Hi,

I have the standard B1 drivers license in CH. I guess it allows me to drive a vehicle/trailer combination of no larger than 3'500kg, and the camper/trailer can max weigh 750kg. To drive anything bigger, I have to "upgrade" to the BE license.

How do I do this? Is it a theory and practical test, or just a practical? And for the practical, do I have to supply my own camper?

Anyone who have tried this?

KB

Do you have category B1 or the more common B? B1 is a license only for vehicles up to 550kg empty in which case you'd have to get B first.

If you have B you can directly apply for the learning license which is valid 24 months. There will be only a practical examn as I understand the website of the canton Zurich office.

Most likely you'll have to provide your own trailer that has to meet the examn requirements:

• licensed for at least 80 km/h and 1 ton
• weight at least 800 kg during the examn
• height at least the same like the car
• width the same or slightly bigger than the car

Asking never hurts. Maybe they can give you a hint where testees borrow their trailers. I assume it's from driving school though.

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You are right, of course I have the B license.

So, I should only have to apply for the learners permit, and then I can drive with a camper, or do I apply, then go take the practical test, and then I can drive with a camper? This is what I do not understand.

KB

With the learners license, I think you need a co-driver with the BE license (maybe he must've owned it for some time, too). I don't know what's the recommended or mandatory amount of lessons/driving experience before the practical examn. I suggest to approach the road traffic department of your canton to investigate, they have a good reputation on EF and might well answer in English. If you do so, please report back, I'm also curious about the regulation.

Post revival... so I have the common Kategorie B license which in states...

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Motorwagen und dreirädrige Motorfahrzeuge mit einem Gesamtgewicht von nicht mehr als 3500 kg und nicht mehr als acht Sitzplätzen ausser dem Führersitz; mit einem Fahrzeug dieser Kategorie darf ein Anhänger mit einem Gesamtgewicht von nicht mehr als 750 kg mitgeführt werden; Fahrzeugkombinationen aus einem Zugfahrzeug der Kategorie B und einem Anhänger von mehr als 750 kg, sofern das Gesamtzugsgewicht 3500 kg und das Gesamtgewicht des Anhängers das Leergewicht des Zugfahrzeuges nicht übersteigen.
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This is clear to me: I can drive a car that is not more than 3500kg. And I can also attach a trailer that is not not more than 750kg to said car.
What I'm not sure: If my car is 2200kg and my trailer is 1300kg, am I legally allowed to drive this car+trailer combo with my B license?

That would be possible, if:
Max possible trailer weight < Empty weight of car
and
Max possible trailer weight + Max possible car weight < 3500 kg.

From your information it is not clear if it is possible or not as it is not clear what the 2200 kg represent.

Car Gesamtgewicht = 2200kg
Trailer Gesamtgewicht = 1300kg

Car Leergewicht (Item 30 on the gray card)?

Ok, I think now I understand what you mean...

Trailer (Max Weight) < Car (Kerb Weight)
Trailer + Car (both Max Weight) < 3500kg

So checking my car's gray card to have actual/real values, I have:
Leergewicht = 2179 kg
Gesamtgewicht = 2770 kg

In this case, I can pull a trailer that is 730 kg(or less)?

The calculation is correct.

But the trailer can have a Gesamtgewicht of 750 kg, as you can use the first clause of the exemption.

The clause
Trailer Gesamtgewicht + Car Gesamtgewicht < 3500 kg
and
Trailer Gesamtgewicht < Car Leergewicht
only applies for trailers with Gesamtgewicht > 750 kg.

750 kg, not much eh... I'll probably work on getting that BE license. Anybody here who has gone thru Lerner-to-Prüfung for the BE license?