Driving in the US on a Swiss Licence — Same Side, but Carry the IDP

Swiss drivers slot into American roads with little friction. You already drive on the right, you’re used to disciplined motorway lanes, and the mirror-image reflexes that trouble British or Japanese visitors never come into play. The two things to plan are the licence document and the slower pace.

No side switch — the easy part

Switzerland and the US both keep to the right, so there’s no day-one survival exercise. The car sits where you expect, roundabouts turn the right way, and overtaking works on instinct. The one habit to add is the right turn on a red light, legal in most states once you’ve come to a full stop — straightforward, but worth doing deliberately the first few times so the driver behind isn’t left waiting.

Bring the permit for the rental desk

The Swiss licence is a clear, modern card, but it isn’t a plain English document, and American rental counters and police are easiest dealt with when you can hand over an International Driving Permit alongside it — the recognised translation. Arrange it in Switzerland before departure; it can’t be issued once you’ve arrived. Keep the IDP with the original licence and your passport, and you’ve covered the paperwork. For the precise rule in the state you’re visiting, see the US driving guide and the Driving Permit Checker.

Slower interstates, signs in mph

The pace is the real adjustment. Swiss motorways run to 120 km/h; US interstates top out around 65–75 mph (104–120 km/h), and the signs are in miles per hour — so 25 means 25 mph (40 km/h) in town, not a low number to ignore. Limits vary by state and county, radar is widespread, and a ticket usually costs USD 50–200, which the Speeding Fine Calculator will estimate. The drink-drive limit is 0.08 in most states, looser than the Swiss 0.05, but US DUI enforcement means arrest, so keep alcohol out of any drive. Petrol is roughly $0.95/litre and the emergency number is 911.