typically they will take your original licence from you but you can blag it. For example, you have a bank account back in your home country and need the licence in order to verify your name and address

Oh and threads merged by the way - there wasn't anything stopping you from asking on this thread, was there?

LMAO excellent
Swiss Efficiency
LMAO . . .

When I 'converted' to a Swiss License, the license and the bill were posted to me, so that I needed to keep the UK License for the period until the Swiss one appeared about 7 days later.

So I still have my UK License - with the address where I was 20 years ago.

Also on the subject of efficiency - the UK License - well my old green one anyway, has a corner with your date of birth on which is perforated to remove if you don't want to reveal your age. In Switzerland you can't do anything without giving your DoB - the the UK we are so obsessed about telling anyone about it you can cut it off your license - EXCEPT that your DoB is in the license number...

Bah, it felt to me slightly off topic from the original poster's question about an SA licence, besides I've only ever had one thread before

hi just joined this site. It has come up a few times while seraching for info, so i thought i may as well join.
While i am at it i have a question. I have been here in zurich for 4.5 years, im a brit and have an EU driving licence. I have not conver^ted to the seiss witthin a year as i have mostly used public transport in this time, however now i will buy a car.
1) where do i get the application forms?
2) will i have to take the test? - (shame onme dont speak german yet although have just started taking lessons)
3) if i do have to take the test can i take it in italian? (I have been learning this for the last 3 yrs instead of german..)

Right enough about me, if anybody can answer the following questions id appreciate it..

As far as I remember you MUST convert your foreign drivers license to a Swiss one within (I think) 12 months of taking up residence. For many countries it's swapped on a one-to-one basis and the Swiss categories are now aligned with the EU ones. The only thing I lost was my old bus-driver (PSV) rating, not unreasonably, I thought. Most western European licenses are acceptable but I understand the licenses issued in some countries (India?) are not acceptable.

If you don't do this within 12 months, you have then to take a Swiss driving test, complete with written examination. Not good! You appear to have fallen down that hole.

Richard

Yep, you have 12 months ... and believe me, time is running fast sometimes ... almost missed our window

Yeah, but not if they don't read the driving licence correctly ... my hubby was limited on his GB driving licence to automatics only. Somehow they missed that one off when they switched his driving licence, thus he has not restrictions anymore .

Me Again
Will I have to apply for Swis Driving licence with "B" permit or will EU driving licence be OK

Independent of permit.

More info: http://www.englishforum.ch/transport...onversion.html

Do you need a license to ride a bike???!!!

One of my wife's friends has citizenship and a drivers license from one of the countries listed on Lob's list (Czech Republic). However, after following normal procedure, she received her Czech drivers license back in the mail with the above sticker and stamp, and was told that she was not eligible for conversion. Very strange if the federal government claims she is / should have been.

a bike. Motorbike. Not bicycle.

I assume you practise in the mornings?

Even if you're EU citizen you need to convert your license to a Swiss license before your first full year of residence ends.

If there are any Canadians out there from Ontario, what document did you use to show your license history when switching to a swiss license? I live in Vaud, and I need something that shows the date I was first licensed--this doesn't appear on my license. Can I use the simple driver's abstract I print out myself, or do I need something else? Thanks for your help!

Hi there,

I switched an Ontario licence over in Vaud last year. So you know, it's not necessary to present any proof of when you obtained your Canadian licence in order to change over. Such proof is only necessary if you want your Swiss licence to state that you've been licensed to drive from the date you obtained your Canadian licence (as in the date you passed your road test). Without proof of when you did your test, you will be issued a licence that states you have been a driver since the last date you had your licence renewed in Ontario. (E.g. if your Ontario licence is valid from 04/2005-04/2010, you'll be given a licence saying you've been driving since 04/2005.)

Why bother going through the hassle of asking for documentation from Ontario? It's only worth it if you plan on owning a car. For insurance purposes, your premium is calculated partly based on your years of driving experience as shown on your Swiss licence. In my case, I do not own a car, and so didn't bother going through the extra paperwork. They were VERY against this idea at the motor vehicle office, and there was much hand-waving and admonition from the lady processing my application, who seemed to think I was ruining my entire life by going the quick and easy way, but it hasn't made one iota of difference. I can still rent cars and drive the cars of friends, which is all I care about. If you do decide to request extra documentation, the Ontario Ministry of Transport phone number for Driver's Licence renewals is: 416-235-2999. I'm guessing they'd be the ones who would have your driving record on file, and would be able to produce a written attestation for the Swiss driving authorities.

As an interesting aside, I had some friends move from Ontario to canton Zurich a few months before me, and they were never asked to show any documentation of when they were first licensed to drive. Instead, they were issued a licence valid from the date on their Ontario licence, and were never informed it could be otherwise. However, they had no troubles buying and insuring a car in Switzerland, so maybe it's all just much ado about nothing?

HeatherM

Thanks for your help! I'm probably going to be here for the rest of my life, so I don't want to lose the 17 years of driving experience I have--I think it can make a difference with insurance if I get a car. I'll see if they accept the driver's abstract that is available online and go from there. Wish me luck...

Kristin

Hey guys, I know it's been a while since someone posted on this thread but since my days to land in zurich are coming closer, the number of questions I have is increasing

The thread made it clear about EU swaps as well as US & Canadian. South African I understood needed some kind of control test. I imagine my situation is closest to the latter as I also come from a third-world country

I do not intent to own a car immediately but eventually would like to move around at will. My thought was:

option 1. Get an international driving license from here and keep on renewing that and never need a Swiss one.

option 2. Same as #1 but convert to swiss within a year without any test

option 3. Use my original local license in zurich (which I very much doubt will be valid in Switzerland) and then convert within a year

Do any of these options seem logical to anyone or I shall walk the long road of suffering to get the license from scratch.

thanks and see u all very soon in zurich

Dear aa_248: I think your option 1 is totally non-viable. I don't think Switzerland will accept an international drivers license over the first year.

Just check with Zurich's Strassenverkehrsamt if your license, issued in Beirut, will be accepted to drive during the first year. If it's accepted, getting an international one so you can change it within a year is a waste of time & money.

Just consider getting a new one here will be a pain and very expensive. Leave that as a last resource.

There is a list posted on this thread by the lob rockster which lists all counties accepted by Switzerland for a straight swap. As I understand it, anyone can drive for up to a year as a tourist, it is after that year that you must swap what you have for a Swiss licence and depending on which country you come from (find the list posted by Lob Rockster) you might need to do a small driving test.

Hi Kristin:
Just wondering what "the driver's abstract" is that you are talknig about. I am from Ontario living in Kanton St. Gallen and would like to get my license switched over. I also have been driving for quite a long time and do not wish to lose those years on record.
Also can you tell me, do you have to do a written or practical test or do they just issue you without any of the Swiss driving tests.
Thanks,
Christi Richard