Another one of those things that come with living a year Switzerland (besides renewing my work permit and deciding to learn how to ski and finally getting a real cell phone) is getting a Swiss driver's license. My US license was officially valid for a year after I moved here, at which point I needed to get a Swiss license to be able to drive.
In theory, one is supposed to get an eye exam (20CHF), get a passport-style photo (8CHF), and submit a completed form (20 CHF) with a copy of a current license to the proper authorities, and a Swiss driver's license will be issued (85 CHF). However, it wasn't that simple, of course.
I submitted everything, only to receive a letter in the mail asking for proof that I had obtained my driver's license before 2005, otherwise I would have to take all of the classes and tests in German to get my license here. My current license was renewed in 2010, so it looks like I haven't been driving for longer. Also, my current license history only goes back to 2008, when my original license was stolen and I had to get a replacement.
Lots of online research later, I requested a driving record from Minnesota, since that should have the history of my license. Of course, this required me filling out a form and sending it to my wonderful parents, who then had to send it to the Minnesota DVS with a check (as I do not have checks over here). Two weeks later, I received a certified letter in the mail that was a history of my current driver's license only!
Several international calls later (thanks, Google Voice!), I had finally spoken with a real person at the MN DVS and convinced them to send a new letter with my complete history. I got the promised letter a week later (thanks, mom and dad!) and sent it along to the Swiss license people. Literally two business days later, I received my Swiss license in the mail, along with my MN license, which now sports a large (high-tech) orange sticker on the front that says "Not valid in Switzerland."
I'm really happy to have that taken care of, although I actually have no plans to drive here. I, in fact, dislike driving and am quite happy to live in a place where I do not have to drive. But, I am glad that I have the option to drive if the desire and/or need arises, and I am super happy not to have to go through Swiss-German driver's ed!
In theory, one is supposed to get an eye exam (20CHF), get a passport-style photo (8CHF), and submit a completed form (20 CHF) with a copy of a current license to the proper authorities, and a Swiss driver's license will be issued (85 CHF). However, it wasn't that simple, of course.
I submitted everything, only to receive a letter in the mail asking for proof that I had obtained my driver's license before 2005, otherwise I would have to take all of the classes and tests in German to get my license here. My current license was renewed in 2010, so it looks like I haven't been driving for longer. Also, my current license history only goes back to 2008, when my original license was stolen and I had to get a replacement.
Lots of online research later, I requested a driving record from Minnesota, since that should have the history of my license. Of course, this required me filling out a form and sending it to my wonderful parents, who then had to send it to the Minnesota DVS with a check (as I do not have checks over here). Two weeks later, I received a certified letter in the mail that was a history of my current driver's license only!
Several international calls later (thanks, Google Voice!), I had finally spoken with a real person at the MN DVS and convinced them to send a new letter with my complete history. I got the promised letter a week later (thanks, mom and dad!) and sent it along to the Swiss license people. Literally two business days later, I received my Swiss license in the mail, along with my MN license, which now sports a large (high-tech) orange sticker on the front that says "Not valid in Switzerland."
I'm really happy to have that taken care of, although I actually have no plans to drive here. I, in fact, dislike driving and am quite happy to live in a place where I do not have to drive. But, I am glad that I have the option to drive if the desire and/or need arises, and I am super happy not to have to go through Swiss-German driver's ed!
1 comment:
We didn't get off so easily. I had to take a drivers' ed "refresher course", only $200 as apposed to $2000 for the full course. We didn't learn any new skills except how to pass the driver's exam. "The instructors are looking for your to do these 7 things before starting the car." "Before you make a turn, check in these areas in this order."
I went through everything, and was about to get a Japanese license when the officials realized I didn't have a valid current HARD COPY of my MN license since mine was being renewed. I had a little paper "extension" the Japanese didn't recognize. They hemmed and hawed and seemed embarrassed at not discovering this technicality before they declared I could get a license. In the end, they decided to keep their word, and gave me one.
Do you know that in Japan they ask you not to smile for your license photos? :) I smiled because I'd finally gotten a license!
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