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DRIVING

Thousands of Swiss drivers lack valid permits

Close to 8,000 new motorists are driving on Swiss roads without valid permits, a report on Sunday said.

Published: 12 January 2014 20:13 CET
Thousands of Swiss drivers lack valid permits
Photo: Federal highways office

The drivers have invalid temporary permits because they failed to complete the training they are obliged to follow after passing a practical test, the SonntagsZeitung newspaper said.

The paper cited statistics from the federal highways office that showed 7,991 new drivers had failed to follow the two mandatory courses within three years of passing their test.

Such motorists risk a stiff fine amounting to their pay for 180 days and face having to recommence the process of obtaining their licence from square one,

In case of accidents, such drivers are also uninsured, the newspaper said.

In 2005, Switzerland introduced a two-phased driving permit system.

The system requires candidates who pass their driving test to follow two courses within three years to fully validate their probationary licence.

The highways office said in most cases the fault lay with motorists for not taking the courses.

But the Tribune de Genève said a great number of drivers simply forget to renew their temporary licences.

A proposal has been made in the lower house of parliament to make the training courses optional but this has yet to be approved by the senate or the highways office.

The office does not issue reminders to temporary licence-holders when their term for completing the4 courses closes, leaving that responsibility to the motorists.

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DRIVING

Where should you take your car for service and repairs in Switzerland?

If you own a vehicle, sooner or later you will need to have some work done on it. But it is important to know who in Switzerland can provide the best service.

Published: 29 August 2023 15:57 CEST
Where should you take your car for service and repairs in Switzerland?

There is certainly no shortage of garages or auto mechanics in this country, who are ready and willing to work on your car.

In all, there are 16,232 garages across Switzerland, most of them located in the Zurich area, with Bern in the second place. 

However, regardless of where in Switzerland you happen to live, chances are there is a car mechanic in your area.

That’s a good thing, of course, but a mechanic — no matter how skilled — may not be able to do all the repairs you need.

Garages versus dealerships

A lot depends on what exactly ails your vehicle.

If you need regular maintenance or service — which usually includes checking the brakes, suspension, steering, exhaust, oil, fluids, and lights, as well as performing an overall safety check — then any reputable garage can do the job.

Also, if you have been involved in an accident and need body work (on your car, not yourself), then a garage that has a bodywork shop will be a good fit.

Can you have your car repaired or serviced at a different garage from the one where you bought it?

According to Comparis consumer platform, “you are free to choose any garage. Minor repairs in particular, such as changing a windscreen wiper or buffing out a scratch, can basically be done anywhere.”

The only exception would be if your auto insurance excludes free choice of garage. and you must use only ones that your provider works with. 

(This is as good a time as any to remind you that car insurance is obligatory in Switzerland).

READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about car insurance in Switzerland

However, there are times when you should not take your vehicle to just any garage, opting instead for the authorised dealer of your car’s brand, or its partner garages — especially when the car is still under the manufacturer’s warranty.

Why is this important?

 “Our partners undergo specialised training provided by the importer and hold licenses as mandated by the manufacturer,” Lucas Alvarez, a spokesperson for Hyundai Switzerland, told The Local.

“This meticulous preparation ensures that any warranty-related work can only be executed by these authorised partners,” he added.

This is valid for all manufacturers, regardless of the brand.

If you are not sure where these manufacturer-approved garages are in your area, go on the manufacturer’s Swiss website and contact their customer support team.

How long do these repairs take?

They could take a while, and not only because this is Switzerland.

The timeframe depends on what needs to be done, but prepare to be patient.

The pandemic had disrupted production cycles, with manufacturers having cut back orders for spare parts. There are also fewer automotive parts from Ukraine-based suppliers.

“It is unfortunately still the case that electronic parts require a certain delivery time and are also partly on backorder, so it may well be that it takes several months to receive certain parts,” Alvarez said. “Like most car manufacturers, we are dependent on the respective suppliers.
 

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