Driving in Switzerland

Driver's permit

Persons enjoying immunity on Swiss territory: senior officials, diplomats and mission staff, but not drivers, do not have to exchange their permit for a Swiss one, even after one year provided the permit is valid.

Staff of permanent missions and of international organisations should consult the information contained in the section on vehicles in the Practical Manual of the regime of privileges and immunities and other facilities.

Registration

Vehicles coming from abroad must be declared to Customs, which will in turn notify the Automobile and Navigation Service. This service will then send the necessary documents for obtaining license plates.

Corps diplomatique (CD) license plates are supplied by the Automobile Service. To obtain them, the papers provided by the Swiss Mission must be sent to the Service.

Diplomatic (CD) license plates (blue for permanent missions and international organisations and green for embassies in Berne) are reserved for the service vehicles of the permanent missions, Heads of mission and diplomatic personnel. They are also available for the service vehicles of international organisations, members of the senior management and high ranking officials.

All others persons, not enjoying diplomatic status, must register their vehicles with normal licenses plates.

This process should in principale be carried out by the human resources department of your organisation, mission or consulate (see with them directly).

Where the vehicles is registered depends on the place of residence of its owner:

Le lieu d'immatriculation est fonction du lieu de domicile du propriétaire du véhicule :

For Geneva : Office cantonal des automobiles et de la navigation
For the Canton of Vaud : Service des automobiles et de la navigation

Motorway "vignette"

An annual motorway "vignette" (CHF. 40.- ) is applicable to the drivers of all vehicles. To learn more...www.dfae.admin.ch
Where to purchase the motorway "vignette"

In Switzerland : at post offices, customs offices, gas stations, garages and cantonal vehicles registration offices. Abroad : from the Swiss National Tourism Offices, automobile associations, partners of the Deutsche Post AG.

The motorway "vignette" is valid from December 1st of the year prior to its designated year until January 31st of the following year. It is sold for a price of CHF 40 and must be affixed to the vehicle’s windscreen (one "vignette" per vehicle).

Any driver using a toll motorway without a valid "vignette" will be liable to a fine of CHF 100 and at the same time required to pay the CHF 40 price of the "vignette"

An obligatory anti-pollution sticker must be placed on your car, indicating the month and year when the next test mut be carried out.

Importation or purchase of a vehicle

Information on the the importation or purchase of a tax-free vehicle for individuals, and for missions and international organisations, may be found in the chapter "Customs" in the Practical Manual of the regime of privileges and immunities and other facilities.

Driving schools

Geneva: you will find all necessary information on the site of the Fédération Romande des Ecoles de Conduite (FREC).
French-speaking Switzerland: the site www.auto-ecole.ch gives information on how to find a driving school according to certain criteria, such as a location, type of permit, languages availables, etc...
NB: if you mention your first language, you can obtain the names of instructors who may be able to give you the theory tests in the desired language.