Learn to drive with fun and structure
I am Sandra from Sandras Fahrschule – a patient female driving instructor with a sense of humour. Your automatic driving lessons in Zurich start at Bahnhof Enge.
Hochschulen, Switzerland
Driving school in Hochschulen: learn to drive in English
8 of the 9 driving schools listed here for Hochschulen teach in English. Compare instructors side by side — language, vehicle, price, meeting point and rating — and book online.
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Driving schools in Hochschulen (5)
These instructors cover Hochschulen directly with their driving-school car – Hochschulen is their service area. Agree on the meeting point and pickup in the profile.
Keep calm - learn to drive
I am Filippo from SciroccoSkillz. I tailor every driving lesson in Zurich and the surrounding area to how you learn – with patience, calm explanations and coaching in German, Engl…
“The best! Super nice vibe, great advice. Got my licence thanks to him he's creating the perfect atmosphere to learn in the beat conditions. Had a great time with Filipo! :D”
Motorcycle basic course at Albisguetli
Claudio Candinas is a driving instructor at Fahrschule Albisguetli in Zurich. He offers both car and motorcycle lessons and is known for his intensive course structure.
Car
Motorcycle
For more diversity in driving.
I am Daniela "Dela" Niederer, a certified driving instructor. At my driving school in the Zurich Oberland you learn to drive calmly, safely and in a modern way. I teach in German …
“I felt very comfortable with Dela. She is very supportive with a positive spirit which gave me motivation and continuity. Friendly and professional. Many thanks.”
Driving school with a system
I offer professional driving lessons in Zurich and the surrounding area, in automatic and manual cars. At Driving Unlimited you get lessons that are enjoyable, educational and tai…
Also nearby (2)
Instructors who don't list Hochschulen as a direct service area but are within 30 km. Most will still pick you up for a small travel fee.
Learn fast and drive safely!
Hi, I am Andrea Moesch. Since 2022 I have been working as a category B driving instructor in and around Zug, supporting you on your path to your driving licence with motivation an…
Driving explained to the point
I, Marc Kraehenbuehl, offer driving lessons with Drive Point Kraehenbuehl in the canton of Zug in automatic and manual cars, including support for theory preparation and driver as…
Specialty schools in the region (2)
Schools focused on motorcycle or trailer training. Use the filters above to narrow down.
Specialty: Trailer (BE)
Trailer driving school (Cat. BE) – Zurich & Zug
I'm Dario, driving instructor and founder of DriveLab. I teach trailer driving (Cat. BE) in Zurich and Zug – relaxed, well structured and with the DriveLab trailer if you don't ha…
Specialty: Motorcycle
The motorcycle specialist
I am Dominik from Fahrschule Guru in Zurich – your motorcycle specialist for category A driving lessons. Structured, calm and hands-on training, from your first ride to the exam.
Most people searching for a driving school Hochschulen are new arrivals or students at the universities nearby, and that's exactly who this page is for: all 7 instructors covering the Hochschulen neighbourhood of Zurich teach in English. You don't need to speak German to book your first driving lesson here.
Instructors come to you rather than the other way round, so your home or student address in Hochschulen is effectively your pickup zone, and the meeting point for each lesson is flexible. 6 of the 7 instructors also teach in automatic cars. Lessons are also available in Deutsch, Español and Italiano, and the team includes a motorcycle specialist and a trailer (BE) specialist. Theory tests and the traffic-awareness course run through the Strassenverkehrsamt Kanton Zürich at its Albisgüetli office.
- All 7 instructors teach lessons in English
- 6 of 7 also teach in automatic cars
- Exams run via Strassenverkehrsamt Kanton Zürich, Albisgüetli
Already have a foreign driving licence?
You may keep driving on a foreign licence for 12 months after you take up residence in Switzerland. Once that year is over it no longer entitles you to drive here, so start the exchange early rather than in the last few weeks.
What the exchange involves depends on where your licence was issued. A licence from an EU or EFTA country is exchanged directly: no control drive and no theory exam. A licence from a third country — the USA, the UK since Brexit, and most others — requires a Kontrollfahrt, the official control drive with a cantonal examiner. If your licence comes from a country on neither of the federal ASTRA lists, you also have to sit the full theory exam.
In this canton the application goes to the Zurich Cantonal Road Traffic Office, Albisgüetli (head office), Uetlibergstrasse 301, 8036 Zürich.
- Count your 12 months from the day you registered as a resident, not from your first visit.
- Check which list your issuing country is on — that decides whether a control drive applies.
- If a control drive applies, book a few preparation lessons first with an instructor who teaches in English and knows the local roads.
How the control drive works · Exchanging a foreign driving licence
Learning to drive in Switzerland from scratch
If you have never held a licence, Switzerland puts several fixed steps between you and the practical exam. None is difficult on its own, but they happen in order and some of them book out weeks ahead.
- Eye test. Any optician can do it in a few minutes. The result goes with your learner permit application.
- First-aid course (Nothelfer). Ten hours. You need the certificate before you apply for the learner permit.
- Apply for the Lernfahrausweis (learner permit) at the commune where you are registered. Category B is open from age 17. The forms are in German.
- Theory exam. Computer-based at the road traffic office: 50 questions, 45 minutes, a maximum of 15 error points. It can be sat in English.
- Driving lessons. You can start once the learner permit arrives. Plan for 30–40 lessons.
- VKU (Verkehrskundeunterricht). Eight lessons of traffic-awareness training, mandatory before the practical exam.
- Practical exam. From age 18.
- Probationary licence. Your first licence is probationary for three years. Within the first 12 months you complete the one-day WAB second-phase training.
Which steps work in English: the theory exam, the VKU and every driving lesson with an English-speaking instructor. The commune paperwork is in German, and the first-aid course is usually taught in German unless you find an English date.
Driving lessons in English in Hochschulen
English is the reason most people find this page, so here is the plain answer: 8 of the 9 driving schools listed above teach in English. Every profile card shows the languages that instructor works in, so you can see it before you book rather than asking afterwards.
That matters in practice. Right of way explained at a junction while you are approaching it, a correction given in the two seconds you have to act on it, feedback after a mistake that you actually absorb — those moments depend on a shared language. It also helps with the parts that are not driving: the theory questions, the VKU evenings, and the paperwork the road traffic office expects from you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a driving lesson cost in Zurich?
The schools that cover Zurich currently start from CHF 60.– per 45-minute lesson. That is a starter offer each customer can book once; regular, repeatable lessons start at CHF 71.– per 45-minute lesson. Prices are shown per 45 minutes of driving time so schools selling 45-, 60- or 90-minute lessons stay comparable; the exact lesson lengths and prices are on every instructor profile.
Which languages do driving instructors in Zurich speak?
Driving instructors in Zurich offer lessons in: Deutsch, English, Italiano, Français, Español. The languages spoken are listed on every instructor profile.
Automatic or manual: which is better in Zurich?
Since 1 February 2019 Switzerland has abolished the automatic-only restriction: passing the practical exam on an automatic now gives you the full category B licence — you can drive automatic AND manual cars afterwards. For most learners that makes automatic the smarter choice: faster progress, fewer lessons, lower total cost and an easier exam. Manual is still available if you want, but it no longer gives you a "broader" licence.
Which licence categories are available in Zurich?
In Zurich DriveLab offers driving lessons for: Car (Cat. B), Motorcycle (Cat. A), Trailer (Cat. BE). Each instructor profile shows the categories they teach.
How do I book a driving lesson in Zurich?
Pick an instructor from the list above, open the profile and choose an open slot. Booking is confirmed instantly online — no phone tag, no waiting.
How many driving lessons do I need to pass the test in Zurich?
On average, learners in Switzerland take 30–40 driving lessons before the practical test. The exact number depends on your prior experience, learning pace and how often you practise privately. Your DriveLab instructor will give you an honest assessment after the trial lesson.
How much does the full driving licence cost in Zurich?
Plan for roughly CHF 2,500–4,500 in total: learner permit application (~CHF 50), first-aid course (~CHF 120), theory exam (~CHF 30–35), traffic awareness course (VKU, ~CHF 230), 30–40 driving lessons (from CHF 71.– per 45 minutes each), practical exam (~CHF 90–140 depending on canton) and the WAB second-phase course after passing.
Which mandatory courses do I have to take?
Before the practical exam: a 10-hour first-aid course and the theory exam. After passing the theory exam you must complete the traffic awareness course (VKU – 8 lessons). After you pass the practical exam, you must complete the WAB second-phase course (1 day) within 12 months of your probationary licence being issued. DriveLab connects you with instructors and partner schools for all of these.
How old do I have to be to start learning to drive in Switzerland?
You can apply for the learner permit (Lernfahrausweis) for category B from age 17. The practical exam can be taken from age 18. Some cantons offer the "Begleitete Fahrausbildung" model letting you start earlier with a supervised learner.
Can I reschedule or cancel my lesson?
Yes — DriveLab lessons can be cancelled or rescheduled free of charge up to 24 hours before the appointment. Most instructors are flexible for shorter-notice changes too; the exact policy is shown on each instructor profile.
Where does the practical driving exam in Zurich take place?
The practical driving exam in Zurich is held by Strassenverkehrsamt Kanton Zürich, Uetlibergstrasse 301, 8036 Zürich (Albisgüetli). Your DriveLab instructor practises typical exam routes in this area so you arrive at the test prepared and confident.
Can I learn to drive in Zurich entirely in English?
The lessons themselves, yes — the profile card of every instructor listed above shows the languages they teach in. The theory exam can be sat in English, and the VKU traffic-awareness course runs in English. The learner permit application at your commune is in German, and most first-aid courses are German unless you find an English date.
Can I drive on my foreign licence while I learn?
For 12 months from taking up residence in Switzerland, yes. After that it no longer entitles you to drive here. If you already hold a foreign licence, exchanging it — not taking lessons — is usually your first step: EU and EFTA licences are exchanged without any test, while third-country licences require a control drive (Kontrollfahrt).
Do I need a Swiss residence permit before I start?
You apply for the learner permit at the commune where you are registered as a resident, so you need to be registered before you start. Bring your permit and identity document to the application.
Does passing in an automatic restrict my licence?
Not in Switzerland. The automatic-only restriction (code 78) is no longer entered in the licence, so passing in an automatic gives you the full category B and you may drive manual cars afterwards. Automatic means fewer things to manage at once while you are learning; manual is worth it if you expect to drive one regularly.
How long does the whole process take?
Most people need several months rather than several weeks, and the fixed courses set the pace: the first-aid certificate has to be in place before the learner permit, and the VKU before the practical exam. Both book out ahead, so booking them early is what shortens the timeline.