Hello Everyone,
A friend of mine & I discussed a situation about a drivers license in Switzerland & we have differing opinions. We were hoping to get a better answer here.
The Situation:
She's from the USA & worked in Switzerland for a few years starting around 2009. Within the first 6 Months of arrival she registered for a Swiss drivers license and got one with no expiration date. After a few years she left Switzerland & just recently came back to work again. She's been in Switzerland now over 1 year (or maybe 2 or 3 years, not sure) & takes the train to work but now wants to buy a car & drive instead because she moved to a more rural location. She at one point lost the old swiss drivers license while moving but just recently found it again. The entire time she's maintained a valid USA drivers license as I understand it.
The Questions:
1. Can she just drive using her old Swiss driver's license because it doesn't expire or does she need to register something somewhere?
2. Is there any problem because she didn't register anything within the first 6 months of her 2nd time being in Switzerland (she's currently on her 2nd time)?
I think I saw a post here that says she has 5 years to do it, is that correct?
3. What would the consequences be if she can't drive with her old Swiss driver's license but gets pulled over?
4. Is there any danger she'll have to take a driver's exam, pay a fine or something to be able to drive in Switzerland?
5. Should she see a lawyer?
6. Should she go to something like the DMV or Strassenverkehrsamt?
7. Anything else we should be aware of or watch out for?
Thank you very much for your help!
-Airman
Simplest solution is to contact the Strassenverkehrsamt.
It won't expire as such but, depending on how her licence converted, will depend on whether she needs to have an update every 5 years. Some UK and US licences have a category on them which require the bearer of the Swiss licence to have a medical periodically (mine does it, or at least DID it until I asked them to knock off the relevant category).
Most likely she doesn't need to do anything and her current Swiss license remains valid, but it wouldn't hurt if she took her old paper Swiss license to the local DMV and got it updated to the current credit card style. If there is anything else they want, that will also be the opportunity to get things right.
1. Yes she can, it is still valid
2. No
3. Shouldn't be an issue due to 1)
4. No
5. No
6. If she needs official clarification and to get a new CC-style license, yes
7. Poor standard of driving in Switzerland
There is only one obligation:
Notify the local StVA/SAN (DLV) about the current address (this should also be done when you move abroad).
This can be done in most cantons online.
http://www.strassenverkehrsaemter.ch/
Thank you everyone for your help!
The License is the credit card style already.
Is there a requirement to get this reprinted occasionally to have the photo be more similar to the current age of the person using it?
I could imagine a 19 year old gets a license and by the time they're older they look a lot different than the original photo.
Not sure of any requirement per se, but mine is getting a bit ropey now, the laminate layer is slowly peeling off and I look about 25. I'll probably have to replace it sooner or later considering the state it's in.
No most places in USA/ Canada your not permitted to have 2 D.License
No.
A 19 year old can keep it until they die of old age.
Tom
Perhaps, but I had both a CT and a VT license for many years.
Tom
Can you link to such a state law? I have read IL, MT, MI, and CA codes in the past but never came across such a clause regarding foreign acquired licenses.
Good for you Tom ,but it does not not change the fact