Swiss Driving Theory Test Study Guide 2026

How the basic theory test works

The basic theory test (Basistheorieprüfung) checks that you know the traffic rules and signs before you start learning to drive. It is the same across Switzerland for categories A1, A and B, but you book and take it at your cantonal road traffic office (Strassenverkehrsamt).

Item	Basic theory test (A1, A, B)
Questions	50
Answers per question	3, and one or two can be correct
Maximum score	150 points
Error points allowed	No more than 15 (so at least 135 points)
Time	45 minutes
Format	On a computer or tablet at the road traffic office
Validity of a pass	No time limit (for passes since 1 January 2021)

Because one or two answers can be right, read every option carefully. Do not stop after the first correct one. You can repeat the test as often as you need.

The questions are not published as a free list. The asa (the association of road traffic offices) licenses its questions to private learning apps and books. Materials for the car test are sold in German, French, Italian and, from most providers, English. Ask your canton which languages the test itself is offered in.

Changes from 1 January 2027

The theory test will have 55 questions.
It will also cover content from the traffic knowledge course (VKU).
You will need to finish the VKU before the theory test, not before the practical test.

From learner's permit to full licence

Getting a car licence in Switzerland follows set steps. Some are federal rules and some details (fees, booking, languages) depend on your canton.

Take a first aid course (Nothilfekurs). The certificate must be no more than 6 years old.
Get an eye test. It must be no more than 24 months old when you apply.
Apply to your cantonal road traffic office for a learner's permit (Lernfahrausweis). You can apply shortly before you turn 17.
Pass the basic theory test, at the earliest one month before your 17th birthday. You then receive the learner's permit.
Learn to drive with a driving instructor or a private companion.
Complete the traffic knowledge course (Verkehrskundeunterricht, VKU). It lasts 8 hours, usually over 2 to 4 days, and you need a valid learner's permit to attend.
Take the practical driving test. If you got your learner's permit before age 20, you must have held it for at least 12 months.
Drive on a probationary licence for 3 years and complete the one-day further training course (WAB) in the first 12 months.

Item	Rule
Minimum age, category B	17 (learner's permit); earliest full licence at 18
Learner's permit valid for	24 months, in Switzerland only
Learning period if under 20	At least 12 months before the practical test
Practical test retake	Usually after 1 month
After 2 failed practical tests	Instructor must confirm your training is complete
After 3 failed practical tests	Traffic psychology (aptitude) assessment needed

A category B licence covers vehicles up to 3,500 kg with up to 8 seats besides the driver. You may tow a trailer up to 750 kg, or a heavier trailer if the whole combination weighs no more than 3,500 kg. If you pass in an automatic car, no automatic-only restriction is added.

Rules for learning drives

Outside driving school lessons, a learner must be accompanied by a suitable person sitting next to them.

The companion must be at least 23 years old.
They must have passed the car test at least 3 years ago and no longer have a probationary licence.
They must be able to reach and use the handbrake at all times.
The alcohol ban applies to the companion as well as to the learner.
A blue plate with a white L must be shown at the rear during learning drives. Take it off when no learning drive is happening.

Learners may drive on the motorway only when they are ready for the test. The companion or the driving instructor judges this.

Probation for new drivers

Your first car or motorcycle licence is a probationary licence (Führerausweis auf Probe) for 3 years.

Within 12 months you must attend a one-day further training course (WAB). It includes emergency braking and energy-saving driving.
If the course is not done and probation ends, you lose the right to drive until you complete it and receive your full licence.
If your licence is withdrawn for an offence, probation is extended by one year.
A second withdrawal cancels the licence. You can apply for a new learner's permit at the earliest one year after the offence, and only with a positive traffic psychology report.

Speed limits

General speed limits apply unless a sign shows something else. You must always adapt your speed to the road, traffic and visibility.

Where	General limit
Built-up areas	50 km/h
Outside built-up areas	80 km/h
Expressways (Autostrasse)	100 km/h
Motorways (Autobahn)	120 km/h
Meeting zone (Begegnungszone)	20 km/h
Light car with approved trailer up to 3.5 t, on motorways	100 km/h

Speed limit 50 km/h
Start of a 30 km/h zone
End of a speed limit

Motorway: 120 km/h unless signs say otherwise
Expressway: 100 km/h unless signs say otherwise
End of the motorway

Alcohol limits

Switzerland measures alcohol in the blood (per mille, ‰) or in the breath (milligrams per litre, mg/l).

Level	Blood	Breath	Meaning
Alcohol ban	over 0.10 ‰	over 0.05 mg/l	Offence for drivers under the ban
General limit	0.5 ‰	0.25 mg/l	Offence for all drivers from this level
Qualified intoxication	0.8 ‰	0.40 mg/l	Serious offence
Fitness check	1.6 ‰	0.80 mg/l	Medical fitness-to-drive assessment ordered

The alcohol ban applies to learner drivers and their companions, holders of a probationary licence, truck drivers and drivers in professional passenger transport.

Motorways and the vignette

The vignette

Motor vehicles and trailers up to 3.5 t need a vignette to use motorways and expressways.
It costs CHF 40 and is valid from 1 December of the previous year to 31 January of the following year. There are no short-term vignettes.
You can buy a sticker for the windscreen or an e-vignette linked to your number plate.

Behaviour on the motorway

Keep to the right-hand lane, even on three-lane stretches. Use the other lanes only to overtake.
Traffic already on the motorway has priority. Use the whole acceleration lane when joining.
Keep at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front, or half your speed in metres.
In a queue you may carefully pass slower traffic on the right, but you must not overtake by moving into the right lane and back.
Where a lane ends, use both lanes up to the end and merge alternately (zip merge). This is compulsory.

Emergency corridor (Rettungsgasse)

When traffic slows to walking pace, form an emergency corridor between the far-left lane and the lane next to it. Drivers in the left lane move left and everyone else moves right. This has been compulsory since 2021.

Breakdowns and tunnels

Stop in the emergency lane and switch on your hazard lights.
Put on a safety vest and leave the car. Wait behind the crash barrier if you can.
Place the warning triangle at least 100 metres behind the car on the motorway.
If there is a fire in a tunnel, never turn around. Stop, switch off the engine and leave on foot by the marked escape route.

Children, passengers and cyclists

Children under 12 who are shorter than 150 cm must use a suitable child seat.
A rear-facing child seat may go in the front only if the passenger airbag is switched off.
Children up to 12 may cycle on the pavement where there is no cycle path or cycle lane, so expect them there.

Moving to Switzerland with a foreign licence

If you live in Switzerland, you may drive on your foreign licence for 12 months. After that you must exchange it at your cantonal road traffic office.

Everyone needs an eye test for the exchange.
Licences from the EU and EEA are exchanged without a driving check.
Licences from other countries usually need a control drive (Kontrollfahrt).
The old blue paper Swiss licence has not been valid since 1 November 2024.