Global Forums > General > drivers licences in swissland
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drivers licences in swissland
Aug 6, 2007 @ 12:33
ok have now heard many different versions of what is and what isn't, but am wondering if anyone out there knows the actual answer to this: do you have to switch your drivers licence (i've got a UK one) after a year of living here or not??? have heard that you either have to or you get in big trouble, through to not having to do so at all. which one is it?????
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ok have now heard many different versions of what is and what isn't, but am wondering if anyone out there knows the actual answer to this: do you have to switch your drivers licence (i've got a UK one) after a year of living here or not??? have heard that you either have to or you get in big trouble, through to not having to do so at all. which one is it?????
G___Aug 6, 2007 @ 12:33
G___Aug 6, 2007 @ 12:33
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Re: drivers licences in swissland
Post 1
Aug 6, 2007 @ 13:14
I had to go through the car registration business a couple of months ago as I was sent a letter telling me to do so and that I had to switch my driver's license (German not UK but EU anyway) within a year of my arrival here. The other option is to pass a new driving test etc, if the one year deadline is missed, which is an even bigger drag.
For more info:
http://www.geneve.ch/san/permis-de-conduire-et-permis-d-eleve/welcome.asp?rubrique=echange-d-un-permis-de-conduire-etranger&titre=Echange_d__un_permis_de_conduire_etranger
For more info:
http://www.geneve.ch/san/permis-de-conduire-et-permis-d-eleve/welcome.asp?rubrique=echange-d-un-permis-de-conduire-etranger&titre=Echange_d__un_permis_de_conduire_etranger
The text you are quoting:
I had to go through the car registration business a couple of months ago as I was sent a letter telling me to do so and that I had to switch my driver's license (German not UK but EU anyway) within a year of my arrival here. The other option is to pass a new driving test etc, if the one year deadline is missed, which is an even bigger drag.
For more info:
http://www.geneve.ch/san/permis-de-conduire-et-permis-d-eleve/welcome.asp?rubrique=echange-d-un-permis-de-conduire-etranger&titre=Echange_d__un_permis_de_conduire_etranger
Sylph, Aug 6, 2007 @ 13:14
For more info:
http://www.geneve.ch/san/permis-de-conduire-et-permis-d-eleve/welcome.asp?rubrique=echange-d-un-permis-de-conduire-etranger&titre=Echange_d__un_permis_de_conduire_etranger
Sylph, Aug 6, 2007 @ 13:14
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Re: drivers licences in swissland
Post 2
Aug 6, 2007 @ 13:19
was hoping you wouldn't say that! well thanks v much for the info anyway. guess i'm gonna have to re-learn how to drive with two hands on the wheel! :S
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was hoping you wouldn't say that! well thanks v much for the info anyway. guess i'm gonna have to re-learn how to drive with two hands on the wheel! :S
G___, Aug 6, 2007 @ 13:19
G___, Aug 6, 2007 @ 13:19
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Re: drivers licences in swissland
Post 3
Aug 6, 2007 @ 13:41
Although they say you have to take the test again after one year, it's not really true.
5 years ago I brought a car, and decided I was going to go on holiday with it to the UK, as it was swiss registered I thought well better change my license to a swiss one, but I had been here 18 months.
Bugger I thought have to take the test, so went to register for some lessons and they looked at me strangely and said you don't need to. Went to the Bureau des autos in carouge, and they told me that as I have a UK driving license, the standards are the same, so I paid my 150 chf and got my Swiss drivers license on the spot.
5 years ago I brought a car, and decided I was going to go on holiday with it to the UK, as it was swiss registered I thought well better change my license to a swiss one, but I had been here 18 months.
Bugger I thought have to take the test, so went to register for some lessons and they looked at me strangely and said you don't need to. Went to the Bureau des autos in carouge, and they told me that as I have a UK driving license, the standards are the same, so I paid my 150 chf and got my Swiss drivers license on the spot.
The text you are quoting:
Although they say you have to take the test again after one year, it's not really true.
5 years ago I brought a car, and decided I was going to go on holiday with it to the UK, as it was swiss registered I thought well better change my license to a swiss one, but I had been here 18 months.
Bugger I thought have to take the test, so went to register for some lessons and they looked at me strangely and said you don't need to. Went to the Bureau des autos in carouge, and they told me that as I have a UK driving license, the standards are the same, so I paid my 150 chf and got my Swiss drivers license on the spot.
DJ_Symcard, Aug 6, 2007 @ 13:41
5 years ago I brought a car, and decided I was going to go on holiday with it to the UK, as it was swiss registered I thought well better change my license to a swiss one, but I had been here 18 months.
Bugger I thought have to take the test, so went to register for some lessons and they looked at me strangely and said you don't need to. Went to the Bureau des autos in carouge, and they told me that as I have a UK driving license, the standards are the same, so I paid my 150 chf and got my Swiss drivers license on the spot.
DJ_Symcard, Aug 6, 2007 @ 13:41
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Re: drivers licences in swissland
Post 4
Aug 6, 2007 @ 13:46
..after a year??? (cough)
Well G, all you do is swap your UK licence for a Swiss one, no test needed. But they DO take away your UK one and send it back to the UK. Cost about CHF150.
Only countries where driving standards are different (eastern Europe and Latam) have to take a new test. (although I would question the Italian and French driving standards too)
With a Swiss licence it may positively affect your insurance, and if you go to the UK you can still hire a car etc. plus in Switzerland a Driving licence is classed as ID in many places.
Well G, all you do is swap your UK licence for a Swiss one, no test needed. But they DO take away your UK one and send it back to the UK. Cost about CHF150.
Only countries where driving standards are different (eastern Europe and Latam) have to take a new test. (although I would question the Italian and French driving standards too)
With a Swiss licence it may positively affect your insurance, and if you go to the UK you can still hire a car etc. plus in Switzerland a Driving licence is classed as ID in many places.
The text you are quoting:
..after a year??? (cough)
Well G, all you do is swap your UK licence for a Swiss one, no test needed. But they DO take away your UK one and send it back to the UK. Cost about CHF150.
Only countries where driving standards are different (eastern Europe and Latam) have to take a new test. (although I would question the Italian and French driving standards too)
With a Swiss licence it may positively affect your insurance, and if you go to the UK you can still hire a car etc. plus in Switzerland a Driving licence is classed as ID in many places.
Charlie, Aug 6, 2007 @ 13:46
Well G, all you do is swap your UK licence for a Swiss one, no test needed. But they DO take away your UK one and send it back to the UK. Cost about CHF150.
Only countries where driving standards are different (eastern Europe and Latam) have to take a new test. (although I would question the Italian and French driving standards too)
With a Swiss licence it may positively affect your insurance, and if you go to the UK you can still hire a car etc. plus in Switzerland a Driving licence is classed as ID in many places.
Charlie, Aug 6, 2007 @ 13:46
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Re: drivers licences in swissland
Post 5
Aug 6, 2007 @ 14:03
in that case, where is this mystical place that i must go to in order to swap my licence?
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in that case, where is this mystical place that i must go to in order to swap my licence?
G___, Aug 6, 2007 @ 14:03
G___, Aug 6, 2007 @ 14:03
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Re: drivers licences in swissland
Post 6
Aug 6, 2007 @ 16:28
yeah as long as you have had your license more than a year from outside swiss, they will just give you a new one with no test, even if its been more than a year. they are pretty easy about it. im not sure about UK licenes, but the American ones they give you back as well, so then you have two.
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yeah as long as you have had your license more than a year from outside swiss, they will just give you a new one with no test, even if its been more than a year. they are pretty easy about it. im not sure about UK licenes, but the American ones they give you back as well, so then you have two.
floydmarks, Aug 6, 2007 @ 16:28
floydmarks, Aug 6, 2007 @ 16:28
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Re: drivers licences in swissland
Post 7
Aug 10, 2007 @ 12:29
Could you let me know how u know?!! That would be great!!
I got stopped by the french police last year with my UK license and they told me I was driving illegally by not having changed it and wrote me a ticket (for something else) and ticked a box on it to say I needed to change my license. (which I havent actually done yet ha - so hope I dont get stopped!)
I got stopped by the french police last year with my UK license and they told me I was driving illegally by not having changed it and wrote me a ticket (for something else) and ticked a box on it to say I needed to change my license. (which I havent actually done yet ha - so hope I dont get stopped!)
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Could you let me know how u know?!! That would be great!!
I got stopped by the french police last year with my UK license and they told me I was driving illegally by not having changed it and wrote me a ticket (for something else) and ticked a box on it to say I needed to change my license. (which I havent actually done yet ha - so hope I dont get stopped!)
Lilipops, Aug 10, 2007 @ 12:29
I got stopped by the french police last year with my UK license and they told me I was driving illegally by not having changed it and wrote me a ticket (for something else) and ticked a box on it to say I needed to change my license. (which I havent actually done yet ha - so hope I dont get stopped!)
Lilipops, Aug 10, 2007 @ 12:29
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Re: drivers licences in swissland
Post 8
Aug 10, 2007 @ 14:45
i was two years over the one year limit. as long as your license shows that you have been driving a couple of years more than the time you have been here they dont seem to really care about the one year limit. you dont have anything to loose by trying anyway, they wont take your license away if they say no.
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i was two years over the one year limit. as long as your license shows that you have been driving a couple of years more than the time you have been here they dont seem to really care about the one year limit. you dont have anything to loose by trying anyway, they wont take your license away if they say no.
floydmarks, Aug 10, 2007 @ 14:45
floydmarks, Aug 10, 2007 @ 14:45
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