Licence conversion in Zürich

Convert your foreign driving licence in Zürich, in English.

Everything you need to know about the 12-month deadline, which countries exchange directly, when a control drive is required, and how DriveX prepares you for it. Checked against the rules of the Strassenverkehrsamt des Kantons Zürich, September 2026.

Check your deadline

You may drive on your valid foreign licence for 12 months from the day you take up residence in Switzerland. After 12 months you are not allowed to drive until the exchange is complete. Count back from your arrival date and start the application at least two months before.

Check your country

For category B (car) there is no theory test. What you need depends only on the country that issued your licence.

Direct exchange, no testAll EU and EFTA countries and the United Kingdom. For category B also Andorra, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Monaco, Morocco, New Zealand, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Tunisia and the USA.

Control drive requiredEvery other country, for example India, Brazil, China, Turkey, the Philippines, Russia, Ukraine, Mexico or South Africa. You show a traffic examiner that you know Swiss rules and drive safely. This is what DriveX prepares you for.

Apply at the Strassenverkehrsamt Zürich

The application goes to the cantonal road traffic office. You will need your foreign licence, your Swiss residence permit and, in some cases, proof that you lived in the issuing country for at least 12 months (rental contract, employment contract or school certificate). The official page, in German: Ausländischen Führerausweis umtauschen, Kanton Zürich. If a control drive is required, the office invites you to it.

Prepare with DriveX

Most drivers from abroad drive well but do not know the Swiss specifics: priority to the right, roundabouts, trams and buses, 30 km/h zones, pedestrian crossings, the way examiners expect you to observe and signal. In an assessment lesson for CHF 59 we drive together and tell you honestly how many lessons make sense. Most people need 3 to 6. Lessons are on an automatic car, in English, with pick-up in Zürich Oerlikon, Seebach, Enge or Kloten.

Control drive day

You drive our car, which you know from the lessons. We pick you up, do a 60-minute warm-up on the exam routes and bring you to the examination site, for Zurich North usually Regensdorf or Zürich-Albisgütli. After a passed control drive the Strassenverkehrsamt issues your Swiss licence.

Licence conversion at DriveX in short

DriveX is a driving school in Zürich Oerlikon that prepares holders of foreign driving licences for the Swiss control drive (Kontrollfahrt) in English. First lesson CHF 59, further lessons CHF 80 for about 50 minutes or CHF 160 for a double lesson, no minimum purchase. One-off fees: CHF 150 administration and insurance, CHF 220 exam package on the day of the control drive. Lessons take place on an automatic car with pick-up in Oerlikon, Seebach, Enge and Kloten. Owner and instructor: Ramon Garabal Subba, member of SwissDrive. Contact on WhatsApp or by phone at +41 76 757 75 00, Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 8 pm. Google rating 5.0 from 28 reviews (September 2026).

Prices

What conversion costs

Assessment lessonYour first lesson, about 50 minutes. We drive and tell you how many lessons you need.

CHF 59

Single lessonAbout 50 minutes including debrief, roughly 45 minutes of driving.

CHF 80

Double lessonAbout 100 minutes. Fastest progress.

CHF 160

Administration and insuranceOne-off per person, due from the second lesson. Covers admin and insurance during lessons and the control drive.

CHF 150

Exam packageCar, instructor and a 60-minute warm-up on the day of the control drive.

CHF 220

Official fees for the licence exchange and the control drive are charged by the Strassenverkehrsamt directly. Cancellations less than 24 hours before a lesson cost 50 % of the lesson price, free with a medical certificate. Full price list: prices in English.

Questions

Frequently asked

How long can I drive on my foreign licence in Switzerland?

For 12 months from the date you take up residence. After that you may not drive in Switzerland until your licence has been exchanged, so apply well before the deadline.

Do I need to take a theory test to convert my licence?

No. For category B (car) the canton of Zurich requires no theory test, whatever your country. Depending on the country, you either exchange directly or take a control drive.

Which countries can exchange without a control drive?

All EU and EFTA countries plus the United Kingdom, and for category B also Andorra, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Monaco, Morocco, New Zealand, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Tunisia and the USA. Licences from every other country require a control drive.

What is the control drive (Kontrollfahrt)?

A practical drive with a traffic examiner, similar to a driving test, in which you show that you know Swiss traffic rules and drive safely. It takes place at an examination site of the Strassenverkehrsamt Zürich, for Zurich North usually Regensdorf or Zürich-Albisgütli. You drive our car.

How many lessons do I need before the control drive?

Most experienced drivers need 3 to 6 lessons. The first lesson (CHF 59) is an assessment: we drive, look at the Swiss specifics you have not met yet and tell you honestly how many lessons make sense. No minimum purchase.

What does licence conversion with DriveX cost?

First lesson CHF 59, further lessons CHF 80 (about 50 minutes) or CHF 160 for a double lesson. One-off: CHF 150 administration and insurance, and CHF 220 for the exam package on the day of the control drive (car, instructor and a 60-minute warm-up). Official fees of the Strassenverkehrsamt are paid directly to the canton.

Not sure which rule applies to you?

Send us your country and arrival date on WhatsApp. We answer the same day, in English.

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