On your way to your driving license

Step by step

You will need to complete several steps in order to get your driving licence. First, you will have to obtain your learner’s permit and complete the Emergency First Aid Course (Nothelferkurs). Then you will need to pass the basic theory test and complete the Traffic Safety Course (VKU) and the practical driving instruction component. After that, you’ll be ready to take your driving test. In order to ensure you never lose sight of your personal goal, this website takes you through the whole process step-by-step in an easily understandable manner. This means you always maintain a clear overview and remain on track to achieve your ultimate goal.

Get started!
1

What to do in an emergency?

The Emergency First Aid Course

In order to apply for your learner’s permit, you need to have a valid emergency first aid card that may not be more than six years old when you submit your “Application for a Learner’s Permit” [“Lernfahrgesuch”]. The Emergency First Aid Course teaches you how to give first aid in an emergency. This means you’ll be ready to deal with an emergency – not just in the form of a traffic accident but also in everyday situations. In other words, you’ll be in a position to save lives if it ever comes to that, and others who take the course might end up saving yours.

You’ll find further information on the Emergency First Aid Course in the FAQs about the course.

Sign up now!
2

The most important document

The learner’s permit

You have successfully completed the Emergency First Aid Course. Congratulations! Now it’s time for the second step: you need to get a learner’s permit, which will open the doors to your vehicle and allow you practise driving with a driving instructor of your choice or a private individual who has a driving license. In order to apply for your learner’s permit, you will need to do the following:

You’ll find further information on the “Application for a Learner’s Permit” in the FAQs about the application process.

The first step here is to download the “Application for a Learner’s Permit” for the canton you live in. Enter your information accurately and then print the completed electronic form. You can also print it first and then fill it out by hand. Don’t forget to sign the form when you’re finished. You can download the “Application for a Learner’s Permit” for the canton of Zurich using the blue download button below.

Free, printed “Application for a Learner’s Permit” forms can also be found at all police stations, the driver and vehicle licensing office in the canton you live in, the residents’ register office in your municipality and at my driving school. You can also use this website’s contact page to get in touch with me – I’ll then be happy to send you the form by post.

You’ll find further information on the “Application for a Learner’s Permit” form in the FAQs about the “Application for a Learner’s Permit”.

Take the completed “Application for a Learner’s Permit” form AND a valid official ID (identity card, passport or an official foreigner ID card) and go to an optician or ophthalmologist of your choice. There you can take a vision test, the results of which will be entered by the optician or ophthalmologist directly in the “Application for a Learner’s Permit” form and then confirmed by the optician’s or ophthalmologist’s signature or stamp.

Important note: Swiss law stipulates that the vision test may not be more than 24 months old at the time the “Application for a Learner’s Permit” is submitted.

You’ll find further information on the minimum medical requirements for obtaining a learner’s permit in the FAQs about the “Application for a Learner’s Permit”.

You will need to submit a color passport photo with your “Application for a Learner’s Permit”. The photo must meet the requirements listed below. If it does not, your “Application for a Learner’s Permit” will be rejected by the responsible authorities:

  • Face: you must look directly at the camera with a neutral facial expression and with your eyes open; no shadows should be falling on your face and
    you should not wear any form of head covering (unless you do so for religious reasons)
  • Quality: colour passport photo on photographic paper – from a photo booth or specialist shop; no rounded edges,
    creases or stains
  • If you wear glasses: no reflective or tinted lenses; frames must not cover your eyes
  • Background: neutral; no shadows, other people or objects
  • Dimensions: 35 mm x 45 mm is the standard format for the “Application for a Learner’s Permit”

You’ll find further information on the “Application for a Learner’s Permit” form in the FAQs about the “Application for a Learner’s Permit”.

 

Have you got all your documents together? Congratulations! You can now apply for your learner’s permit. If this is the first time you’re applying for the permit, you need to go to the driver and vehicle licensing office in the canton where you live, or else appear personally at the residents’ register office in your city/municipality, in order to confirm your identity. Be sure to take all of your documents with you:

  • The completed “Application for a Learner’s Permit” (including vision test results)
  • Confirmation of completion of the Emergency First Aid Course (no more than six years old)
  • Colour passport photo (35 mm x 45 mm)
  • Identity card, passport or an official foreigner ID card

You’ll find further information on the “Application for a Learner’s Permit” form in the FAQs about the “Application for a Learner’s Permit”.


You’ll find further information on the learner’s permit in the FAQs about the learner’s permit.

Download “Application for a Learner’s Permit”
3

The rules, all those rules!

The basic theory test

The driver and vehicle licensing office cannot issue you a learner’s permit until you pass the basic theory test. If your “Application for a Learner’s Permit” is officially accepted by the driver and vehicle licensing office, the office will send you a letter with the personal data you need to register for the basic theory test.

If you already have a driving licence for category A or subcategories A1 or B1, you do not need to take the basic theory test again, as you have already passed it for the other categories. If this situation applies to you, the driver and vehicle licensing office will automatically send you a learner’s permit for your desired category by post.

You can study for the basic theory test on your own with the help of special learning software and the “Theoriebüchlein” (theoretical booklet) if you wish to do so. However, if you run into difficulties, you can take a one-on-one basic theory course at my driving school to ensure that you’re perfectly prepared for the test.

You’ll find further information on the basic theory test, recommended learning materials, the languages in which the test can be taken, test dates, times and locations, the number of errors you can make on the test, the number of times you may repeat the test, etc. in the FAQs about the basic theory test.

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Sign up for a basic theory course
4

Now things really get moving

Driving lessons

You’ve achieved another milestone by passing the basic theory test, and you recently received your learner’s permit by post. Now you need to prepare for your practical driving test. You essentially have two options here:

You can either prepare with a professional driving instructor or with a friend or family member. My experience has shown me that initially practising your driving with a certified instructor will help prevent you from adopting certain unfavourable driving habits. It will also be easier on your nerves – and those of the person accompanying you.

If you want to prepare yourself for the driving test quickly, competently and effectively, it makes sense to combine driving lessons with a driving instructor with lessons on your own with an accompanying driver. The main goal of your practical driver training is to enable you to pass the driving test on your first attempt. That’s why all lessons at my driving school have a consistent structure and are designed to ensure that only a minimal amount of effort will be required for you to quickly obtain the skills you need to pass the test. This saves you time and money and also ensures that you stay motivated.

You’ll find further important information on driving lessons in the FAQs about driving lessons.

Sign up for driving lessons
5

Tips and tricks from a professional

The Traffic Safety Course (VKU)

You need to complete the mandatory Traffic Safety Course (VKU) in order to be able to register for the driving test. The course consists of eight lessons that provide you with important information on traffic observation, the traffic environment, traffic dynamics and driving tactics. I recommend that you take the VKU during the first third of the practical driver training stage so that you’ll be able to directly apply what you learn in the VKU to your driving lessons, and thus develop your driving skills more rapidly.

You’ll find further information on the Traffic Safety Course (VKU) in the FAQs about the course.

Register for the Traffic Safety Course (VKU)
6

Show what you can do!

The practical driving test

All those cars, bicycles, trams, buses and pedestrians out there don’t stress you out anymore? You can park the car and drive on the Autobahn without getting worked up? Then it’s time for you to register for your practical driving test. The test takes around 45 minutes and will be supervised by an expert from the driver and vehicle licensing office. Normally, you take the test in the driving school vehicle that you took your lessons in, as your familiarity with the vehicle gives you the best chance to show the test supervisor what you can do. My goal is optimally prepare you for your driving test so that you can pass it on your first attempt.

You’ll find all important information on the driving test in the FAQs about the practical test.

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Register for the driving test
7

You’re almost there

Probationary period and the advanced training (WAB) course

Congratulations on passing your practical driving test! Your credit card-sized “probationary licence” is valid immediately and anywhere in the world. However, it will expire in three years.

In order to ensure you automatically receive your permanent licence after the three-year period, you will need to take an advanced training (WAB) course no later than one year after you pass the practical driving test. The WAB course improves your driving skills and knowledge. If you take the WAB course and do not commit any serious driving offences that result in a suspension of your license, the driver and vehicle licensing office will automatically issue you a permanent licence shortly before the three-year probationary period ends.

You’ll find further information on the WAB course in the FAQs about the “probationary licence”

Do you have any questions, or would you like to sign up for driving lessons?

Then get in touch – I look forward to hearing from you!