fatal mistakes) for them according to a checklist. So basically it will mostly depend on how many hours you spent driving and specifically in the area on an exam, regardless location - familiarity with the route reduces overall stress...

Edit: in fact if you spent 100 hours and know the area of an exam really well, it will make an exam easier. But will show nothing about your ability to drive safely on an unknown road - you will memorize most appropriate speeds on the route and won't actually make conscious decisions how fast you should ride there - it will be chosen by your brain based on the previous statistics.

I failed my test 3 times. Not because I couldn’t drive, but also due to extreme test anxiety. If the U.K. had the 3 shots then psychologist approach that Switzerland has, I think it would have finished 17 year old me off!!