In general, people with active epilepsy are not considered fit to drive. The prerequisites for a person with epilepsy being issued or re-issued with a licence to drive a motor vehicle are periodic specialist neurological tests tailored to the individual situation and a test of fitness to drive.

A licence to drive a motor vehicle can usually only be issued or re-issued after the person has remained seizure free for a year (with or without anti-epileptic medication).

There are certain circumstances under which this time limit can be shortened or extended.

The rules that apply to driving trucks or the carriage of passengers for hire or reward are stricter: After a diagnosis of epilepsy, drivers can only hold a Swiss category C or D1 driving licence if they have been seizure free for five years without medication.

The guidelines were last updated in November 2019.

Last update of this page: December 2021.