Driving lessons in Bern: get your licence with calm and structure
Driving lessons from Bahnhof Wankdorf, 90 minutes per session. I teach in English and German and take the time you need.
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Driving school in Bern: how your path to the licence works
From registering at the Strassenverkehrsamt (road traffic office) to passing your test: here is step by step how your training with Driving School Stefan in Bern works.
1. Apply for your Lernfahrausweis (learner's permit)
You apply for the Lernfahrausweis (learner's permit) for the canton of Bern at the Strassenverkehrsamt (road traffic office), Schermenweg 5, 3001 Bern. You need a valid eye test (not older than 24 months), the Nothelferkurs (first aid course) certificate, a current passport photo and proof of residence. Processing usually takes two to four weeks, so plan at least six weeks of buffer before you want to start driving.As of July 2026, the binding information is that of the Strassenverkehrs- und Schifffahrtsamt Bern.
2. Nothelferkurs and VKU
Before you are allowed on the road, the Nothelferkurs (first aid course) is compulsory: 10 hours, usually two evenings or one weekend. Before the practical test you also need the Verkehrskundeunterricht (VKU, traffic theory course): eight hours of traffic theory, in four blocks of two hours or on two days of four hours. I offer the VKU in Bern , held in German and booked directly through my partner kurs-plan.ch.As of July 2026, the binding information is that of the Strassenverkehrs- und Schifffahrtsamt Bern.
3. Driving lessons in Bern
We always drive for 90 minutes. Shorter lessons lose a large part of the time to getting to the practice area and warming up, so you get noticeably further in 90 minutes. A session costs CHF 200, all-risk insurance included. We meet at Bahnhof Wankdorf in Bern and start your lesson from there. With the packages Learn 12, Learn 24 and Learn 36 it gets noticeably cheaper. We practise the typical Bern situations: tram junctions, roundabouts, bus lanes, cycle traffic in the city centre and motorway slip roads towards Zurich, Lausanne and Thun. If it helps, we combine this with focused coaching for driving anxiety.
4. Practical test at Schermenweg
The practical driving test in the canton of Bern takes place at the Strassenverkehrsamt Bern, Schermenweg 5. It lasts around 60 minutes and covers city, country road and motorway driving as well as parking and turning manoeuvres. I know the usual test routes around Bern, Köniz and Ostermundigen and prepare you for them, including the mental side of test day.
5. Area around Bern
I teach learners from Bern and the whole agglomeration: Köniz, Ostermundigen, Ittigen, Muri-Gümligen, Worb, Belp, Münsingen, Zollikofen and Bümpliz. The meeting point for all lessons stays the same: Bahnhof Wankdorf, easy to reach by S-Bahn, tram and bus.
How long does it take to get your driving licence?
The honest answer: it depends less on your talent than on the deadlines and waiting times in between. Here are the four things that shape your schedule.
How long it realistically takes
From the first conversation to the licence, most learners need four to nine months. Most of that time is not spent driving but waiting: for the learner's permit, for a course place, for a test date. Starting each step early shortens the whole process considerably, without taking a single extra lesson.
Waiting time for the practical test
In the Canton of Bern the current wait for a practical test date is around ten weeks. That is why I do not register you once you are ready, but as soon as we can see when you will be. The remaining sessions are then planned towards that date.
If you are under 20
Anyone who receives the learner's permit before their 20th birthday must hold it for at least twelve months before sitting the practical test. This one-year rule shapes your schedule far more than the number of lessons does. It is worth applying for the permit early and spreading the training across the year rather than squeezing it into the final weeks. If you are already 20 when you receive the permit, this waiting period does not apply to you.
How often we should drive
One to two sessions a week is the rhythm that works best. With longer breaks we spend every session repeating what you had already mastered, which costs both time and money. As the test date approaches we move to weekly sessions and drive the routes around Bern, Köniz and Ostermundigen.
As of August 2026. Waiting times change. The binding information comes from the Road Traffic and Navigation Office of the Canton of Bern.
How I teach
One instructor, no switching
You drive with the same person every lesson. I know where you are and do not have to start from scratch.
A learning journal we keep together
Together we record your progress after every lesson, so you can see what we are working on.
Preparation for test day
I know the test routes around Bern, Köniz and Ostermundigen and prepare you mentally for the test as well.
What learners say
From Brazil, learned to drive in 2026
Stefan is very calm and patient, which made a huge difference in my learning process. From the very beginning, I felt relaxed and confident during the lessons, even in moments when I was more nervous.
His advice in stressful situations helped me the most: stay calm, think clearly and consciously focus on my breathing. Even on days when seemingly everything went wrong, he knew exactly how to motivate me. Thanks to him I not only drove more safely, I also became more self-confident.
Prices and packages
Learn 12
CHF 1090 for 12 lessons
6 sessions of 90 minutes
around CHF 91 per 45-minute lesson
plus a one-time admin fee of CHF 150
Total CHF 1240
Learn 24
CHF 2090 for 24 lessons
12 sessions of 90 minutes
around CHF 87 per 45-minute lesson
plus a one-time admin fee of CHF 150
Total CHF 2240
Learn 36
CHF 2990 for 36 lessons
18 sessions of 90 minutes
around CHF 83 per 45-minute lesson
plus a one-time admin fee of CHF 150
Total CHF 3140
Single session
CHF 200
1 session of 90 minutes
which works out at CHF 100 per 45-minute lesson
all-risk insurance included
Good to know
- Sessions: We always drive for 90 minutes. Learn 12 means six sessions, Learn 24 twelve, Learn 36 eighteen.
- Without a package: A 90-minute session costs CHF 200. Driving schools usually quote 45-minute lessons, which works out at CHF 100 here. We do not offer single 45-minute lessons.
- Administration: A one-off CHF 150. It only applies once you carry on after the first session. If you come once and then decide otherwise, you do not pay it. It is not charged again for a further package.
- Included: All-risk insurance with every lesson.
- Not included: Nothelferkurs (first aid course), Verkehrskundeunterricht (VKU, traffic theory course), Lernfahrausweis (learner's permit), official exam fees and the WAB course after you have passed. The WAB course has to be taken after the first twelve months following the issue of your licence.
- Payment: TWINT, invoice or card.
- Cancellations: Free of charge up to 48 hours before the session. If you are ill or have an accident, we will find a solution.
- Validity: Paid lessons do not expire and can be transferred to another person.
- Stopping early: If you stop your training, you get the remaining balance back. Lessons already taken are charged at the single-lesson rate of CHF 100, so the package discount no longer applies. We charge a one-time CHF 50 for processing. The CHF 150 admin fee is not refunded.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get my driving licence?
Most learners need four to nine months from the first conversation to the licence. Much of that is waiting: for the learner's permit, for a course place and for a test date. Starting each step early makes the whole process noticeably shorter. As of August 2026.
When do I have to register for the practical test?
The current wait for a practical test date in the Canton of Bern is around ten weeks. So I register you as soon as we can see when you will be ready, and we plan the remaining sessions towards that date. As of August 2026; waiting times change.
I am under 20, what does that mean for my schedule?
If you receive the learner's permit before your 20th birthday, you must hold it for at least twelve months before you may sit the practical test. This one-year rule shapes your schedule more than the number of lessons. Apply for the permit early and spread the training across the year.
How often should we drive?
One to two sessions a week works best. With long breaks we spend every session repeating what you had already mastered, which costs time and money. Closer to the test we move to weekly sessions.
How many driving lessons do I need?
It depends on the person. In my experience most learners need between 20 and 35 lessons, so around 10 to 18 sessions. In the free 15-minute chat we work out together what is realistic in your situation.
Can I book a single 45-minute lesson?
No. Every session with us lasts 90 minutes. Shorter lessons lose a large part of the time to getting to the practice area and warming up, so you get noticeably further in 90 minutes.
What does a driving licence in Bern cost in total?
A 90-minute session costs CHF 200, which works out at CHF 100 per 45-minute lesson. Packages start at CHF 1090. On top of that come the Nothelferkurs (first aid course), the eye test, the Lernfahrausweis (learner's permit), the VKU, the official exam fees and, once you have passed, the compulsory WAB course, which has to be taken after the first twelve months following the issue of your licence. All together you should budget roughly CHF 3300 to CHF 5000 in Bern, depending on the number of lessons.
How long does it take to get the Lernfahrausweis?
The Strassenverkehrsamt (road traffic office) in Bern usually needs two to four weeks. Together with the eye test and the Nothelferkurs, plan around six weeks of buffer before you start driving lessons.
Where do we meet for the lessons?
We meet at Bahnhof Wankdorf in Bern. You start your lesson directly from there, easy to reach by S-Bahn, tram and bus.
Do you teach in English?
Yes. I teach in English and in German. You can switch at any time if an explanation in the other language helps you more.
My learning app supports you with a learning journal and theory help throughout your training.
See the learning app →Talk first, then decide
Message me on WhatsApp, I will get back to you as soon as I am not driving. If you prefer to talk, call me. A short 15-minute conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Even if you decide against me, you will know more than you did before.
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