The path to the licence follows stages set out in law. Some of them change with the 2027 reform – in particular the order of the awareness course and the theory test.
From learner permit to test
Learner driver's licence cat. B: possible from age 17, after passing the theory test and an eyesight check.
Learning phase: anyone obtaining the learner permit before the age of 20 must practise for at least 12 months before taking the practical test.
Awareness course: compulsory before the practical test.
First aid: a certificate is required for the learner permit.
New from 2027: the awareness course must be completed before the basic theory test – the reverse of current practice.
The accompanying person
A practice drive is only permitted with an accompanying person who meets all of these conditions:
they are at least 23 years old,
they have held a category B licence for at least 3 years,
that licence is no longer on probation – it must be a full licence,
they sit beside the driver and can intervene.
Remember: all three conditions – age, years held, full licence – must be met together. If one is missing, the drive is not permitted.
Probationary period
The first licence is issued on probation for 3 years. During this period:
A further training course must be completed, as a rule within the first year.
An offence leading to a withdrawal extends the probationary period by one year.
A second such offence results in annulment of the probationary licence.
After an annulment the whole process starts again – with a waiting period and a psychological assessment. It is the most serious consequence in the entire probationary period.
Practise now
Practise with official exam questions
Over 800 official questions of the Swiss driving theory exam.
