St. Gallen Road Traffic Office – exam sites, fees and slots
The St. Gallen Road Traffic and Shipping Office is the authority for driving licences, vehicle registration, vehicle inspections and shipping across the canton. Its head office is at Frongartenstrasse 5 in the city of St. Gallen; driving and vehicle exams take place at five sites: St. Gallen-Winkeln, Kaltbrunn, Mels, Oberbüren and Buriet (Thal). You sit the theory test without an appointment on an "open door" basis. On this page you find all addresses, opening hours, current fees and the main online services – plus certified DriveLab instructors for your training in the canton, for example in Rapperswil-Jona.
Updated: July 2026 · Source: www.sg.ch
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At a glance
- Head office Frongartenstrasse 5, 9001 St. Gallen
- See-Gaster exam site Uznacherstrasse 72, 8722 Kaltbrunn
- Phone +41 58 229 22 22
- Theory test no appointment ("open door"), Kaltbrunn: Wed 13:00–14:30
- Exam slots Exam slot scheduling
- Keeper lookup eAutoindex Switzerland
6 locations in the canton of St. Gallen
Kaltbrunn
Uznacherstrasse 728722 Kaltbrunn
Driving exams of all categories (incl. B and motorcycle), all vehicle inspections, theory test Wed 13:00–14:30 – closest exam site for Rapperswil-Jona and See-Gaster
- Opening hours
- Mon – Fri: 08:00 – 11:30 / 13:00 – 17:00
St. Gallen head office
Frongartenstrasse 59001 St. Gallen
Administration and counter (permits, registration) – no driving or vehicle exams; cash payment only here
- Opening hours
- Mon – Fri: 08:00 – 12:00 / 13:00 – 17:00
Winkeln exam site
Biderstrasse 69015 St. Gallen
Driving exams of all categories, theory test Wed + Thu 13:00–14:30 – no vehicle inspections or registration
- Opening hours
- Mon – Fri: 08:00 – 11:30 / 13:00 – 17:00
Mels exam site
Wangser Bahnhofstrasse 718887 Mels
Driving exams of all categories, all vehicle inspections, theory test Wed 13:00–14:30
- Opening hours
- Mon – Fri: 08:00 – 11:30 / 13:00 – 17:00
Oberbüren exam site
Industrie Haslen 49245 Oberbüren
Driving exams category B/BPT only, all vehicle inspections – no theory tests
- Opening hours
- Mon – Fri: 08:00 – 11:30 / 13:00 – 17:00
Buriet exam site
Röteli 69425 Thal
Driving exams of all categories (incl. trailers), all vehicle inspections – no theory tests
- Opening hours
- Mon – Fri: 08:00 – 11:30 / 13:00 – 17:00
Vehicle keeper lookup
Enter the plate – we deep-link to your cantonal auto-index service. The responsible authority sets the price, conditions and any lookup limits.
Online counter & forms
No queuing: the most important online services of the road traffic office in one click.
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Apply for learner permit
Learner-permit application for the canton of St. Gallen – process, form and eye-test info directly from the office.
Open application → -
Theory test: no appointment ("open door")
In the canton of St. Gallen no appointment is needed for the theory test. Kaltbrunn & Mels: Wed 13:00–14:30, Winkeln: Wed + Thu 13:00–14:30, Rorschach shipping office: Mon + Wed 13:00–14:30. Fee CHF 30 – bring your theory-test admission card (Zulassungskarte) and ID.
Theory test info → -
Register for the practical exam
In the canton of St. Gallen, the practical car exam (cat. B) is scheduled via your driving instructor; private individuals can self-book only cat. A/A1 online (1st and 2nd attempt). There is no phone booking.
Open slot scheduling → -
Vehicle keeper lookup / Auto index
Switzerland-wide keeper lookup via eAutoindex.
Query auto index →
Fees 2026
Overview of the main fees in the canton of St. Gallen. Subject to change — as of July 2026.
| Select | Service | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CHF 30 | ||
| CHF 30 | ||
| CHF 150 | ||
| CHF 150 | ||
| CHF 30 | ||
| full exam fee | ||
| Selected total | CHF 0.– |
Tip: tick boxes to see your personal total estimate.
7 steps to your driving licence
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First-aid course
Complete it first – the certificate must be enclosed with the learner-permit application.
Learn more → -
Learner permit
Submit the application with photo, eye test, ID and first-aid certificate to the road traffic office (CHF 30).
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Theory test
Sit it without an appointment ("open door") – in Kaltbrunn (Wed), Winkeln (Wed/Thu), Mels (Wed) or Rorschach (Mon/Wed).
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Driving lessons
DriveLab instructors in Rapperswil-Jona and on Lake Obersee – bookable online.
Learn more → -
Practical exam
Registered via your driving instructor; exam site for See-Gaster: Kaltbrunn (CHF 150).
Driving lessons in the canton of St. Gallen — book directly
Experienced instructors, modern training cars, flexible times. DriveLab supports you from the first lesson to the passed exam.
FAQ St. Gallen Road Traffic Office
Why is the office called the "Road Traffic and Shipping Office" of St. Gallen?
The canton of St. Gallen runs road traffic and shipping in one office: besides driving licences, vehicle registration and exams, it also manages shipping on Lake Constance, Walensee and Lake Zurich – with the shipping office in Rorschach as its own service point.
Where is the head office of the St. Gallen road traffic office?
At Frongartenstrasse 5, 9001 St. Gallen (near the station). The head office handles administration and counter services (licences, registration); driving and vehicle exams take place at the five exam sites Winkeln, Kaltbrunn, Mels, Oberbüren and Buriet.
Where do I take the driving exam if I live in Rapperswil-Jona?
The closest exam site of the St. Gallen Road Traffic and Shipping Office is Kaltbrunn (Uznacherstrasse 72, 8722 Kaltbrunn) – it runs theory tests (Wed 13:00–14:30) and practical driving exams of all categories.
Do I need an appointment for the theory test in St. Gallen?
No. The theory test works on an "open door" basis: just show up during test hours (Kaltbrunn & Mels: Wed 13:00–14:30, Winkeln: Wed + Thu 13:00–14:30, Rorschach shipping office: Mon + Wed 13:00–14:30). The fee is CHF 30 – bring your admission card and ID.
How do I register for the practical car exam?
In the canton of St. Gallen your driving instructor schedules the practical exam (cat. B) via the online portal. Private individuals can self-book only motorcycle exams (cat. A/A1, 1st and 2nd attempt) online; there is no phone booking.
How much does the driving exam cost in the canton of St. Gallen?
Per the fee tariff (as of 1 April 2026): theory test CHF 30, practical exam cat. B CHF 150, learner permit CHF 30. If you miss the exam or cancel less than 5 working days ahead, the full exam fee is due.
What are the opening hours of the exam sites?
The counters of the Kaltbrunn, Winkeln, Mels, Oberbüren and Buriet exam sites are open Mon–Fri 08:00–11:30 and 13:00–17:00; the head office at Frongartenstrasse 5 in St. Gallen Mon–Fri 08:00–12:00 and 13:00–17:00.
Where do I take the VKU for an exam in the canton of St. Gallen?
The VKU is valid across cantons. From the Rapperswil-Jona area, the DriveLab VKU in Lachen SZ (right across the Seedamm) is closest.
