Intensive Course

Intensive driving courses:
Training in focused blocks

An intensive driving course groups your lessons into a short period. Up to 4 lessons a day, personal support and flexible packages: your skills, admission requirements and available test dates determine your path to a licence.

7-14 Days as a planning example

4 Lessons/day

9 Driving schools

Choose your course

You are learning to drive for the first time

Start with an assessment. Agree on goals, available days, lesson duration and breaks. A package pays for driving practice; the lessons establish how much additional training you need.

You already hold a driving licence

After a break from driving, individual refresher lessons may better fit your goal. Name the situations you want to handle confidently again, such as motorways, parking or heavy traffic. You do not automatically need a full beginner package.

You are exchanging a foreign licence

First check whether your canton requires a control drive. If it does, start with targeted control-drive preparation. An intensive course does not replace official admission or the licence-exchange process.

Check before booking leave and buying a package

Learner permit and learner period: if your category B permit was issued before your 20th birthday, you must generally hold it for at least twelve months before the test. An intensive course does not shorten that period.
VKU and test readiness: check the requirements for your chosen course and test registration. Your assessment determines the next exercises, rather than the number of lessons already paid for.
Test appointment: plan the end of training and the official test separately. Zurich warns that appointments are often booked out several weeks ahead. Your instructor and the test car must also be available.
Total budget: compare driving time, package contents, extra lessons, any administration fee, test car and official fees. Use the cost calculator with the actual offer and check cancellation and refund terms first.

Canton Zurich: learner period, test registration and appointments (German) · checked 22 September 2026

Check prerequisites

You need a valid learner permit and a completed traffic theory course (VKU). Both must be completed before the course starts.

Choose and book a course package

Choose the right package (S, M, or L) and book your driving lesson blocks via our calendar. You can pick your preferred instructor.

Train intensively

Complete up to 4 driving lessons per day in blocks. Your instructor adjusts the training to your level. The flow effect helps you progress quickly.

Take the driving test

Once you are test-ready and meet the requirements, plan registration with your instructor. The date depends on availability at the road traffic office, your instructor and the test car; a test immediately after the course is not guaranteed.

Researcher Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi showed in several publications that flow improves learning performance.

Flow means you are fully focused on what you are doing – active and concentrated. If you complete driving school intensively in a short period, your learning curve rises much faster.

With a classic rhythm of one lesson per week, much is forgotten between sessions. In an intensive course, you build on what you learned day by day – that is the key advantage.

The flow principle by Csikszentmihalyi - intensive driving school — The flow principle (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997): apathy, worry, anxiety, arousal, flow, control, relaxation, boredom (clockwise).

Intensive course: steep learning curve with high continuity Regular lessons: slower development with setbacks due to forgetting

In an intensive course, you train at short intervals. This keeps working memory active, helps automate routines faster, and creates a much steeper learning curve.

Due to the forgetting curve, meaning forgetting between long breaks, the development of self-confidence is delayed. That is exactly why it makes sense to complete driving training intensively and in short intervals.

Steeper learning curve: more consistent driving practice per unit of time.
Less forgetting: shorter gaps between lessons reduce learning loss.
Better test readiness: skills remain more stable and retrievable under pressure.

Didactically grounded

Dario Lichtensteiger

The intensive method is based on principles from adult education, learning psychology, and transfer didactics.

Professional background: Master of Advanced Studies in Adult and Professional Education, with a master's thesis on driving competence and the development of driving skills.

Not sure? No problem. If you need slightly more or fewer lessons than your booked package, you can add additional intensive blocks at any time. Refunds for unused lessons are also possible (48-hour cancellation policy applies). You can reduce lesson needs further with training videos, strong theory preparation, and many private practice drives.

Do not underestimate test level

Maneuvers often work better in familiar surroundings than during the official test. Stress can lead to decisive mistakes. One week before the test, honestly assess whether you are truly in your comfort zone – including dense traffic.

Use the final days intensively

Once your test date is confirmed, the final days are critical. Get behind the wheel every day and drive as much as possible. Build the routines you need to drive confidently and consistently.

Do not register the test too early

Review your skills with your instructor after the first 1–2 blocks and plan registration in good time. Readiness, admission and appointment availability must all fit. Do not book leave or other services assuming the official test will immediately follow the course.

The bfu (Swiss Council for Accident Prevention) recommends gaining at least 3,000 km of driving experience before taking the test.

Can I pay in installments?

Yes. We offer installment payment via our partner PowerPay. You can pay the course amount in installments. Detailed conditions are available in our terms and conditions.

What is the cancellation period for intensive courses?

For intensive courses, a 48-hour cancellation period applies (instead of the usual 24 hours for single lessons). Reason: the large lesson blocks are harder to refill on short notice. Please plan your appointments accordingly.

Can I change instructor during the course?

Yes, of course. An intensive course consists of three to four blocks, and you can switch instructors at any time. Please observe the 48-hour cancellation period when rescheduling existing appointments.

Which course is right for me?

See the factor chart above – it shows which factors influence the number of lessons you need. If you are slightly above or below a package, that is no problem: you can book additional intensive blocks anytime, and unused lessons are refunded (if the 48-hour policy is respected).

I work full-time – can I still take an intensive course?

Yes. In that case we recommend double lessons (90 minutes). You can schedule one double lesson daily before or after work. Pricing is very similar to package pricing. The only difference: the free lesson from the 21-lesson package does not apply to individual bookings.

Can I stop the course if something comes up?

Yes, at any time. You can stop the course and get a refund for remaining driving lessons. Please also note the 48-hour cancellation period for already booked appointments.

Is passing the test guaranteed after the intensive course?

No, we cannot guarantee that – that would be unrealistic. We cannot predict exactly how many lessons each person needs. What we can say: we have very high success rates, and many students progress surprisingly fast with the intensive training method.

How does test registration work?

After the first 1–2 blocks, discuss when you are likely to be test-ready. Check admission, available appointments and rescheduling conditions together. The official test needs a separate registration and may take place after the course ends.

Can I sit in during another student's lesson?

Sitting in during another student's lesson is possible on request only. Contact us in advance if you would like to observe a lesson.

Are there driving schools in Zurich offering intensive courses to get a driving licence during the holidays?

Yes: driving schools offering intensive course packages for Zurich on DriveLab include Fahrschule Guru and SciroccoSkillz; their profiles and packages are linked in the provider list. Training can include up to 4 driving lessons per day; receiving your licence during the holidays also depends on the learner period, test readiness and available official test appointments.

Only packages marked as intensive course are shown.

Prefer single lessons?

If you have less than 4 lessons per day available or are not sure yet, you can start with individual lessons:

Driving School Zurich Driving School Zug Driving School Lucerne Driving School Rapperswil

A driving licence in one week: what can you actually plan?