driving in france/switzerland

Omar15 · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Karma :

So, im hoping to go climbing in france and switzerland over the summer and im going to need to learn to drive for this. At the moment I've got a full bike licence (well, the "restricted to 33bhp for two years") which I got in December 2008.

As far as I understand it these countries require that you've held a driving licence for a year. So if I pass my theory and practical car test in the next few months will i be able to drive in france and switzerland? Or does it meant that i'll need to have held a car licence for a year?

At the moment im 20 if thats relevant.

Cheers,

Omar

Welshd1k · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Oct 2006 Karma :

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Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Never heard of the limit of needing a licence for a year before you can drive there (no saying there isn't such a rule, but it seems strange). Normal problem is people having a UK licence for a bike which wouldn't be acceptable in, say, France (ie, in France I don't think you can ride over a 125 until you are 18). Be like some 14 year old Italian wanting to ride his moped in the UK.

All the best

Keith
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I think you have to buy road tax to drive in Switzerland too. They do a kind of scratch card thing so you can pay according to how many days you are going to be in the country for.
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Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Think the tax you need is the ticket to use the motorways, but it lasts a year and is pretty cheap.

All the best

Keith
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Swim41 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Karma :

When I visited Switzerland last year I didn't buy the motorway vignette as I had no intention of going on the motorways (incidentally, the Swiss 'normal' roads are sign posted in blue and the motorways in green, which is the opposite of Germany and rather confusing). As far as I know there are no control points or anything on the motorway but if you get pulled there's a fine plus the cost of the vignette. I would guess that foreign bikes would be more likely to get a pull.

I have read elsewhere that from December 2009 the Swiss border checkpoints have been forcing foreign vehicles to buy the motorway vignette regardless of whether you intend to use them. Might be worth investigating this.
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chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

You will not get into switzerland with a non standard can from what I have heard.
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