Lost Driving Licence in Switzerland: Ordering a Replacement, Costs and Deadlines
The office responsible is always the road traffic office of your canton of residence — not your municipality and not the police. A replacement is only issued once the loss has been confirmed in writing. And if the old licence turns up again, you have an obligation many people miss.
In short
Report the loss to the road traffic office of your canton of residence and order a replacement there. Under Art. 24f para. 2 VZV a new licence may only be issued once the loss has been confirmed in writing. You will need a declaration of loss, a recent passport photograph and proof of identity. The fee is between CHF 25 and 75 depending on the canton.
Explained in the video
What to do now
- 1 Keep calm and search The most common case is not a loss but a mislaid licence. Before you sign a declaration of loss: a licence you find again has to be handed back, and the replacement costs money.
- 2 Report the loss in your canton of residence The road traffic office of your canton of residence is responsible. Many cantons now accept the report through their online counter, otherwise it runs by form. Your municipality is not responsible.
- 3 Get your documents ready A declaration of loss, a recent passport photograph and valid proof of identity. The exact requirements are set by the canton — check them on the office page before you go.
- 4 If it was stolen, also inform the police If your licence was stolen, filing a police report makes sense. It does not replace the report to the road traffic office, but it documents what happened.
- 5 Order the replacement and pay the fee The new licence comes in credit-card format. Until it arrives many offices will issue a confirmation on request — ask for one if you need to drive in the meantime.
What a new driving licence costs in each canton
The fee for issuing the credit-card format licence is set by each canton and varies by a factor of three. Cantons that treat issue and duplicate identically are marked accordingly.
| Canton | Licence issue | Exact item | Amt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aargau AG | CHF 25.– | Führerausweis (Kreditkartenformat) | Office page |
| Basel BS | CHF 75.– | Führerausweis Kreditkartenformat BS (Erstausstellung) | Office page |
| Bern BE | CHF 40.– | Führerausweis (Kreditkartenformat) | Office page |
| Graubünden GR | CHF 40.– | Führerausweis (Kreditkartenformat) | Office page |
| Schaffhausen SH | CHF 60.– | Führerausweis (Kreditkartenformat) | Office page |
| Schwyz SZ | CHF 45.– | Führerausweis (Erstausstellung) | Office page |
| Solothurn SO | CHF 50.– | Führerausweis (Ausstellung oder Duplikat) | Office page |
| St. Gallen SG | CHF 30.– | Führerausweis, erstmalige Ausstellung | Office page |
| Thurgau TG | CHF 40.– | Führerausweis (Kreditkartenformat) | Office page |
| Zug ZG | CHF 30.– | Führerausweis (Erstausstellung) | Office page |
| Zürich ZH | CHF 40.– | Führerausweis (Ausstellung) | Office page |
Fees according to the cantonal fee ordinances, last checked against the official sources in July 2026. Some cantons charge the same amount for a duplicate as for a first issue, others have a separate tariff — the canton's current ordinance always prevails.
Name change, damage, a new category
A replacement licence is not only a matter of loss. Article 24f paragraph 1 VZV states: if driving entitlements are extended or restricted, or the details on the licence change, a new licence must be issued. The previous one loses its validity when the new one is handed over and is withdrawn.
In practice that means: after a change of name through marriage or divorce you need a new licence. The same applies if the licence is so damaged that the details are no longer legible, or if a category is added. The procedure is the same as for a loss, only without the declaration of loss.
Exchanging a foreign licence is a special case with its own route, described under exchanging a driving licence. And if you want to drive abroad, the international driving permit explains when you additionally need one.
Lost learner permit
Exactly the same provision applies to the Lernfahrausweis (learner permit): Article 24f VZV explicitly refers to the «Lernfahr- oder Fuehrerausweis». Here too the loss must be confirmed in writing, and here too the original must be returned within 14 days if it reappears.
One practical note: if your learner permit is about to expire anyway, it is worth calling the office before ordering a replacement — depending on the remaining validity, an extension may be the cheaper route.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I report a lost driving licence?
To the road traffic office of your canton of residence. Neither your municipality nor the police is responsible for this. If the licence was stolen, a police report is additionally advisable but does not replace the report to the office.
What does a new driving licence cost?
Between CHF 25 and 75 depending on the canton for issuing the credit-card format licence. Aargau is the cheapest at CHF 25, Basel-Stadt the most expensive at CHF 75. The exact amounts are in the cantonal table on this page.
What happens if I find the old licence again?
You must hand it in to the authority within 14 days (Art. 24f para. 2 VZV). Holding two valid driving licences at the same time is not permitted, even if the old one is undamaged.
May I keep driving without my licence?
Your entitlement to drive remains — what you lost is the document, not the right. You must still carry it, though. Many offices will issue a confirmation on request until the replacement arrives; ask for one explicitly when you report the loss.
Do I need a new licence after a change of name?
Yes. If the details on the licence change, a new one must be issued under Art. 24f para. 1 VZV. The previous licence loses its validity when the new one is handed over and is withdrawn. The procedure matches that for a loss, only without the declaration of loss.
Does all of this apply to the learner permit too?
Yes. Article 24f VZV explicitly names both the learner permit and the driving licence. Written confirmation of loss and the duty to return within 14 days apply equally to both.
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Sources: VZV (SR 741.51), Art. 24f — Stand 01.01.2026 · Cantonal fees from the cantons' fee ordinances, last checked in July 2026. This page is not legal advice; the applicable ordinance text always prevails.