Getting your learner permit in Bern: step by step

The short route to your learner permit

Most people think the first step is a driving lesson. It is not. First comes the learner permit, and that needs four things.

1. Eye test

At an optician or eye doctor. It takes ten minutes and costs very little.

2. First aid course

Ten hours, usually spread over two evenings or one Saturday. The certificate is valid for six years.

3. Theory exam

Fifty questions on screen at the road traffic office. People who work through the material systematically usually pass first time. Twenty minutes every day beats three hours once a week.

4. Application at the road traffic office

Application form, passport photo, eye test confirmation, first aid certificate and a copy of your ID. Delivery takes a few days.

What comes next

With the learner permit you may drive accompanied by someone aged 23 or over who has held a full licence for three years. The VKU course must be completed before the practical test.

One tip from practice

Start with a few lessons before you practise privately. Habits learned the wrong way take longer to unlearn than to learn properly. My sessions last 90 minutes, which is enough to finish a topic properly.

If you are unsure where you stand, give me a call. Fifteen minutes is usually enough to work out your next step.