You have passed the theory test, congratulations! Your Lernfahrausweis (learner’s permit) is now on its way to you. The moment you are holding it, you can get going. Everything you need to know about the Lernfahrausweis is in this article.
What you have to do and know in order to apply for your Lernfahrausweis is explained in the article «Submitting the learner drive application».
01
What the Lernfahrausweis costs me
The cost of the Lernfahrausweis differs from canton to canton. Depending on where you live, you will be charged between 20 and 80 francs. Some cantons have started to bundle individual administrative steps. The canton of Lucerne, for example, charges 50 francs for the Lernfahrausweis, the processing of the application and the registration for the theory test together. For your budget it can therefore matter which tariff covers which services in your canton of residence.
How much does it cost to get your driving licence in Switzerland? We answer that question in the article «Cost overview: driving licence».
How you can save a lot of money on the way to your licence without much effort is explained in the article «Saving money on your driving licence».
02
I have lost my Lernfahrausweis
Lost your Lernfahrausweis? No problem. You can apply online for a duplicate at the Strassenverkehrsamt where you live. For a new Lernfahrausweis you again need a colour passport photo and a copy of an official identity document (ID card, passport or residence permit). Here too the fees vary by canton: in Zurich, for instance, they are 15 francs, in the canton of St. Gallen 50 francs.
03
…and found it again
Has the Lernfahrausweis you thought was lost turned up again? Then send it back by post to the Strassenverkehrsamt of your canton of residence. As soon as a duplicate Lernfahrausweis is issued, the old one loses its validity. You may no longer use it.
04
How long the Lernfahrausweis is valid
The Lernfahrausweis is valid for exactly 2 years.
05
Can the Lernfahrausweis be extended?
No, the Lernfahrausweis cannot be extended. If your permit has expired, you can submit a new learner drive application to the Strassenverkehrsamt of your canton of residence. That means the fees fall due again.
06
When and how I receive my Lernfahrausweis
Once you have passed the theory test you receive the Lernfahrausweis either directly at the Strassenverkehrsamt, depending on the canton, or it is sent to you by post within a few days.
07
What I may and may not do with the Lernfahrausweis
With the Lernfahrausweis you can go on private accompanied learner drives and, of course, take driving lessons with a Fahrlehrer:in (driving instructor). You will find one easily and clearly laid out in the Swiss driving instructor comparison.
Your accompanying person has to be at least 24 years old and to have held a valid driving licence for the vehicle category in question for at least 3 years. Anyone holding a probationary licence may not accompany you on your learner drives.
Your accompanying person has to make sure that safety is guaranteed and that the traffic rules are observed. You are liable if you break the traffic rules. Your accompanying person is liable for offences if they neglect their duties.
There is more on this in the chapter private learner drives.
Your Lernfahrausweis is only valid in Switzerland. If you would also like to practise abroad, you have to ask the Swiss embassy (or its consular representation) or the customs offices of the country concerned about the rules that apply there.
08
Lernfahrausweis at 17
At the end of 2018 the Federal Council decided to lower the minimum age for obtaining the Lernfahrausweis from 18 to 17 years. This change in the law came into force on 1.1.2021. The new law provides that everyone under 20 has to go through a 12-month learning phase before sitting the practical driving test. This expresses the Federal Council’s aim of steadily improving road safety, because the more accompanied learner drives take place before the practical test, the lower the risk of an accident later on.
Important: if you were born in 2003, you can apply for the Lernfahrausweis at 17 from 1.1.2021. If you receive the Lernfahrausweis during 2021, you can sit the practical driving test straight after your 18th birthday, even if the 12-month learning phase has not yet run its course. Without this transitional rule, people born in 2003 with a birthday early in the year could, from 2021 onwards, only obtain their driving licence at almost 19 because of the one-year learning phase. For people born in 2003 who only apply for the Lernfahrausweis in 2022, the 12-month learning phase applies in full.
If you were born in 2002 and have already trained your driving ability over months in numerous learner drives, it is worth obtaining the Lernfahrausweis during 2020.
Still have questions about driving at 17? If so, we answer them in the article »Driving at 17«.
You will also find the details in the press release from ASTRA.
We have put together a detailed checklist for the road to your driving licence in the article «Detailed driving licence checklist».
