Can a 17yr old, with a UK licence, drive here?

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
My 17yr old is hoping to pass his test in England this summer. Can he drive in Switzerland, once he has his licence?

2
If it's a full license, I can't see why not.

3
I've only found this for Canton Bern , but maybe on just this one subject, the cantons agree with each other.

It says that the owner of the license has to be the minimum age as stipulated in Switzerland for the same category of vehicle.

4
Well I've learned something then. I suppose your 17 year old will simply have to joyride then

5
NO !

You will read that to drive, you neeed to be over 18 or held a full licence for one year which basically means 18 for your son.

6
Cashboy, can you tell me where you found that information?

In the Site from Bern which I gave the link to, it didn't mention the option of having had a full licence for a year being sufficient. I read only the bit about age.

Later - found more info myself, here. Looks like Zürich doesn't agree with Berne after all. Might have guessed.

7
I read this in an RAC or AA guide book to driving abroad.

I passed my test when I was 17 and was well frustrated that i could not drive my father's car on our holiday to Switzerland.

I believe that this applies to all the Western countries in the EC and Switzerland.

8
A minimum driving age often exists regardless of possession of a foreign license; an American cannot drive below the local minimum age in Europe, nor can a 17-year-old Briton drive in mainland Europe where the minimum age is 18.

It seems that he won't be able to drive here even thought he has passed his test. Minimum age is 18

9
yep, Kev is right. Nevertheless (slight digression) you can take the theory exams before the age of 18, but you can't take the practical ones.

18 is mandatory regardless of the canton

10
Thanks to you all for the input!

11
I appreciated everyone's help, but decided to go straight to the horse's mouth and email STVA and here is the first reply I received:

Sehr geehrter Kunde

Besten Dank für Ihre kürzliche Email-Anfrage.

Is he already registered here in Switzerland with a staying permition?

Cause it's not allowed to pass a test in an other country, if you have a staying permition, unless you can proof, that you not have been living in Switzerland for a complete period of 12 months.

If there is no staying permition for him or if he has been gone during passing the driving test for a year, he can drive after his 18 birthday. It's not allowed to use a license before that age in Switzerland. He also will have to exchange soon his drivers license.

Mit freundlichen Grüssen

Strassenverkehrsamt Zürich

Backoffice

Bitte wenden Sie sich für allfällige Rückfragen lediglich an:

[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

I decided to clarify the 'staying permition' part, so here is the reply to that question:

Sehr geehrter Kunde

Besten Dank für Ihre kürzliche Email-Anfrage.

If he is having a B permit he is not allowed to go to any other country to take a driving test, unless he has been living during taking that test there for 12 months, but hasn't been in this period here in Switzerland. Your son would have to proof that he has been in this period not in Switzerland.

Unless the driving license is not valid here in Switzerland.

Mit freundlichen Grüssen

Strassenverkehrsamt Zürich

Backoffice

Bitte wenden Sie sich für allfällige Rückfragen lediglich an:

[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Hope this helps someone else!