Driver's license and driving license (Switzerland)

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This article deals with the special provisions for the driver's license and the driving license documented with it in Switzerland .

The legal basis, based on the Road Traffic Act, is the Traffic Licensing Ordinance (VZV).

White L on a blue background to be attached to the vehicle driven by the learner driver.

The same rules apply in Switzerland as in the European Union, see driver's license and driving license (EU law) , with the exception of the following provisions:

Driver's license categories

  • Category A : Motorcycles
  • Category A restricted : Motorcycles with an engine power of not more than 35 kW and a ratio of engine power and empty weight of not more than 0.20 kW / kg
  • Category A1 : Motorcycles with a displacement of no more than 125 cm³ and an engine output of no more than 11 kW (from 16 years: max. 50 cm³ for positive-ignition engines or a maximum of 4 kW for other engines)
  • Category B : Motor vehicles with a maximum total weight of 3.5  t and a maximum of 9 seats, optionally with a trailer up to 750  kg operating weight or up to the height of the empty weight of the towing vehicle with a permissible total weight of the combination of no more than 3.5 t
  • Category B1 : Small and three-wheeled motor vehicles with an unladen weight of no more than 550 kg, plus snowmobiles
  • Category BE : Combination of a category B motor vehicle and a trailer with an operating weight of more than 750 kg
  • Category C : Motor vehicles with a total weight of more than 3.5 t, optionally with a trailer up to 750 kg operating weight
  • Category C1 : Motor vehicles with a total weight of more than 3.5 t up to a maximum of 7.5 t, optionally with a trailer up to 750 kg operating weight
  • Category CE : Combination of a category C motor vehicle and a trailer or semi-trailer with an operating weight of more than 750 kg
  • Category C1E : Combination of a motor vehicle of category C1 and a trailer or semi-trailer with an operating weight of more than 750 kg; the maximum gross combination weight must not exceed 12 t
  • Category D : Motor vehicles for passenger transport with more than 8 seats in addition to the driver's seat
  • Category D1 : Motor vehicles for passenger transport with more than 8 but not more than 16 seats in addition to the driver's seat *
  • Category D1 (3.5 t) : Motor vehicles for transporting people up to 3.5 t total weight with more than 8, but not more than 16 seats except the driver's seat *
  • Category D1E : Combination of a motor vehicle for passenger transport of category D1 and a trailer with an operating weight of more than 750 kg
  • Category DE : Combination of a motor vehicle for passenger transport of category D and a trailer with an operating weight of more than 750 kg
  • Category F : Motor vehicles, excluding motorcycles, with a maximum speed of 45 km / h
  • Category G : Agricultural motor vehicles with a maximum speed of 30 km / h, excluding exceptional vehicles
  • Category M : motorcycles

* The former category D2 is now granted as a category D1 limited to 3.5t. It allows minibuses up to 3.5 t to be driven. Vehicle registration was previously limited to 17 seats including driver (16 + 1); however, since 2011 only minibuses with up to 15 seats have been manufactured or authorized. For minibuses over 3.5 t with up to 17 seats, the unlimited category D1 is required.

Repealed categories

In the course of the alignment with the regulations in the EU, two categories were dropped in 2003; they were each transferred to a different category. integrated:

  • Category A2 (moved to Category B1)
  • Category D2 (vehicles up to 3.5 t with more than 9 seats for non-commercial passenger transport; it has been integrated into category D1, which is granted with a maximum weight of 3.5 t)

The authorizations (as shown separately on the previous blue ticket) remain in place for examinations before 2003, even if the ticket is exchanged for a new one in credit card format. In order not to withdraw the corresponding authorization (which still exists) with the discontinuation of category D2, category D1 is granted, but limited to vehicles up to 3.5 t. To align with the new regulation of the EU driving license classes, class A was limited from 25 kW to 35 kW on April 1, 2016.

Conditions and additional information

  • 01 : vision correction and / or eye protection
  • 04 : Must have a valid medical certificate
  • 50 (..) : Restriction to a specific vehicle
  • 70 : Reference to the previous driver's license. For example, after an exchange, the German "driving license no."
  • 78 : Only vehicles with automatic transmission
  • 79 (..) : Only vehicles that meet the specifications given in brackets
  • 101 : Special condition (detailed order from the authority)
  • 35 kW : Cat. A: Motorcycles no more than 35 kW and a ratio of engine power and empty weight of no more than 0.20 kW / kg
  • 45 km / h : Category A1: Motorcycles in sub-category A1 with 45 km / h limited speed
  • 121 Cat. B, B1, C, C1 or F: Professional passenger transport
  • 122 Cat. B, B1 or F: Schoolchildren, workers, handicapped people or ambulance transport as well as professional passenger transport with vehicles that do not reach a maximum speed of more than 30 km / h depending on the design
  • 3.5t : Cat. D1: When exchanging the previous Cat. D2
  • 106 : Cat. D1: When exchanging the previous Cat. D1 and D2. Authorized to drive minibuses with more than 17 seats in domestic traffic.
  • 107 : Cat. D: Regional regular service
  • 108 : Cat. B: Label "Doctor / Emergency" approved
  • 109 : Cat. C1 / C1E: authorized to drive caravans and fire engine vehicles with more than 7.5 t
  • 110 : Cat. B or C: Authorized to drive trolley buses
  • 111 : Cat. C, C1, D, D1 or authorization for professional passenger transport: the foreign driver's license must be carried
  • 118 : Authorizes owners of category C1 to drive vehicles of category C and D in the fire service. The prerequisite is the driver's test with a fire engine vehicle with an operating weight of more than 7.5 t
  • G40 Cat. G: Agricultural tractors with a maximum speed of 40 km / h and exceptional agricultural vehicles
  • 201 Driving instructor Cat. I (light motor vehicles)
  • 202 Driving instructor Cat. II (heavy motor vehicles)
  • 203 Driving instructor Cat. III (theory)
  • 204 driving instructor category IV (motorcycles)
Remarks
  1. ↑ The owner must wear glasses or contact lenses
  2. ↑ a b c People who acquired the ID up to 2003 had received the categories A2, D2, BE and D2E without an additional test when acquiring category B. So that these people do not have fewer rights than before as a result of the changeover, these categories are rewritten with restrictions: Category A1 only applies to motorcycles up to 45 km / h, Category D1 applies regardless of the number of seats (code number 106), but up to a total weight of no more than 3.5 t. Category D1 with the restriction 106 is then only valid in domestic traffic.
  3. ↑ a b c d transitional law
  4. ↑ according to Art. 24c para. D VZV

Exchange of the German document for a Swiss one

When moving to Switzerland, the German driving license entitles you to drive motor vehicles for a maximum of one year. It can be exchanged for a Swiss driver's license after a maximum of 10 years without an examination. Under certain circumstances, classes can be lost. According to the Swiss legal opinion regarding the agreement with Germany, the classes previously valid in Germany must be granted again after returning from Switzerland. Conversely, Switzerland does the same with people who return to Switzerland from Germany. The legal interpretation of the German Federal Ministry of Transport (2006) corresponds to that of Switzerland, according to which the German driving license, which was issued as "unlimited validity" (class 3), becomes valid again on return to Germany if this is requested.

Military categories in Switzerland

Driving qualifications acquired in the military are also valid in civil road traffic. The additional qualifications (armored wheeled vehicles etc.) are noted on the driver's license with a numerical code, e.g. 920, 931E, 961 etc. The Road Traffic Office keeps a list of abbreviations.

Web links

References and comments

  1. ↑ Note from a bus rental company ; accessed on October 28, 2018
  2. ↑ Military driving authorizations in Switzerland ( memento of the original dated February 6, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on lba.admin.ch. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.lba.admin.ch