How do I get an international drivers license in Switzerland?

Question

Im living in Switzerland. My drivers license is a New Zealand license. I am travelling to the USA in October/November and am planning to do some driving but need an international drivers license for it. Anyone know how i can get one? I live in Luzern.

Thanks!

Answer 1

The "Strassenverkehrsamt" in Luzern can issue a international driver licence.

There is some information on their website: (only in German).

http://www.strassenverkehrsamt.lu.ch/ind...

STRASSENVERKEHRSAMT

DES KANTONS LUZERN

Führerzulassung

Arsenalstrasse 45

6010 Kriens

041 318 18 22

By the way if you plan to live in Switzerland for more than 12 months you have to obtain a Swiss drivers licence anyway.

The Strassenverkehrsamt does that as well. I would do that together with the international license.  

Answer 2

Get information from the local automobile club, or else at any police station.

Answer 3

when living in other countries, i have always been able to get intl drivers licenses at branches of the american automobile association (AAA). these branches have different names depending on what country you are in. for example, here in south africa, i had to go to AA of SA to get mine.

if you have never seen an AA in switzerland, my bet would be that a tourist info centre (one run by the city is best) would have the answer. also, an intl AA location may be found online by contacting AAA on their website...

Answer 4

I am not quite sure, whether you will need an international driver’s license at all. As a German for example, driving as visitor with the European version of the German license, which has an English text version is tolerated in most of the U.S. states, who are responsible for driver's licensing. Usually international licenses are needed to provide an official translation into the language spoken in the country you plan to visit and drive. Since your New Zealand license is in English language, it should not be a problem to be checked by a U.S. police officer. You may inquire at the New Zealand Automobile Association for sure, they will also provide an international driver’s license by post or online, at an additional fee, if required.

http://www.aa.co.nz/motoring/licensingan...

http://www.aa.co.nz/SiteCollectionDocume...

http://www.interdriverlicense.com/unconv...

Answer 5

There is no such thing as an international drivers license.  Contrary to what you may have heard or think, all the web sites and places that promote these things are scams.  There is even an article on the US Federal Trade Commission web site warning about this, as have some state web sites warning consumers about the fraudulent sites that sell these things.  If you get pulled over and are driving with one of these things you will get a ticket for driving without a license.

The AAA permit is something else entirely, but it is NOT an international drivers license. The misinformation that swirls around regarding this subject is staggering.