Driving ban and driving license revocation (withdrawal of driving license) have different meanings:

A driving ban of between one and three months may be considered as a penalty if the revocation of the driver's license does not appear to be absolutely necessary (Section 44 of the Criminal Code). The driving ban becomes effective when the driver's license has been deposited in or sent to the office that issued it. At the end of the driving ban imposed by the court, the police or an administrative authority, the driver's license is automatically returned or sent back.

Upon revocation of the driver 's license (by court or administrative authority), the driver's license becomes invalid. The driver's license must be reapplied for. In this application, the driving license authority must fully examine the suitability for driving a motor vehicle. The examination must cover physical and mental fitness. This is necessary in order to exclude a danger to the general public as far as possible. It will therefore also take into account how you have behaved since your driving license was revoked.

In addition, the driving license authority may also take into account criminal offenses which have been erased from the Federal Central Register, but which had to be entered in the Central Traffic Register. The prescribed investigations (information from the central traffic register, inspection of fine and criminal files) take some time. For this reason, it is recommended that you apply to the driving license authority for a new driving license approximately four months before the expiry of the ban period. If you move to another driving license authority in the meantime, the application must be submitted there.

In individual cases, you may have to provide a suitability certificate from a doctor, specialist, public health officer or a medical-psychological certificate. This is required, for example, if you have driven a vehicle in traffic with a blood alcohol concentration of 1.6 per mille or more or have repeatedly driven under the influence of alcohol.

Sf your driving license is revoked during your probationary period, you will be required to attend a refresher course in accordance with § 2 a StVG. If you have participated in road traffic under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances, a special postgraduation seminar is mandatory.

Pursuant to Section 20 (2) of the Driving License Ordinance, the driving license authority shall order a driving license test if facts exist that justify the assumption that the applicant no longer possesses the knowledge and skills required pursuant to Section 16 (1) and Section 17 (1).