Survival guide, Switzerland: Licenses, importing, road rules and speed limits

In Switzerland, one is able to use a foreign driving license for a period of one year. Within this time, you will be expected to change your driving license for a national driving license, unless your stay in Switzerland is for 18 months. It is very important to note that if you do not request a Swiss license within the first year, you will be under the obligation of passing a Swiss driving test before being authorized to drive. Also, in this first year, you are not allowed to lease or sell the car to a third party. The minimum age for driving in Switzerland is 18 for cars and two-wheeled vehicles of 50 cc or more.

If you move within the same canton, you must send your license and vehicle registration papers to the Automobile Service of your canton for updating. If you move to another canton, you will have to request a new license from the Automobile Service of your new canton within the first 14 days of your move. You must register your plates at the Automobile Service as well.

International driving license
To obtain an international driving license, you will need to show your legitimisation card, a copy of your lease or a confirmation from your organisation proving that you are a resident of the canton, a passport photo and Sfr. 40. The international driving license cannot be held for more than three years, and it is only valid until the license validity in your country of origin.

Importing a car to Switzerland
A vehicle owned for less than six months faces an import duty. In this case, you will need to provide official documentation to confirm the value of the car and its country of origin. The import duties you will face include customs duties, 7.5% VAT, Sfr. 15 for a report required for vehicle registration, and a consumption tax of 4% of the vehicle’s worth.

A vehicle owned for over six months will spare you the import duty. All you are required to do is fill out a clearance request form for moving purposes. A month after importing your car, you will receive a letter from the motor registration office informing you of the official motor vehicle inspection which will take place within a year. Each canton has an Automobile Service that conducts technical inspections and issues vehicle registrations. Once the test is done, you are expected to pay the Swiss road tax, which is between Sfr. 100-700 depending on your engine capacity. You will also need to pay for insurance and license plates.

Buying a vehicle within Switzerland has the advantage of being duty-free. Buying is beneficial when you are a temporary resident.

Road rules

• As in other EU nations, it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving, unless it is a hands-free unit.
• The alcohol limit while driving is 0.05%.
• If you have an accident of breakdown, you must place the triangular warning sign in front of your car
• On roundabouts, vehicles inside the circle have the right of way
• When two vehicles meet on a narrow mountain road, the ascending vehicle has the right of way

Speed limits

• Switzerland’s speed limits are the following:
• Highways: 120 km/h (75 mph)
• Roads outside of cities: 80 km/h (50 mph)
• In cities: 50 or 60 km/h (31 or 37 mph)
• Residential areas: 30 km/h (18 mph)

The highway code manual can be purchased for Sfr. 12 at the Automobile Service of your canton, or from customs offices. For your convenience, it is available in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

[Expatica, 2008]