Pass your Swiss driving exam on the first try

Yes, you can drive in Switzerland with a valid foreign license for 12 months after your arrival date. This applies to licenses from all countries. After 12 months, you must exchange your foreign license for a Swiss one or stop driving. The countdown starts from your official registration date in Switzerland (Contrôle des habitants).

The course de contrôle is a practical driving test for expats exchanging non-EU licenses in Switzerland. Unlike a normal driving test, it cannot be retaken if you fail. The exam lasts about 30-45 minutes and tests your ability to drive safely in Swiss conditions. The failure rate is approximately 38%, making proper preparation essential.

The minimum costs include: SAN application fee (CHF 50), practical exam fee (CHF 130), eye test (CHF 25), and passport photo (CHF 15). Total minimum: CHF 220. If your license requires translation (non-Latin scripts), add CHF 100. Preparation packages with a driving instructor range from CHF 180-570.

The course de contrôle cannot be retaken. If you fail, you must restart as a new driver with stricter exam requirements (maneuvers are tested), no solo driving privileges, and additional costs of approximately CHF 980+ including withdrawal fee (CHF 200), new application (CHF 50), theory exam (CHF 40), traffic awareness course (CHF 200), practical exam (CHF 130), and additional lessons.

You have 12 months from your arrival date in Switzerland to exchange your foreign driving license. After this deadline, your foreign license is no longer valid for driving in Switzerland, and you would need to start the full driver licensing process as a new driver.

Switzerland has different recognition levels for foreign licenses. EU/EFTA countries have full recognition (simple exchange). Countries like USA, Canada, Australia, Japan have partial recognition (practical test only). Countries like Iran, Russia, China, Ukraine require the course de contrôle. The specific requirements depend on bilateral agreements and can be verified through the cantonal road traffic office.

Translation is required if your license is in a non-Latin script (Farsi, Arabic, Russian Cyrillic, Chinese, etc.). The translation must be done by a certified translator and costs approximately CHF 100. Licenses in Latin alphabet languages (English, French, German, Spanish, etc.) typically don't require translation.

For license exchange in Canton Vaud, you need: Form 220 (application form), your original foreign license, certified translation (if applicable), attestation from Contrôle des habitants, passport photo meeting Swiss requirements, eye test certificate from an optician, and the application fee of CHF 50. Documents are submitted to the SAN (Service des automobiles et de la navigation).

The course de contrôle (practical test for license exchange) lasts approximately 30-45 minutes. It includes driving in urban areas, following traffic rules, demonstrating proper observation, and typically includes highway driving. The test is conducted from the exam center in Cossonay for Canton Vaud residents.

The most common failure reasons include: insufficient observation at intersections, incorrect right-of-way decisions, poor lane discipline on highways, inadequate mirror checks, hesitation causing traffic disruption, and unfamiliarity with Swiss road signs and markings. About 38% of candidates fail, often due to overconfidence from years of driving experience.

No, the course de contrôle cannot be retaken. This is a critical difference from a normal driving test. If you fail, your foreign license is invalidated, and you must restart the entire Swiss licensing process as a new driver. This includes taking the theory test, completing required courses, and passing a full practical exam with stricter requirements.

Driving lesson prices in Lausanne typically range from CHF 90-100 per hour. For license exchange preparation specifically, I offer a 2-hour double lesson for CHF 180, a Preparation Package (4 hours including video course) for CHF 320, or a Full Package with exam accompaniment for CHF 570.

If your 12-month deadline expires, your foreign license is no longer valid for driving in Switzerland. You would need to start the complete Swiss licensing process as a new driver: obtain a learner's permit, complete first aid course and theory exam, take the mandatory traffic awareness course (8 hours), and pass both theory and practical exams. This costs significantly more and takes several months.

In Canton Vaud, after your license exchange application is approved by the SAN, you'll receive authorization to book your practical exam. Booking is done through the SAN website or by phone. Tests are conducted at the Cossonay exam center. Wait times vary but are typically 2-4 weeks. Many candidates book a warm-up lesson immediately before the exam.

The practical driving test in Switzerland is typically conducted in the local language (French in Vaud/Lausanne). However, examiners often speak basic English and understand that expats may have limited French. Instructions are simple and clear. I offer lessons in English to prepare you for understanding exam instructions.