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.

How long it takes until the practical test

Two deadlines shape your schedule more than the number of lessons does.

The one-year rule under 20

If you receive the learner permit before your 20th birthday, you must hold it for at least twelve months before you may sit the practical test. Apply early and spread the training across the year rather than squeezing it into the final weeks. If you are already 20 when the permit is issued, this waiting period does not apply.

Waiting time for a test date

The current wait for a practical test date in the Canton of Bern is around ten weeks. That is why I register you as soon as we can see when you will be ready, and plan the remaining sessions towards that date. As of August 2026; waiting times change, and the binding information comes from the Road Traffic and Navigation Office of the Canton of Bern.

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.