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. Until 31 December 2026 the road-awareness course (VKU) comes after the theory test, with the learner’s permit (VZV Art. 18 para. 2). From 1 January 2027 it comes before it: anyone registering for the theory test must have attended it (VZV Art. 13 para. 1ter). Thirteen steps in all; below, each one says what it needs first and how long it stays valid. Category B (car).
13steps 5phases BCategory B (car)
Booking driving lessons? Compare driving schools near you:
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.
In what order do you get a Swiss driving licence?
Until 31 December 2026: 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 in the first year. From 1 January 2027 the VKU moves in front of the theory test: anyone registering for the test must have attended it (VZV Art. 13 para. 1ter).
What do I have to do first?
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.
How long do I have for the practical test?
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.
Does a passed theory test expire?
No. Since 1 January 2021 it is valid indefinitely. What expires is the learner permit — that is the deadline that counts.
How fast does a driving school answer an enquiry?
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.
And if you are only 14?
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.
And what if the licence goes missing?
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.
- Before you may drive
-
First-aid course (Nothelferkurs) Mandatory
- Cost
- CHF 100–200
- Duration
- min. 10 hours
- Valid
- First-aid certificate valid 6 years
-
Apply for the learner's permit Mandatory
- Cost
- CHF 20–80
- Duration
- Varies
- Needs first
- first-aid course and eyesight test
-
Eyesight test Mandatory
- Cost
- CHF 10–15
- Valid
- 24 months (when you apply)
- The theory
-
Theory test
- Cost
- CHF 30–40
- Needs first
- from 1 January 2027 also the VKU confirmation
- Valid
- unlimited (since 2021)
-
The learner's permit (Lernfahrausweis)
- Needs first
- passed theory test
- Valid
- 24 months, cannot be extended
- Learning to drive
-
Driving lessons
- Costs
- CHF 49.50–100
- Needs first
- learner permit
Range per driving lesson across every town, worked out from the town pages.
-
VKU course
- Cost
- CHF 99–250
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Needs first
- until 31 December 2026 the learner permit, before the practical test; from 1 January 2027 before registering for the theory test, at the earliest six months before the minimum age
- Valid
- unlimited
- The test
-
Practical driving test
- Cost
- CHF 120–140
- Needs first
- VKU confirmation; under 20 also a 12-month learning phase
- After that: three years on probation
-
Probationary licence
- Valid
- probation period 3 years
-
WAB course (further training)
- Cost
- CHF 255–390
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Needs first
- in the first year of probation
Costs
What the whole road costs
CHF 634–1’115
Added up from the ranges of the fixed items — without driving lessons.
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 99–250
- Practical testCHF 120–140
- WAB courseCHF 255–390
- 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 of the comparison 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