Control drive in Glarus

The official control drive checks your knowledge of traffic rules and safe handling of a vehicle in your category. For licence exchange, the issuing country and licence categories are key factors. The Road Traffic Office conducts it; a booked preparation lesson with a driving school is not the official control drive.

Your canton decides based on your licence and circumstances. Licences from EU/EFTA states and several other countries are generally exempt; professional and higher categories may need other tests. After generally 12 months from arrival, continuing to drive in Switzerland requires the Swiss licence. Missing the deadline does not allow you to keep driving.

A traffic examiner accompanies you and assesses road behaviour and vehicle control. Practise urban roads, country roads, motorways, parking and manoeuvres appropriate to your category. This does not guarantee a particular route or a nationwide fixed duration; the notice specifies the meeting point, time, language and documents. In St. Gallen, the control drive is conducted in German.

Check with the responsible office first. The test vehicle must match the category, be roadworthy and meet the canton’s registration requirements; bring the required original documents. Zurich explicitly recommends the driving school car. Lessons in your own car also require the school’s agreement. Arrange a licensed accompanying driver for a possible return journey.

A failed control drive cannot be repeated. Your foreign licence will no longer be recognised for driving in Switzerland. Ask the Road Traffic Office about obtaining a licence through the regular learner and test process.

Start with an assessment. Experience, a driving break, Swiss priority rules, observation and independent decisions determine the practice needed. Then agree specific learning goals and a schedule with the school. A fixed number of lessons guarantees neither readiness nor passing.

Add the eye test and photo, your canton’s application and licence fees, any control drive or additional theory, and preparation. Bern example on 22 September 2026: CHF 120 for exchange and CHF 132 for a category B control drive. Lessons, test car and accompaniment are extra according to your agreement. Compare the offer’s minutes, package conditions and explicitly confirmed discounts too.

It depends on complete documents, any translation or medical check, office processing, your preparation and available appointments. Apply early and follow every deadline in the decision. Driving lessons and the official control drive are arranged separately; a lesson package does not promise a particular exchange date.

A voluntary refresher drive is tuition, for example after a break or when feeling unsure. An official control drive is an authority-ordered assessment with legal consequences. It can be ordered for reasons other than exchange too. Show the driving school any official notice so it can plan the appropriate preparation.