Category B

The road to your driving licence — a guide from A to Z

Two things come first: the first-aid course and the eyesight test — without them there is no application. Then the theory test, then the learner permit, and from that day 24 months in which the practical test has to happen. It cannot be extended. Thirteen steps in all; below, each one says what it needs first and how long it stays valid. Category B (car).

Category B (car) 13 steps

The shape of it

Thirteen steps, five phases

01 First-aid course (Nothelferkurs) Tap a dot to see that step.

And one day, at 75: the medical check-up every two years — what the doctor examines and what happens at the Kontrollfahrt.

In brief

The questions people actually ask

As of September 2026. Sources: Strassenverkehrsamt Bern, Kanton Zürich; reply times measured on todrive.ch. Fees and deadlines are set by your canton of residence.

First-aid course and eyesight test, then the application, then the theory test. Only then comes the learner permit, and only with it may you take driving lessons. The VKU comes before the practical test, and after it three years of probation with the WAB course inside.

The first-aid course and the eyesight test. Without both, the road traffic office will not accept the application. The eyesight test may be at most 24 months old when you file, the first-aid certificate at most six years.

24 months from the learner permit. It can neither be extended nor paused. If you are under 20, twelve of those months are a compulsory learning phase before you may take the test — which leaves half the window to schedule it.

No. Since 1 January 2021 it is valid indefinitely. What expires is the learner permit — that is the deadline that counts.

If it answers, usually the same day: 82 % of replies arrive within 24 hours, 94 % within three days — measured across 213 assigned replies on todrive.ch. Not every school answers; if you have heard nothing after three days, ask a second one.

Then the road starts not with the car but with the moped: the Mofa test (category M) is available from 14, theory only, at the road traffic office. At 15 comes A1 for light motorcycles up to 45 km/h, at 17 the learner permit for the car. Steps, fees and the checklist: the moped test at 14.

Your canton’s road traffic office replaces it: form, recent passport photo, copy of your ID, fee. Important for the learner permit — a replacement does not extend its validity, the 24 months keep running. What it costs is set by each canton: between CHF 20 and 70, depending on the canton (as of 16 September 2026).

Step by step

All thirteen steps

In this order, in five phases. Where a cost, a duration or an obligation is settled, it stands on the step — where it is not, nothing stands there rather than a guess. Rules, age limits and validity in detail are on Driving licence Switzerland.

  1. First-aid course (Nothelferkurs) Mandatory

    • Cost CHF 100–200
    • Duration min. 10 hours
    • Valid First-aid certificate valid 6 years

  2. Apply for the learner's permit Mandatory

    • Cost CHF 20–80
    • Duration Varies
    • Needs first first-aid course and eyesight test

  3. Eyesight test Mandatory

    • Cost CHF 10–15
    • Valid 24 months (when you apply)

  4. Learning the theory & where to learn it

  5. Theory test

    • Cost CHF 30–40
    • Valid unlimited (since 2021)

  6. The learner's permit (Lernfahrausweis)

    • Needs first passed theory test
    • Valid 24 months, cannot be extended

  7. Driving lessons

    • Costs CHF 55–111.50
    • Needs first learner permit

    Range per driving lesson across every town, worked out from the town pages.

  8. Private practice drives

  9. VKU course

    • Cost CHF 200–280
    • Duration 8 hours
    • Needs first learner permit, before the practical test
    • Valid unlimited

  10. Practical driving test

    • Cost CHF 120–140
    • Needs first VKU confirmation; under 20 also a 12-month learning phase

  11. Probationary licence

    • Valid probation period 3 years

  12. WAB course (further training)

    • Cost CHF 340–510
    • Duration 7 hours
    • Needs first within the probation period

  13. Unrestricted licence

Costs

What the whole road costs

The fixed items are on the right — they barely change for you. What stays open are the driving lessons: the price per lesson decides the total. The cost overview adds both together.

To the cost overview
  • First-aid course (Nothelferkurs)CHF 100–200
  • Permit applicationCHF 20–80
  • Eyesight testCHF 10–15
  • Theory testCHF 30–40
  • Road-awareness course (VKU)CHF 200–280
  • Practical testCHF 120–140
  • WAB courseCHF 340–510

Driving lessons — the item that moves ?

The price per lesson decides the total — and it depends on the town, the length of the lesson and the driving school. The town pages work it out live from the prices of the schools listed there.

To the cost calculator — your total with the real prices in your town