motorboat license switzerland

Wassersport & Reise GmbH

Seestrasse 27 - 8712 Stäfa - +41 44 928 18 18 - [email protected]

motor boat license switzerland – power boat lessons cheap – boating for beginners

Lang in Stäfa & Zurich since 1982 Wassersport & Reise GmbH, Seestrasse 27, 8712 Stäfa +41 44 928 18 18 [email protected]

Intensive course for 1 person as from CHF 1’999.00

Intensive course for 2 persons as from CHF 3’499.00 incl. insurance (CHF 80.00) incl. organisation of the exam and the trip through the examination region

For those who love speed and feeling the power through their hair. Here you will find all your motor boat license and motor boat courses prerequisites. Fast on land!, want to be fast on water? At Motorbootschule Lang you will acquire the knowledge to drive a motor boat. Whether traveling through lakes, canals or the sea. With your A license you can rent and drive a motorboat on inland lakes of Europe and various countries worldwide. With our experience, the ideal boat and modern training methods, we will ensure you obtain your motor boat A License achievement – FAST.

• Theory tests are generally written in your residence canton
• Please fulfill the registration form as soon as possible.
• For enrollment an official eye test and confirmation from your residence community office are necessary
• Segelschule Lang will advise individuals regarding registration formalities, our previous experience with certification formalities takes approximately 4 weeks
• Order the questions and the theory in English if necessary

And now get it touch with us!

Intensive course

Basics 1 unit is according: – 1.5 h with one person – 2.0 h with 2 persons – 2.5 h with 3 persons

Fixed times – Monday – Thursday 8.45 am (9.45 am) and 1.45 pm – Friday – Sunday 8.45 am (9.45 am) The school can change the lessons according season, numbers of students and weather conditions

Intensive course for beginners until the exam

• 12 units within 2 weeks / 3 weeks
• price includes insurance (CHF 80.00)
• price incl. the organisation of the exam and the trip through the exam place
• the official costs for the theory and the practical exam are not included

Conditions Intensive course

• The course must be fulfilled within two / three months according the subsription
• The payment for the course is not refundable
• 80% of the lessons must be fixed before the course starts
• The remaining 20% can be fixed as soon as the date of the exam ist known within three months
• The fixed lessons are definitely and will take place at every weather conditions
• During a storm or a stormwarning the school can cancel the lessons on place
• If the student want to cancel a lesson he must inform the school at latest 48 hours before
• should the practical exam take place later than 2 months after the start, at least 3 units more are necessary
• the course usually take place in Stäfa. You may choose another place which will generate additional costs
• the units extend to 2 hours (course with 2 students), respect. 2.5 hours (course with 3 stundents)

Subscriptions

Subscription for one person

• valid one year
• one unit compiles to 1.5 h
• price incl. insurance (CHF 80.00)
• the exam and the trip through the exam place will be invoiced additionally
• the course will take place in Stäfa

Subscription fo r two persons

• the lessons must be booked together
• one unit compiles to 2 h
• Payment of the subscription is not refundable
• the school can cancel lessons on place because of stormwarning
• the student can cancel the lessons at latest 48 hours before it take place

Standard Prices

Insucrance of CHF 80.00 ist not included

• To complete your motor boat license within two weeks you require 2-3 lessons per day per week, or a daily lesson for the two weeks
• Plan your training. As application deadlines are Canton dependent, being 2-3 weeks for theory tests and 4-6 weeks for practical testing
• An app. Binnenschein.ch for CHF 20.00 can be downloaded for practicing your theory exam
• Winter is the perfect time to practice due to less traffic on the lake and harbours and shorter registration periods and cheaper prices
• Prepare for your training with Youtube videos
• Ask for a shift at a water taxi (for a small contribution) and you can practice manoeuvring at the various jetties
• The registration form for the skippers test may be downloaded from the Canton Zürich site and to be completed with and eye test and residence confirmation

So that we can optimally coordinate your exam date with our other appointments, we take care of the exam registrations at the below locations.

We are also one of the cheapest motorboat schools on Lake Zurich. For more than 35 years, we have been professionally involved in the training sailboat and motorboat students. Benefit from our rich experience. Goal: Motor boat license A, valid for example on all European inland waters. In Switzerland, you need the certificate if you want to run a boat with more than 6kW (8PS). Practical training: As preparation for the motor boat test you need about 10 – 20hrs of individual lessons of 1.5 hours each (including exam). The exam consists of a theoretical and practical exam. We accompany you through the two exams and assist you with advice and support

For the first appointment please contact us.

By registering for the course and paying the bill, you accept the terms and conditions.

Motorboat license course (A license course)

Targeted preparation for the practical motorboat test for the A license. Deepening and expanding the knowledge and skills learned in the basic course.

Gaining routine and safety in maneuver procedures and seamanship.

Registration for the practical motorboat exam after passing the mock exam.

Course requirements Minimum age of 18 years / passed theory test / for those not in the canton of Vaud  domiciled  Persons: Permission from the shipping office of the canton of residence to take the practical test in another canton. ​ ​ We recommend preparing the theory test with the  Online course from Boat Driver Swiss .  

Required previous knowledge Basic motorboat course or proof of the r elevant knowledge and skills by means of a clarification trip (1 hour).

Course duration 10 lessons of 1.5 hours each (private) or 20 lessons of 1.5 hours each (semi-private) These are empirical values. The course duration will be shortened accordingly in the event of early examination readiness. The course can be extended if the mock examination is not passed after the end of the course.  

Prices Private (1 person): CHF 120.00/hour / Semi-private (2 persons): CHF 60.00/hour pP Insurance contribution (flat rate): CHF 90.00 pP (not applicable for persons who have attended the basic course) Exam organisation + boat charter: CHF 100.00 pP Any additional lessons required to achieve exam readiness: CHF 120.00/hour (private) or CHF 60.00 pP (semi-private) The course material is included. Half of the course will be invoiced in advance, the second half after the end of the course.  

Season / Dates From the beginning of April to the end of October Monday: 13.00 - 20.30 Tuesday - Friday: 08.30 - 20.30 Saturday: 08.30 - 16.30

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Motorboat School

A Category A qualification is required for motorboats being driven on Swiss waters with a drive power of 6 KW and above (4.4 KW for Lake Constance).

We will guide you in all matters from your boat theory test through to your undoubtedly successful practical motor boat exam.

We will also be responsible for the organisation of your training and for formalities with the shipping office.

The individual needs of our students are very important to us. The pace of learning is adjusted accordingly to your prior knowledge and level of training.

PREREQUISITES FOR THE MOTORBOAT EXAM ON LAKE ZÜRICH:

Necessary equipment:, training content, training duration, prices for individual classes, prices for team classes, the practical motorboat training is divided into:.

• General boating theory and basic nautical knowledge
• Basic manoeuvres
• Manoeuvres for landing and casting off
• Rescue manoeuvres (man overboard)
• Anchoring manoeuvres
• Mooring (fastening) the boat
• Test preparation

Motorboat lessons take place daily all year round on our modern, spacious and heated motorboats.

One motorboat lesson is 2 hours long (120 min). Ideally at least 1 lesson a week should be scheduled in order to practise regularly.

The intensive course is suited to those in a bit more of a hurry – you can obtain a motorboat licence within approx. 10 days.

To ensure that you pass your practical motorboat exam, you will need about 10 lessons depending on your prior knowledge.

Other costs

70 CHF one-time insurance contribution

70 CHF one-time insurance contribution per person

Unused hours will be refunded

Zürich Wollishofen

Zürich tiefenbrunnen, wangen flughafen franzrüti, lachen marina lachen, altendorf hensa werft altendorf, richterswil / wollerau, freienbach strandbad.

Sailing in Switzerland

Published by wannabewindsurfer on 19/11/2019 19/11/2019.

Switzerland might not be the country that immediately springs to mind when you think of sailing. Although there has been considerable media coverage of the Alinghi team, Switzerland is not exactly renowned for its nautical heritage.

Despite this, it is a country with many lakes and some of them get some reasonably consistent wind. There are however some very “special” regulations with respect to sailing in Switzerland. I will attempt to outline some of them in this article.

Certification

Switzerland has it’s own certification system for sailing and motor boats. You will require a Swiss Licence to navigate any boat with more than 15 square metres (12 square metres on Lake Constance) of sail area or with more then an 8HP (6KW) engine on Swiss waters.

The A License (A Schein) is for motor boats of more than 8HP (6HP on the Lake of Constance).

The D License (D Schein) is for sail boats of more than 15 square metre sail area.

If a sailing boat with more than 15 square metres of sail also has more than an 8HP engine on board you will effectively require both licenses to sail that boat!

Acceptance of Foreign Certification

Unless you are from a neighbouring country (Italy or South Germany) and live in Switzerland, you will not be able to use your already obtained certification here. If you are non-resident in Switzerland you may be able to use an ICC from another country to sail or drive a boat, but as soon as you are resident your foreign certification is not valid and with very few exceptions, there is no possibility to get your existing certification recognised. Regardless of your sailing experience or certification if you come to Switzerland you are limited to less than 15 square metre sail area or 8 HP engines.

Getting Swiss Certification

To get a Swiss Sailing or Motor Boating license the process is similar to applying for a drivers licence. You will first get an application form from the local Department of Motor Vehicles (Strassenverkehrsamt), these forms can be downloaded online from the website of your local Strassenverkehrsamt. You will then need to do an eye test similar to the driving licence eye test and get your passport photos confirmed by a local authority, lawyer or doctor. Then you can submit the form and get an invitation for a theory test.

Theory Test

The Theory test is a multiple choice test with 60 questions (out of a possible 510 pool questions) and negative marking.

• A non-completed question will give you -1 point
• Not ticking the correct answer will give you -1 point
• Each wrong answer you give to a question will give you -1 point (each)

This means it is possible to get -3 points for one wrong question if you don’t tick the correct answer and give two wrong answers. You will fail the test if you get more than 15 minus points. The theory test is the same for both sail and motor.

To practice for the Theory test I can highly recommend the Bootspruefung24 App, this has 15 practice tests and if you can answer all the questions in these 15 tests you will have no surprises in the official Theory Test.

Once you have passed the Theory test you are then eligible to do the practical test. In most cases an instructor will register you for the test, but I believe if you really want to you can register yourself. My advice is no matter how experienced you are take a couple of lessons first as some aspects of the test are quite specific to Switzerland!

Practical Test

The practical test is usually taken on a body of water in your canton of residence as the licence will be issued by your local Department of Motor Vehicles.

The procedure is quite straightforward. Your examiner will meet you a couple of minutes before the test start to get the introductions and formalities out of the way. He will then ask you some questions about the weather situation on the day to see if you can assess whether it is safe to go on the water or not.

You are then expected to prepare the boat to go on the the water and in doing so show evidence that you know all safety equipment which needs to be onboard by Swiss law and where it is on this particular boat. Once this has satisfactorily completed you will head out on the water to perform some maneuvers, such as coming alongside, man overboard, picking up a mooring, sailing a compass course etc. During the maneuvers you may be asked any questions from the theory test orally.

On completion of the “open lake” part of the assessment you will return to your starting harbour where you may be asked to perform some “close quarters” maneuvering, followed by making the boat fast and showing if you can tie some basic knots. (Bowline, Round turn & two half hitches, clove hitch, rolling hitch etc.)

For those with experience the exercises may seem incredibly basic, but they need to be done in such a specific way that the risk of failure for experienced mariners is actually quite real.

Once you pass the test you will get a paper licence which you are required to have with you when sailing or driving any boat (which requires that licence) and on some lakes the Police do spot checks.

Boats Not Requiring a Licence

Even if your boat does not require a licence to operate, it will still need to be registered and undergo a safety inspection. While this procedure varies from canton to canton (as everything in Switzerland), in general you will need to prove that you have a place to store the boat and you will need a contract to prove this. The contract for the boat storage has to be made out to the same name and address as the person who is registering the boat and the address needs to be the primary residence address where that person is registered.

Finding a place in a dinghy park (or a marina) for a boat is not that easy. In Swiss Dinghy Parks there are a lot of old boats in poor repair no longer used, but people are unwilling to give up their place as they will then lose it if they do ever decide to sail again.

Once the boat is registered you will get a number similar to a licence plate for your car, you are required to fix this to the hull on both sides so that it is clearly visible at all times when on the water. It is your responsibility to get stick on letters and numbers yourself to put this on the boat (there is also sizing requirements, depending on both size and type). Transfers of the letters can easily be got at hardware stores like Migros Do it Decor or Coop Bau and Hobby.

Shortly after registration you will be invited for an inspection. This inspection is theoretically to prove the Sea(Lake!)worthiness of the boat. There are requirements which you will need to satisfy like having life jackets with collars, a horn, a red flag and a bailer (even in boats where it might not be practical to use one!). You can download A full list of the equipment needed here .

The examiner will check all this equipment is present and also inspect the boat for structural integrity (ironically in our case he did not look at the sails or rudder at all!) If he is satisfied with all this he will sign you off and return your boat registration document. The boat registration certificate is made of paper and theoretically you must be have it on the boat at all times when it is on the water! While this is ok on a larger keel boat, it is certainly not practical for smaller “wet” sailing boats.

Sailing boats with over 15 metre squared sail area and all motor boats require insurance. For sail boats under 15m sail area insurance is optional. (but in my opinion recommended)

Boat Rental

Very few locations rent small sailing boats (which don’t require certification) and those that I have seen have been not in the best condition. There are a few organisations offering rental of Keel Boats on many Swiss Lakes. These organisations usually require some form of membership and a local certification (D-Schein) to be allowed to sail them, but then I believe the prices are (for Switzerland) quite reasonable. For more information look at Sailbox or Sailcom .

Storm Warning

Swiss Lakes are fitted out with warning systems which light up when the winds are expected to get over 25 knots. With expected winds of more than 25 knots you will see orange lights flashing at approximately 40 flashes per second (high wind warning). Once the forecasted wind speeds exceed 33 knots the lights will flash at 90 flashes per second (storm warning). It is technically illegal to go on the water with a Storm Warning (90 flashes per second) but windsurfing and kite surfing do seem to be tolerated. I’ve often seen Swiss boats starting to struggle once the wind increases to about 20 knots, so if you are experienced and enjoy sailing in stronger winds, don’t expect that everyone around you has it in control.

Other Lakes

If you think once you register your boat that you can enjoy going sailing anywhere in Switzerland, then think again. In general you can only use your boat in the canton of registration. If you would like to sail on another lake in a different canton you will first need to check if this is permitted. In many cases one cannot launch any boats not registered on that lake. In some cases, you will need a day pass to launch, in some places any boat registered in Switzerland can launch and in others sailing might be completely prohibited. If participating in a Regatta the organisers will have arranged that all participants may sail on that lake for the duration of the event.

Best Lakes for Wind

Some Swiss lakes have very poor wind statistics and in general sailing on lake Zurich is quite the oxymoron as it very rarely gets decent wind. However, Lakes like Urnersee, Walensee, Neuenburgersee and Lake Geneva often get quite good wind in Summer. In general different lakes benefit from different winds so I’ll try to explain these winds below.

Föhn: The Föhn is a wind that is generated by a pressure gradient between two sides of a mountain range. In Switzerland bad weather on one side of the Alps and good weather on the other leads to a typical Föhn situation. Usually lakes in a north/south direction in a Föhn affected area benefit from this wind, but beware it can be incredibly strong sometimes getting up to gusts of 40 knots. You find South Föhn usually the Northern side of the Alps. It is a strong and warm but gusty southerly wind which is found on lakes such as Urnersee, Walensee, Aegerisee and occasionally Zugersee. Föhn winds on the Urnersee and Walensee often reach 40+ knots. North Föhn in Ticino and the Northern Italian Lakes (Como and Garda) presents as a strong northerly wind

Bise: Bise is a cold North Easterly wind that is often prevalent in Autumn. It can get quite strong and is usually most potent on the lakes in the “Three Lake Land” (Bielersee, Neuenburgersee, Murtensee) and on Lake Geneva. Some other lakes may get some Bise to a smaller extent like the Zugersee.

South West: This is a low pressure wind which develops as storm fronts race across Europe. Usually this wind has lost a lot of it’s strength by the time it reaches Switzerland and is accompanied by frontal weather systems.

Thermal: In summer a few Swiss Lakes can get a good Thermal wind blowing. On days when it cools down quite a lot at night and there is a lot of sunshine giving radiative heat to the mountains during the day you can expect in the region of 15 to 20 knots on a few Swiss Lakes such as the Urnersee or Silvaplana (Windsurfing and Kitesurfing only!)

While Switzerland is not known as the sailing capital of Europe it is possible to get your sailing fix here. It is however connected with a considerable level of bureaucracy, which those of us who come from many “open sea” countries may find frustrating. Sailing Small boats does not require certification, but it is difficult to find anywhere to rent these boats and there is considerable bureaucracy to put your own boat on the water here. You can rent Keel boats on many lakes but then local certification is required.

Feel free to contact us if you would like any further information regarding sailing in Switzerland.

WannabeWindsurfer

Originally from the South of Ireland. An ex-watersports instructor who found my way to land locked Switzerland via Maui. I try to get wet and salty as often as possible.

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Motor-Boat (M) Test

Eligibility.

• holds a motor boat license recognized by the Swiss authorities, and
• has crewed for at least 2 surveillance shifts in the current year.

The motor boat test comprises a practical and a theoretical part. The theoretical part is also done via the practical test.

For the practical part, the candidate contacts the test coordinator responsible for the M licence. The test coordinator appoints an examiner. The candidate and examiner agree on a date and time. After the test, the examiner fills the test report and the test coordinator decides on the licence.

Boating Permit

Swiss residents.

Since the YCC Q-boat has an engine exceeding 8hp, the skipper must hold a Swiss A permit, or a national permit recognised as equivalent in Switzerland, should a permit be required in the country of residence. Members who have been resident in Switzerland for 12 months or more must, therefore, before they can pilot the YCC Q-Boat as skipper, in addition to the YCC test, either exchange a national sailing permit against a Swiss A permit or obtain a Swiss A permit by passing a test with the Swiss police or a delegate appointed by the police. The Swiss A permit can be obtained either before or after the YCC test is passed. The YCC Q-Boat may be used for the police test provided at least one person on board holds the YCC M licence. The police will further require one person on board to hold a Swiss A permit or equivalent as stated above. All these requirements must be met before a Member may skipper the YCC Q-boat.

French Residents

The policy for french residents needs to be clarified. Until further notice, we follow the same rules as for swiss residents (except the exchange rule of course).

If a French motor license holder lives in Switzerland, he HAS to convert within 12 months of his arrival in Switzerland his license into a Swiss one, which should only be an administrative process as Switzerland recognizes licenses from neighboring countries

Practical Test

• preparing the boat correctly according to the current checklist, according to the expected conditions, leaving it in order, using appropriate knots;
• knowledge of the boat (handling the motor, the surveillance equipment, etc.);
• knowledge of and manoeuvring in the harbour (getting to the gas station, turning in confined area, etc.);
• leaving the mooring and returning to it with and without crew, task distribution for the crew, mooring the boat with appropriate knots;
• use of the anchor;
• coming in to a buoy, stopping the boat at the buoy or reducing her speed to such extent that the buoy could be reached and held easily;
• executing the man-overboard manoeuvre, stopping the boat;
• high-speed manoeuvring on the lake;
• getting alongside a sailboat (sailing and/or capsized) and passing a line.

Three tries mooring the boat single-handed. All other points have to be correct on the first try.

Theoretical Test

• rules for motor boats on Lake Geneva (priorities, signs, shore zones, etc) as laid out in the relevant legislation (cf. "Naviguez les Eaux Suisses");
• knowledge of the surveillance rules and the surveillance area;
• knowledge of procedures (towing boats, laying buoys for regattas, etc.);
• knowledge of distress and other signs used on Lake Geneva;
• knowledge of basic first aid procedures.

The candidate should be able to answer ALL questions on rules governing motor boat handling. All other questions must be either answered or their topic been judged to be understood by the tester.

The boating license’s ultimate guide for sailing abroad

by Alfredo from Samboat | Aug 8, 2019

The international boating license question

Thinking of taking sail across Europe? Depending on your situation, you may need a boating licence to do so.

A boating licence is generally not a requirement when renting a vessel along with a guide. The guide (skipper) is certified and will handle all navigational demands while on board. However, in the case of a bareboat rental, no guide is present on the vessel, and some sort of certification is then necessary.

The type of certification may vary from country to country. Generally, however, the International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft, also known as the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) is recognized by multiple jurisdictions and is sufficient for bareboat charters.

In this quick guide, we’ll get you acquainted with the regulations applicable across Europe’s most popular sailing destinations.

Do you need a boating license to rent a boat?  

If you wish to rent and sail abroad, here is a list to help you find your way around the different regulations in the most popular countries for yachting.

To drive a sailboat, no license is required in France even if significant experience is required.

On the other hand, a coastal license is required to use a motorboat with a power greater than 6 horsepower.  License extensions are required to navigate offshore (hauturier) or on lakes and rivers (fluvial). The ICC is also recognized by French authorities.

Boating licenses issued by the EU Member States are automatically valid and accepted in Greece. Those outside the European Union are accepted if they meet EU standards. Finally, licenses in languages other than English or Greek must be translated. To rent a boat in Greece , a license is required for sailing boats and motorboats with more than 30 horsepower. In addition to the ICC, Greece recognizes the American International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) and the International Sailing Licence and Credentials (SLC) by NauticEd.

Below 30 horsepower, a boat license is not required for motorboats. 

A license is required to drive a sailboat beyond 6 miles from a shelter. Regarding motorboats, there is no need for a boating license if the power is less than 40 horsepower. 

Italy accepts the ICC for use within its territory as a certificate of boating competence.

Croatia has the highest concentration of sailboats for rent in Europe, and safety is therefore paramount. This is why it is mandatory to have a VHF radio license (CRR) in addition to a boat license in order to be able to sail, regardless of the flag of the boat. The ICC is recognized by Croatian authorities.

Licence-free boat rentals are possible in Spain , provided the vessel is up to 5 metres in length, has a maximum of 15 Horsepower, covers a distance of less than 2 nautical miles from the coast, and is used only on a daytrip. Licence requirements are then dependent on the size of the boat, and are issued by Spanish authorities.

If in possession of a boating licence issued outside Spain, it is necessary to consult relevant authorities to establish if an exception can be issued. This is usually possible with an ICC, the UK Yacht Master Certification, and the US Coast Guard Licence. 

Portugal 

Regardless of the category of sailboat or motorboat, a license will be required. Similar to the way boats are rented in Greece, licenses issued by the EU Member States are automatically valid and accepted in Portugal. The ICC is generally accepted but prior confirmation is recommended.

A certificate of competence (Amatör Denizcilik Belgesi) is required to navigate for sports or leisure purposes. It cannot be used for commercial activities and is valid for the following boats:

• All motorboats 
• Vessels between 2.5 m and 24 m in length and up to 50 tonnes gross weight.

The ICC is also recognized for use in Turkey.

Similar to that in France, a nautical license is not required to use a sailboat. However, it will be necessary to have one if you want to rent a motorboat with a power greater than 15 horsepower, where in addition to local licencing, the ICC is recognized.

Netherlands

On Dutch inland waters, a small vessel licence ( klein vaarbewijs) is required for vessels longer than 15 metres in length, or shorter than 15 metres but capable of speeds above 20 kilometres per hour. A different licence ( groot pleziervaartbewijs) is required for vessels between 25 and 40 metres in length. The international equivalents of these licences, including the ICC, are recognized by Dutch authorities.

Local authorities do not require a permit to operate on coastal and inland waters. However, it is strongly recommended to have the necessary skills and experience to navigate safely. 

To rent a boat in Norway, it is necessary to have a licence if the vessel is longer than 8 metres or has more than 25 Horsepower. Licences issued by EU member states are recognized, as well as the ICC provided it includes coastal navigation.

United Kingdom

A licence is not required to operate a vessel on offshore waters of the UK. However, prior registration is required for sailing on inland waterways. A Boat Safety Scheme Certificate (BSSC) and boat insurance are required, as well as registration with the Environment Agency responsible for the specific inland waterway.

A pleasure craft can be operated licence-free if less than 12 metres in length and 4 metres in width. The Swedish licences (Förarintyg (Inshore Diploma) and Kustskepparintyg (Coastal Diploma)) are otherwise required. The ICC is not recognized by Swedish authorities, who instead recognize the Coastal Yachtmaster Diploma.

Switzerland

If you wish to sail in Switzerland, a boat license will be required if: 

• Engine power exceeds 8 horsepower
• The surface area of the sails is more than 15m2 

To drive a boat with a motor exceeding 8 horsepower, a Class A motor license will be required. For sailboats above the 15m2 boat’s sail limits, it is the category D sailing license that is required.

Swiss nationals wishing to sail at sea will be able to pass the sea license. The ICC is recognized only for non-Swiss residents.

For the rental of a boat in Monténegro, a license will be required, regardless of the type of boat. Locally and internationally-issued licences are recognized for use in Montenegro.

Can you rent a boat without a license?

Do you want to enjoy a boat rental but do not necessarily have a boat license? Don’t panic, several solutions exist: 

• You can decide to rent a boat without a license. Some boats are so small that they do not require a license . Again, this differs from country to country.
• Renting a boat with a skipper is an excellent solution if you want a complete and stress-free sailing experience.

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How to drive in Switzerland with a foreign licence?

• January 7, 2021
• 18880 views

If you plan to drive in Switzerland with a foreign license , you will find that Switzerland's geographical diversity requires adapting to the environment; motorways and mountain roads. The rules of conduct in Switzerland are strictly enforced. Regulations also apply for the use of your foreign driver's license or foreign car.

This guide covers the important aspects to know about driving in Switzerland.

Driving in Switzerland with a foreign driving licence

You can drive in Switzerland with your foreign driving licence for up to 12 months. Article 42 of the Driving Licence Ordinance stipulates that drivers from other countries may drive in Switzerland - provided they hold a valid or corresponding national driving licence  - or a valid international driving licence.

A foreign, national or international licence authorises the holder to drive all categories of vehicles for which this licence is valid on Swiss roads. If no International Driving Permit is presented or an original National Driving Permit; The driver must be in possession of a translation of his national driving licence. A translation into French, German, Italian or English should suffice.

However, it must be issued by an official service. For example, the national authority responsible for issuing national driving licences - a notary public or a certified professional translator. The holder's first and last name must appear in Roman characters on the International Driving Permit; and in the translated version. This will allow the police to identify the holder on the basis of an identity document recognised by Switzerland.

Driving in Switzerland with a foreign licence: Licence exchange

You can drive in Switzerland with a foreign licence for up to 12 months. At the end of this period, you have the option to convert your licence into a Swiss driving licence. You may need to take a theory test or  a practical driving test depending on your nationality or profession. The following drivers must hold a Swiss driving licence:

• Foreign drivers of motor vehicles residing in Switzerland for more than 12 months and without interruption of more than three consecutive months;
• professional drivers of motor vehicles registered in Switzerland - who require a category C or D driving licence; a subcategory C1 or D1 licence or an authorisation within the meaning of Article 25 of the Ordinance on - Permits for Road Traffic Purposes.

Exchange of blue Swiss driving licence

If you hold a blue driver's license - you must replace it with a pink driver's license in credit card format. Operate within 14 days of receipt of certificate of establishment. For convenience, you can also change the blue driver's license to a  pink driver's license the size of a credit card at any time. For this purpose, you must provide the following documents: Original blue driving license - 1 color photo full face passport size - copy of your identity card (passport or identity card). Ask for the form to replace the blue licence with a credit card licence

Driving in Switzerland with a foreign licence and with a foreign car

If you are a tourist or business traveller in Switzerland, driving in Switzerland with a foreign licence is possible. For this purpose, you can bring your car to Switzerland without any formalities as long as you live outside Switzerland. Employees; Students or trainees temporarily staying in Switzerland can import and use their registered car - abroad without paying customs duties for up to two years in Switzerland.

If you are moving to Switzerland for a long time, you can bring your car duty-free (if it is used for at least six months outside Switzerland). You must register your vehicle with the road traffic office of your canton.

Importing a car from abroad and driving in Switzerland with a foreign licence

Vehicles held for less than six months are subject to import tax. It is necessary to provide official documentation to confirm the value of the car and its country of origin. They are subject to import duties.

Vehicles held for more than six months are not subject to import duties. However, they require a completed customs clearance request form for the move. One month after the importation of the car, the Motor Vehicle Registration Office informs the  owner that the official inspection of motor vehicles will take place within one year. After the test, drivers pay the Swiss road tax. Insurance and license plates must also be purchased. Total charges can be high depending on vehicle model, parking space and other details.

Registration and maintenance of the car to drive in Switzerland with a foreign license

Each canton has a motor vehicle office that carries out roadworthiness tests and issues vehicle registrations. When travelling in a canton; It is necessary to send your driver's license and registration papers to the Motor Service for updating.

When moving to another canton; It is necessary to apply for a new licence from the motor vehicle department of the new canton within 14 days of the move. License plates must be registered at the cantonal road traffic office. You can find the address of your cantonal road traffic office on the website of the ASA (Association des services automobiles). If you drive a car not registered in your name, you should have a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to do so.

Engine Inspection Test

To drive in Switzerland with a foreign or Swiss license - cars require regular inspections by passing the vehicle inspection test. The frequency depends on the age of the car. New cars must undergo a test after four years on the road. Then after three more years and then every two years. Every two years, cars equipped with diesel engines must also undergo an anti-pollution test; Other cars have annual tests.

Driving in Switzerland with a foreign license: Know the Swiss highway code

Always carry your driver's license; your automobile insurance certificate; a spare pair of glasses (if you wear glasses or lenses); a red warning triangle (which you must place behind the car in the event of an accident) to drive in Switzerland with a foreign or Swiss license.

Make sure you are familiar with the rules of the road in Switzerland. Because the Swiss traffic police are very strict about the application of offences, even minor ones. It can impose hefty fines on the spot.

Drive on the right side of the road

Priority roads are indicated by a yellow diamond on white. If there is no sign, always yield the right way, unless otherwise indicated. On roundabouts, vehicles inside the circle have priority. When two vehicles meet on a narrow mountain road, the vehicle going up has priority. Make way for public transport, emergency vehicles and pedestrians. Outside rush hour, flashing amber traffic lights mean "proceed with caution".

Be aware of the speed limit for driving in Switzerland with a foreign license

In winter, on mountain roads, you need to use snow chains. Otherwise, you may not be covered by insurance. It is forbidden to use a mobile phone, with the exception of hands-free units, while driving. The drinking and driving limit is 0.05%. This is less than in some other European countries.

It is illegal to use radar detection equipment. Wear a seat belt; children under 12 years of age under 150 cm must sit in the appropriate child seat; or with a seat belt if they are longer than 150 cm. You risk a fine for not doing so.

To drive in Switzerland, persons residing abroad must hold a valid national driving licence. If you have lived in Switzerland for more than twelve months - you must exchange your driving licence at the cantonal motor service of your residence with a Swiss licence. Make the request before the expiry of the 12-month period.

Please contact the competent Swiss road traffic office at your home for more information. A list of all cantonal agencies is available on the website of the Association of Road Traffic Offices (ASA).

Do you need license exchange courses ? Would you like to exchange your foreign driving licence with a Swiss licence?  Our Lake Geneva driving school offers you a 50-minute manual or automatic driving course, customized to your needs. Completely tailor-made, it will allow you to better identify your strengths and perfect, while making you aware of the nuances and the different Swiss traffic rules. It is also an opportunity to review with you some maneuvers that you would like to perfect, and to allow you to discover the city of Geneva (La Servette, Augustin, Eaux Vive, Carouge) and its surroundings.

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DMV services disrupted nationwide by system outage

Multiple states reported disrupted services at department of motor vehicles offices Thursday in a "national outage" that halted license-related transactions due to "a loss in cloud connectivity."

The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, a nongovernmental group that provides software to DMV offices, said Thursday: “The network that connects motor vehicle agencies across the United States to each other and to various verification services experienced an outage due to a loss in cloud connectivity.” 

The outage lasted from 9:50 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET, AAMVA spokesperson Claire Jeffrey said.

"During that time, there was no ability to process messages that support transactions of driver licenses and motor vehicle titles. This prevented a number of motor vehicle agencies from issuing driver licenses and vehicle titles during the outage," Jeffrey said.

The AAMVA said connectivity was restored to nearly all states as of 2 p.m. ET, noting “the outage had nothing to do with software — strictly connectivity.” 

Jeffrey said the disruption was due to “a network-level outage within Microsoft’s data center infrastructure.”

A Microsoft spokesperson told NBC News the company doesn’t comment on specific customers but that some cloud services in Virginia “experienced a connectivity issue this morning,” which has since been resolved.

DMV offices across the country had issued warnings about the outage to locals on social media Thursday.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias wrote on X that all driver's license facilities and DMVs in Illinois and “across the country” were down.

The  Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles asked Coloradans with appointments at a state driver's license office to reschedule due to the outage, which they attributed to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.

The outage affected most driver's license services, including online options, but not driver's license knowledge tests, permit tests or requests for motor vehicle records, Colorado's DMV said.

In a 2:53 p.m. ET update on X , the office said that "it is once again serving Coloradans after a technical issue that caused nationwide outages was successfully resolved" and that "[a]ll DMV services are now fully operational."

Massachusetts’ Registry of Motor Vehicles wrote on X that it “cannot process any license or ID related transactions at this time due to a national system outage.”

The outage was resolved by the afternoon, the Massachusetts RMV posted on X at 1:49 p.m. ET.

A banner alert on New York state’s DMV website Thursday said: “DMV transactions are currently unavailable due to a network outage. Please check back later.”

At 3:49 p.m. ET, it said on its X account that services had resumed in its offices and online.

Virginia’s DMV said its system was back up and running just before 1 p.m. “after a third-party system outage that affected driver’s license transactions at our offices and website.”

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