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10.07.2014, 00:13
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Switzerland
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| | Re: [Drivers licence] Conversion and questions | Quote: | |  | | | I have slovenian (EU) driving license. i live 9 months here in switzerland and i am still driving my car with slovenian driving license. recently i bought a car here in CH with CH plates. i am scared to drive this car out of CH. so i think i must convert my driving license to ch one as soon as posible.
i would like to ask you if here is anyone from EU who has already done that?
how long do they converting license?
what happens with my old license?
do i need to do driving test or just license convert to CH?
sorry for my bad english, i hope you understood me. ty | | | | | convert it within one year after moving.
do the eye test
fill in the form for conversion
have some photos made
go to STVA with the document and your driving licence
check your mailbox the next day | This user would like to thank k_and_e for this useful post: | | 
13.07.2014, 00:20
| Newbie 1st class | | Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: st gallen
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| | Re: [Drivers licence] Conversion and questions
i also have category C. in the strassenverkehrsamt they told me that if i want just category B on my swiss drivers licens i need just to convert it.
but if i want also C category i must be checked by a doctor. do anyone knows what this mean? how much does that cost?
if i choose to get just category B, will i be allowed to get category C in the future if i need it?
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17.07.2014, 16:57
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Zurich area
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| | Re: [Drivers licence] Conversion and questions | Quote: | |  | | | By law, the ASTRA is THE authority who decides who can exchange their license w/o a kontrollfahrt/test drive.
On September 30 2013, they issued a new regulation (because Croatia is now also on the list). In this version, unlike the previous one, the five year limit is no longer mentioned.
I contacted ASTRA and they said that the ASA (Association of Service Autos / Strassenverkehrsämter) regulation is also authoritative, and still mentions the five years. Maybe there will be a new version of this.
The Basel 3 year rule, if questioned or challenged, will not hold. Because ASA and ASTRA are higher authorities. | | | | | To add this, a very recent Federal Court 1C_49/2014 ruling:
The ASA regulation with the 5 year limit for a kontrollfahrt free exchange is still vaild. But after five years it depends if you drove vehicles in the recent past or were never on the road after your foregin license became invalid in Switzerland.
A German guy was still driving with his German license (Illegaly in Switzerland and aboard). After five years he wanted to get a Swiss licenses, but was requested to do a Kontrollfahrt. He denied and went up to the highst court. He won.
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18.07.2014, 16:09
| Newbie | | Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Lausanne, VD
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| | Implications of the new Drivers License Transfer system for Non-EU drivers
Does anybody know how the new rules do/will affect the change of drivers license to Swiss from non-EU countries? Specifically Canada / USA. http://www.thelocal.ch/20140718/fede...-expat-drivers | 
18.07.2014, 16:20
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Switzerland
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| | Re: Implications of the new Drivers License Transfer system for Non-EU drivers
Don't know, but I think if the guy hasn't bothered to change his German licence then he should be made to take a driving test. Technically he's been driving illegally without a valid driver's licence for the past 4 years! | 
18.07.2014, 16:31
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Zurich area
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| | Re: Implications of the new Drivers License Transfer system for Non-EU drivers
Nothing changes. [Drivers licence] Conversion and questions
Still one year to exchange. After that your forign lincense is invalid for driving in Switzerland. If you are allowed to exchange your license w/o a control drive you can still so for the next four years. If you want to exchange your lincese w/o a control drive after five years of your date of entry you have to prove that you drove in the last few years (maybe illegally like plaintiff did).
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21.07.2014, 14:19
| Newbie 1st class | | Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Zurich
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| | New law on converting international driving licence by expat in ch.
Federal Court: no tests for expat car drivers - The Local WWW.THELOCAL.CH
Foreigners living in Switzerland cannot be asked to pass a Swiss driving test in order to swap their foreign driving licence for a Swiss one, regardless of when they apply, the Federal Court has said.
The above article has just been published on 18 July.
I look for someone to throw more light on this issue
Regards,
S
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21.07.2014, 14:34
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Zurich area
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| | Re: New law on converting international driving licence by expat in ch.
Last edited by aSwissInTheUS; 21.07.2014 at 15:14.
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21.07.2014, 14:58
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Switzerland
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| | Re: New law on converting international driving licence by expat in ch. | Quote: | |  | | | Foreigners living in Switzerland cannot be asked to pass a Swiss driving test in order to swap their foreign driving licence for a Swiss one, regardless of when they apply, the Federal Court has said. | | | | | Your explanation is a bit misleading.
This is only for EEA citizens that haven't converted their license within 5 years.
Aynone that needs to do a driving test before conversion still has to do that.
funny btw that someone actually reads The Local...
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21.07.2014, 15:15
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Zurich area
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| | Re: New law on converting international driving licence by expat in ch. | Quote: | |  | | | Your explanation is a bit misleading.
This is only for EEA citizens that haven't converted their license within 5 years... | | | | | .. and were driving in this 5 years. | Quote: |  | | | 3.4 Eine langjährige Fahrabstinenz mag zwar durchaus Zweifel an der Fahreignung wecken. Insofern ist es den Strassenverkehrsämtern unbenommen, im Sinne von Ziff. 351 der erwähnten Richtlinien Abklärungen über die Fahrpraxis des Gesuchsstellers vorzunehmen, wenn ein Ausländer seinen Führerausweis pflichtwidrig erst über fünf Jahre nach seinem Zuzug in die Schweiz austauschen will. Sie können ihm indessen nicht ohne Weiteres im Sinne einer (aussergesetzlichen) Fiktion unterstellen, während dieser Zeit keine Motorfahrzeuge geführt zu haben. | | | | | BGE 1C_49/2014 | The following 3 users would like to thank aSwissInTheUS for this useful post: | | 
21.07.2014, 15:56
|  | Moderately Amused | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bern area
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| | Re: [Drivers licence] Conversion and questions
Threads from CanadianinSwitzerland and Sonal merged.
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25.07.2014, 16:03
| Newbie | | Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Romania
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| | Re: New law on converting international driving licence by expat in ch. | Quote: | |  | | | Your explanation is a bit misleading.
This is only for EEA citizens that haven't converted their license within 5 years.
Aynone that needs to do a driving test before conversion still has to do that.
funny btw that someone actually reads The Local... | | | | |
Hi all,
I have entered Switzerland 3 years ago in Nov 2011 on a study permit (B), but got my drivers licence from my home country (EEA) in Aug 2012 (9 months after...). How screwed am I? Do I have to take the test regardless of the 5 years rule?
Thanks,
k.
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28.07.2014, 08:48
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Lugano
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| | Re: New law on converting international driving licence by expat in ch. | Quote: | |  | | | I have entered Switzerland 3 years ago in Nov 2011 on a study permit (B), but got my drivers licence from my home country (EEA) in Aug 2012 (9 months after...). How screwed am I? Do I have to take the test regardless of the 5 years rule? | | | | | Very screwed.
Your license isn't valid here because you got it while living here, the 5-year rule applies only if you had the license before moving here.
Tom
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02.08.2014, 16:56
| Newbie | | Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Romania
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| | Re: [Drivers licence] Conversion and questions
Thanks much for your answer.
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23.08.2014, 10:08
| Newbie 1st class | | Join Date: May 2013 Location: baden
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not within 14 days...
In Zürich, you have one year to register for transferring your foreign license. Sometimes some nice officers even do not care about this one year's limit....But once you register, they will arrange a time for "Kontrollfahrt" within three months. You can take the test with an automatic gear car. After you pass it, the license is also valid for manual car.
"Strassenverkehramt" has its own translation agent, you can just give them your original license. The translation fee is about 100 CHF. | Quote: | |  | | | Hi all,
I have entered Switzerland 3 years ago in Nov 2011 on a study permit (B), but got my drivers licence from my home country (EEA) in Aug 2012 (9 months after...). How screwed am I? Do I have to take the test regardless of the 5 years rule?
Thanks,
k. | | | | | I think you can just convert it into swiss license without a test, because it's from a EEA country.
Last edited by 3Wishes; 23.08.2014 at 11:33.
Reason: merging successive posts
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24.09.2014, 15:59
| Newbie | | Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Dietikon
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| | Re: [Drivers licence] Conversion and questions
Hello everyone! I have Russian drive license with A and B categories. I have understood what to do with B )). But does anybody know, if I have also pass motorbike exam to keep A category?
Thanks
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01.10.2014, 10:37
| Junior Member | | Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Zurich
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| | Driving licence conversion and Canton changing
Hello everyone,
I need your help to understand what should I do in this situation.
I am currently living in Zurich, but at the end of October I will move to canton Vaud. I am also close to the end of my first year in Switzerland, so I need to convert my Italian driving licence.
The question is the following: if I ask for the conversion here in Zurich, then I move to Vaud, should I communicate this information (and should I pay some taxes for moving somewhere else)? Or it is managed automatically by the offices?
Thank you very much!
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01.10.2014, 10:42
|  | RIP | | Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Murten - Morat
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| | Re: Driving licence conversion and Canton changing
You can apply anytime up to the 12 months, you should then you inform the traffic office in your new canton of your move. I think it is usually free of charge.
Applying in Zurich, license in German, applying in Vaud, license in French.
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01.10.2014, 10:51
| Junior Member | | Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Zurich
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| | Re: Driving licence conversion and Canton changing
Thank you very much, everything clear | 
16.10.2014, 20:03
| Newbie 1st class | | Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: st gallen
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| | Re: [Drivers licence] Conversion and questions | Quote: | |  | | | i also have category C. in the strassenverkehrsamt they told me that if i want just category B on my swiss drivers licens i need just to convert it.
but if i want also C category i must be checked by a doctor. do anyone knows what this mean? how much does that cost?
if i choose to get just category B, will i be allowed to get category C in the future if i need it? | | | | |
so.. because i dont need C category on my driving license i decided not to convert this category. when i converted my B category to swis driving license, the employee in strasse verkehr amt said to me that i will get only B category converted, but if i still want to get C category i have 2 months to get medical check by doctor and then i will get new license with C category on it. i didnt do that, and now when these 2 months passed i got all my documents back including my slovenian driving license. so now i have two driving license. i was scared that my swiss one is not valid any more, but i went to grenze an ask the police and they said that all is ok with my swiss driving license. but i am still in doubt. i should not have 2 driving license. what do you think? what am i supposed to do?
| Tags | conversion, drive test, driver license, driving, driving in ch, driving licence, driving licence conversion, france, frontalier, geneva, licence, road traffic offices, swiss driving licence, transportation, us lincense  |
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