Initial Drive · Driving test
Driving test in Lucerne: no flat fee on test day
On the day of your practical test, I charge one double lesson (CHF 180) or two lessons from your pack – no flat fee, in Nidwalden and Obwalden too. Plus everything about the test: registration, duration and waiting times by canton, the day itself, fees and what comes next.
- Test day CHF 180 one double lesson – no flat fee
- Driving time 50–60 min depending on the canton, in my experience
- Theory in English NW · OW basic theory test, categories A, A1 and B
The practical driving test is the last step to your licence. You drive with an examiner from the road traffic office (Strassenverkehrsamt); the test lasts at least 60 minutes including the welcome and goodbye, and you spend at least 45 of them in public traffic (Annex 12 of the Traffic Licensing Ordinance, VZV).
I’m Patrik Stadelmann. I’ve been a driving instructor since 2018, I hold the Swiss federal diploma for driving instructors, and I’ve run my own driving school, Initial Drive, since 2024. I prepare you for the test in English in my Toyota GR86, and I’m there with you on test day.
No flat test-day fee: one double lesson, that’s it
Some driving schools charge a flat fee for test day. I don’t: on test day, I charge one double lesson (CHF 180), or two lessons from your pack. That covers my car, preparing together before the test and my waiting time during it.
Nidwalden and Obwalden, too. Test day takes me longer there, but it’s still one double lesson – the extra time is on me. The same applies if you need to retake the test.
- 6 of 29 driving schools I checked in Lucerne, Nidwalden and Obwalden list a separate flat fee for test day.
- CHF 220–240 is what five of these six charge for the first test – the full range is CHF 100 to 250.
- CHF 180 is what test day costs with me: one double lesson. With a pack, it’s two lessons from your pack.
Test day: an example
- Flat fee Example: CHF 230, as charged by two of the schools CHF 230
- With me: one double lesson standard price, without a pack CHF 180 CHF 50 less
- With me: 20-lesson pack 2 pack lessons at CHF 84 CHF 168 CHF 62 less
This example compares with a flat fee like that, not with every driving school: one charges only CHF 100, and what a flat fee covers (such as a warm-up drive or the drive back) varies. The other 23 don’t list a flat fee for test day on their websites. Where a school says so, its flat fee doesn’t include the office’s test fee; with me, you also pay that fee directly to the office.
My own review of the price lists published on the websites of 29 driving schools based or with a branch in Lucerne, Nidwalden and Obwalden, as of 27 September 2026.
Requirements and registration
You can take the practical test for category B if you (as of 2026):
- hold a valid provisional licence (Lernfahrausweis) for category B – it’s valid for 24 months;
- have held it for at least a year, if you got it before your 20th birthday;
- have attended the traffic skills course (VKU) – eight hours with a driving instructor.
New from 1 January 2027: you’ll need the traffic skills course before you can register for the basic theory test. If you passed the basic theory test without it before then, you show it when you register for the practical test. The steps before the practical test are explained on ch.ch, the Swiss authorities’ portal.
I register you once a mock test we do together shows you’re ready (terms and conditions, section 12, in German).
| Lucerne | Nidwalden · Obwalden | |
|---|---|---|
| Responsible office | Lucerne Road Traffic Office (Strassenverkehrsamt) | Road traffic office Obwalden/Nidwalden (Verkehrssicherheitszentrum OW/NW, VSZ) |
| Test location | Kriens (Arsenalstrasse 45) or Sursee (Sappeurstrasse, depot N2) | Stans (Kreuzstrasse 2) or Sarnen (Enetriederstrasse 1) |
| Registration – my experience | yourself or through your driving school, with the registration slip | yourself or through your driving school, usually by phone or in person, without a registration slip |
| Waiting time – my experience | from one week, up to four weeks in summer | sometimes within a week, longer especially in summer: a smaller office with fewer test dates |
| Phone | Test scheduling +41 41 318 18 44 | Stans +41 41 618 41 41 · Sarnen +41 41 666 66 00 |
The Lucerne office mentions the registration slip and gives three to four weeks as the usual time between registration and the test. According to the VSZ, registration there generally goes through your driving instructor. The VSZ publishes no waiting times, nor whether the test starts in Stans or in Sarnen – I’ll let you know the date and where to meet.
For your first and second practical test in Lucerne, you can also pick the date yourself on the office’s i-Dispo website; you need the PIN and PID printed at the top of your test registration. To take the test in another canton, you need to apply in writing.
Sources (in German): VZVVZV from 2027ch.ch: Learning to drive (in English)Lucerne office: admissionLucerne office: i-DispoLucerne office: SurseeVSZ: practical test
What happens in the practical test
How long you actually drive in the test varies from canton to canton. This is what I’ve seen at tests:
- Lucerne about 50 minutes
- Nidwalden about 60 minutes
- Obwalden about 60 minutes
at least 45 minutes in traffic (federal law)
The welcome and goodbye come on top. Federal law requires at least 60 minutes in total, with at least 45 in public traffic; the Lucerne office gives 60 minutes for the practical test, Monday to Friday in Kriens and Sursee.
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Arrive with your provisional licence
We prepare in the GR86 first. Be there at least five minutes before the start and bring your provisional licence – at the VSZ, the paper one. In Lucerne, if it’s missing, you pay the basic fee.
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Vehicle check
Spot checks on tyres, brakes, steering, lights, indicators and horn, plus the fluids. Then you adjust your seat, mirrors, seat belt and head restraint.
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Driving in traffic
Pulling away, bends, junctions, lane changes, roundabouts, level crossings, pedestrian crossings and, where possible, the motorway. You need to know the car’s driver assistance systems; the examiner can ask you to switch individual ones on or off.
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Manoeuvres
At least two manoeuvres, one of them in reverse – for example reversing round a corner, turning the car round, parking or stopping precisely.
Good to know
- The test generally takes place in any weather.
- If you put others in immediate danger, the test is stopped early – even if nobody had to intervene.
- If your knowledge of the traffic rules isn’t good enough, the office orders a new basic theory test.
Sources (in German): VZVLucerne office: practical testVSZ: practical testVSZ: provisional licenceLucerne fee ordinance (SRL 778)
Taking the test in the Toyota GR86
You take the test in the car you learned in: my Toyota GR86 with automatic transmission, fitted with dual pedals and extra mirrors. I’ve never had any problems with it at driving tests.
Test car check
- Office: category B, at least 120 km/h – met
- Office: handbrake within the examiner’s reach – in the GR86, a classic lever in the centre console
- In the GR86 as well: dual pedals
- In the GR86 as well: extra mirrors
For private test vehicles, electric handbrakes are only accepted if they work like a conventional one and written confirmation from the manufacturer or importer is provided before the test – not an issue with the GR86.
Learning on an automatic doesn’t limit you: in Lucerne, passing the test in an automatic entitles you to drive cars with any type of transmission.
I’m not in the car during the test. If you negligently damage it during the test, you pay up to CHF 500 per incident (terms and conditions, section 10.6, in German).
Sources (in German): VZVLucerne office: test vehiclesVSZ: practical test
Office fees
You pay the office’s fees directly to the office, not to me:
| Item | Lucerne | Nidwalden · Obwalden |
|---|---|---|
| Practical test | CHF 130 | CHF 150 |
| Provisional licence | CHF 50 incl. processing and registration card | CHF 35 + CHF 35 processing |
| First driving licence | CHF 45 | CHF 50 |
| Changing the test date | CHF 20 on i-Dispo, CHF 30 by the office | no information found |
| Late cancellation or no-show | basic fee unless your written cancellation arrives 7 days before | full fee if the test doesn’t take place |
As of 1 January 2026. The office’s current list always applies.
Sources (in German): Lucerne office: feesLucerne fee ordinance (SRL 778)VSZ: fees (PDF)
Didn’t pass? What happens next
You can retake the practical test. From the third attempt on, conditions apply:
- 1st and 2nd attempt New date, new attempt – no extra conditions.
- 3rd attempt Only with a driving instructor’s confirmation that your training is complete.
- 4th attempt Only after an assessment that confirms your fitness to drive. If it doesn’t, your provisional licence expires.
- After the 4th attempt In my experience: a two-year ban, then a new provisional licence right away (new eye test and photo). Theory test and VKU stay valid – four attempts again.
Your provisional licence is valid for 24 months. If it expires before you’ve used all your attempts, you get a second one.
With me: After the test, we talk about what went wrong and how many lessons I think make sense before the next attempt. On the day of the retake, I charge one double lesson again – no flat fee, however many attempts it takes.
Sources (in German): VZVLucerne office: admissionVSZ: provisional licence
Passed: probationary licence and further training
Until your credit-card-format licence arrives by post, in Lucerne your paper provisional licence counts as a temporary driving permit in Switzerland for up to ten days; the electronic provisional licence is no longer valid once you’ve passed. At the VSZ, carry the paper provisional licence confirmed by the examiner.
Your first licence is a probationary licence: the probation period lasts three years, and its end date is shown under 4b on the licence. During it, the limit when driving is zero alcohol, and you can only accompany learner drivers once you’re at least 23 and have held your licence for three years, no longer on probation.
- Test day Passed – your licence is sent by post
- within 12 months further training (WAB): one course day of seven hours
- after 3 years permanent licence, once you’ve attended the WAB
Further training (WAB)
Within 12 months of getting your probationary licence, you attend the further training course: one day in a group, generally in your own car. You can find a course at the Eventcenter Seelisberg, for example; please check with them which languages their courses are held in.
If you miss the 12 months, you can be fined up to CHF 300 – unless you can show you were unable to attend, for example because your licence had been withdrawn. Without the WAB, your licence doesn’t become permanent at the end of the probation period and you may no longer drive; you can still catch up on the course with a permit valid only for the course day, which costs a fee in Lucerne. In my experience, you usually get a reminder beforehand – but don’t rely on it.
Sources (in German): Lucerne office: practical testVSZ: practical testVSZ: provisional licenceRoad Traffic Act (SVG)VSZ: probationary licenceLucerne office: probationary licenceLucerne office: admissionVZV
Probation: what counts and what doesn’t
 built-up areas |  outside built-up areas |  motorway | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed fine | up to 15 km/h | up to 20 km/h | up to 25 km/h |
| Warning (minor) | 16–20 km/h | 21–25 km/h | 26–30 km/h |
| Withdrawal, 1 month or more (medium) | 21–24 km/h | 26–29 km/h | 31–34 km/h |
| Withdrawal, 3 months or more (serious) | from 25 km/h | from 30 km/h | from 35 km/h |
Guide values of the Federal Supreme Court: kilometres per hour over the speed limit, after the measuring tolerance is deducted. The office decides case by case – if you put others at risk or have had a measure before, expect more.
What it means for your probation
- Probation unchanged A fixed fine, or a warning for a minor offence.
- One more year Your first withdrawal for a medium or serious offence.
- Licence lapses A second such offence during probation: a new provisional licence at the earliest a year later, and only with a positive traffic-psychology assessment. Then you start again from scratch.
Sources (in German): Road Traffic Act (SVG)VZVFixed Penalties OrdinanceCanton of Zurich: speeding
How we prepare for the test
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Lessons with a plan
After every lesson, your training card – a Google Sheet on your phone – shows which skills are solid and what’s still missing.
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Practising test situations
We work on what the test asks for: roundabouts, lane changes, the motorway, manoeuvres in reverse.
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Mock test
90 minutes for CHF 195: for about 70 minutes, I assess your driving against the test criteria; then we spend about 20 minutes on my written assessment. If you drive very confidently, we drive longer. Once it shows you’re ready, I register you.
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Test day
We prepare in the GR86, then you drive with the examiner. It’s billed as one double lesson – no flat fee.
Theory, test and lessons in English
My lessons can be entirely in English. In Nidwalden and Obwalden, the basic theory test for categories A, A1 and B is also available in English, while Lucerne offers it in German, French and Italian only. If you live in the canton of Lucerne and want to take the theory test in English, you can apply to take it in another canton without further proof – Nidwalden and Obwalden are among those listed.
| Lucerne | Nidwalden · Obwalden | |
|---|---|---|
| Lessons with me | German or English | German or English |
| Theory test | German, French, Italian | also English (basic theory, A, A1, B) |
| Practical test – my experience | generally German; some examiners also speak English | generally German; some examiners also speak English |
In my experience, the practical test is generally held in German. Some examiners also speak English, but you can’t rely on it. You should understand the most common German words: vorwärts (forwards), rückwärts (backwards), geradeaus (straight on), rechts (right), links (left) and «Richtung …» (towards …) or «dem Wegweiser … folgen» (follow the signs to …). There have also been tests with candidates who understood no German at all – the examiner then worked with hand signals. We practise these words in your lessons.
Sources (in German): Lucerne office: theory testVSZ: theory testLucerne office: test in another canton
Meeting point near Lucerne station
All lessons start at Sempacherstrasse 14, a few minutes’ walk from Lucerne station – directly reachable by Zentralbahn from Nidwalden and Obwalden, and a short trip by S-Bahn or bus from Horw and Kriens. Lessons run from Sunday to Friday, 10am to 10pm.
Lucerne station
about a 5-minute walk
Prices
Preparation is charged at my standard lesson prices – no admin fee, no insurance surcharge.
- Single lesson 45 min CHF 95
- Double lesson 90 min CHF 180 CHF 90 per lesson
- 5-lesson pack 5 × 45 min CHF 445 CHF 89 per lesson
- 10-lesson pack 10 × 45 min CHF 870 CHF 87 per lesson
- 20-lesson pack 20 × 45 min CHF 1,680 CHF 84 per lesson
- Mock test 90 min: about 70 min mock-test drive, about 20 min debrief · or two lessons from your pack CHF 195
Test day: one double lesson (CHF 180) or two lessons from your pack, including my car, preparation and waiting time – no flat fee, in Nidwalden and Obwalden too. If you cancel a booked test date less than 5 working days before or don’t turn up, the reserved lessons are charged at the single-lesson price (terms and conditions, section 12, in German).
All prices are in Swiss francs, with nothing added on top; driving lessons are exempt from VAT. One lesson lasts 45 minutes. Trial and single lessons are paid right after the lesson by TWINT (the Swiss payment app) or in cash, or by bank transfer within 10 days if we’ve agreed on that. Packs are paid in advance, before their first lesson. Packs have no expiry date and can be transferred to someone else. If you don’t use up a pack, I refund the rest on request, with the lessons you’ve taken charged at the single-lesson price. If you pass your practical driving test or a control drive with me before a pack is used up, or if I can no longer teach, I refund the remaining lessons at the pack price. Details are in my terms and conditions (sections 5.3 to 5.5, in German).
What a student says
So far the only review in English – from a student who prepared for a control drive with me.
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5 out of 5 stars
Great classes! He has a lot of patience and flexibility with his time . I could pass my Kontrollfahrt.
Frequently asked questions about the driving test
What does test day cost with you?
One double lesson: CHF 180, or two lessons from your pack. There’s no flat fee – not in Nidwalden and Obwalden either, and not for a retake. On top of that comes the office’s fee, which you pay directly: CHF 130 in Lucerne, CHF 150 at the VSZ.
How long does the practical test take?
Federal law requires at least 60 minutes including the welcome and goodbye, with at least 45 in public traffic. In my experience, you drive for about 50 minutes in Lucerne and about 60 in Nidwalden and Obwalden. With the welcome and goodbye, the appointment takes a little longer.
How soon can I get a test date?
The Lucerne office says it’s usually three to four weeks between registration and the test. In my experience, a date is sometimes free after just one week; in summer you may wait up to four weeks. In Nidwalden and Obwalden, there’s sometimes a date within a week, too; especially in summer it takes longer there, as the VSZ is much smaller than the Lucerne office and has fewer test dates.
What happens if I fail?
You can retake the test. After failing twice, you need a driving instructor to confirm that your training is complete; after three fails, an assessment that confirms your fitness to drive (Art. 23 VZV). On retake day, I charge one double lesson again.
Do I need to take a course after passing?
Yes, the further training course (WAB): one day within 12 months of getting your probationary licence (Art. 27c VZV). Without it, you don’t get a permanent licence.
Can I take the tests in English?
The theory test is offered in German, French and Italian only in Lucerne; in Nidwalden and Obwalden, the basic theory test is also available in English. In my experience, the practical test is generally held in German; we practise the German words you need in your lessons.
Sources (in German): Lucerne office: feesVSZ: fees (PDF)VZVLucerne office: practical testLucerne office: admissionVSZ: practical testLucerne office: probationary licenceLucerne office: theory testVSZ: theory test
All sources accessed between 27 September 2026 and 1 October 2026. The offices’ current information always takes precedence.
Ready for your test?
Send me a WhatsApp message with where you stand and when you’d like to take the test. I’ll get back to you with a suggestion for your next lesson.