Do you need an International Driving Permit in Switzerland?

Switzerland and the road traffic conventions

Which vehicles your permit covers in Switzerland

Switzerland applies the vehicle classes set out by the 1968 Vienna Convention. Your permit only covers the classes that are already on your national licence, so a category you do not hold at home is not granted by the permit.

• A
• B
• C
• D
• BE, CE, DE

What each category covers under the 1968 Vienna Convention

What to carry when you drive in Switzerland

An International Driving Permit never replaces your national licence. It is a standardised translation that local police and rental desks can read, and it is only valid alongside the licence it was issued against. Carry both, and keep your passport handy at rental pickup, since most rental companies ask to see all three before releasing a vehicle.

Our document reproduces your licence details across 12 languages in the booklet format the conventions describe, so an officer who reads none of them in your alphabet can still find your name, date of birth and vehicle classes:

• English
• French
• Spanish
• Portuguese
• Italian
• German
• Russian
• Arabic
• Chinese
• Japanese
• Thai
• Vietnamese

What the road rules say in Switzerland

Minimum driving age

18 years

The UK Foreign Office names the 1968 convention for Switzerland, which matches the United Nations depositary record above.

Common questions about driving in Switzerland

How long is an International Driving Permit valid in Switzerland?

Up to 3 years. Switzerland joined the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic on 11 December 1991 by ratification, and that convention sets the maximum at 3 years from the date of issue, or until your national licence expires if that comes first.

Does the permit replace my driving licence in Switzerland?

No. It is a translation of the licence you already hold and has no effect on its own. You must carry your original national licence with it at all times.