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Federal Court: no tests for expat car drivers

Caroline Bishop
Caroline Bishop - [email protected]
Federal Court: no tests for expat car drivers
Foreign drivers have up to a year to exchange their licence. Photo: State Farm

Foreigners living in Switzerland cannot be asked to pass a Swiss driving test in order to swap their foreign driving licence for a Swiss one, regardless of when they apply, the Federal Court has said.

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The pronouncement came during the case of a German citizen living in Switzerland who was told by the Bern road traffic office to undergo a driving test in order to exchange his German licence for a Swiss one, reported Swiss news agency ATS.

Current legislation states that any EEA citizen who moves to Switzerland has up to a year to swap their driving licence for a Swiss one, after which time it becomes invalid.

A driving test is not required, although some cantons demand an eye test.

In 2010 the Association of Road Traffic Offices (ASA) decided that anyone who applies to exchange their foreign licence five years or more after moving to Switzerland must undergo a driving test.

But the Federal Court has ruled against the assoication.

The court upheld the complaint brought by the German man, saying that the association had no right to legislate in this way.

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