I have in fact been driving manual transmission since 1996 so it's not a problem for me, but has anyone encountered problems in terms of converting their license? I have a friend who plans to move here next year from Canada and he's super worried that his driver's test with an automatic transmission car will limit his options if he ever chooses to hire a car in CH or the rest of europe.
I've been told on many an occasion that in order to be permitted to drive a manual transmission car in CH (or Europe in general) one needs to have passed their driver's matriculation on a manual car AND one must also submit proof of this when converting their license. However, I passed my driving test in Canada in 1997 on an automatic transmission car but had no problems to convert to a CH license in 2005 with full permission to drive any car. No one ever asked if I was qualified to drive a manual or not, and as far as I understand, my Swiss driver's license gives me permission to drive anything within a certain weight category. A good friend of mine had the same experience converting a US license-no questions asked.
When you converted your license you always get a unrestricted license unless your license was restricted to automatic only.
However, as Switzerland has no longer an automatic only license this is no longer an issue even for those which have a Swiss automatic only license. If you have an automatic restriction you can get it removed (unless there is a reason due to traffic safety or medical condition)
See also: [[Drivers licence] Conversion and questions, Mark II](http://www.englishforum.ch/transportation-driving/267870-drivers-licence-conversion-questions-mark-ii.html)
My experience was very much the same, albeit more than 25 years ago so things may have changed. As I understand the US licenses do not tell nor restrict to one type of transmission, so CH when converting gives you a full license here to drive both.
Not just that, but all my license categories are back dated to my 16th birthday, except for A1 which is dated from the day I got my Swiss license.
(A, B, D1, BE, D1E from 16th birthday, A1 no longer indicated on credit card license, but it was on the paper one)
Tom
Wierd, mine are dated from age 25 although my original license was from age 16. Must of been they converted just my last renewal that didn't indicate when I first received license. I never had to submit anything but the last valid license so they wouldn't have known I guess.
Thanks for this confirmation!
The funny thing is that I only got my car license 9 months after I turned 16, and my motorcycle one after I turned 18!
Tom
My mom can beat that: she sat for her beginner's the day she turned 16 and had a full license one month later.