Quad licence in Switzerland: B1 or F depending on specification

The licence required for a quad depends on its technical specification, not its use. Two special categories coexist.

Light quadricycle: category F, from age 18

A quad whose maximum speed by construction does not exceed 45 km/h falls under special category F, in the same way as other non-agricultural light vehicles in this category. The minimum age for this type of quad is 18.

Heavy quadricycle: category B1, from age 18

A more powerful quad, able to exceed 45 km/h, falls under sub-category B1 (motor quadricycles and tricycles). The minimum age is also 18.

The B1 licence does not include driving a car (category B): the two licences are distinct, even though the minimum age is identical.

Which specification for which licence?

The distinction between the two categories rests on technical criteria (maximum speed, weight, power) defined by the ordinance on technical requirements for road vehicles, not on the type of use (leisure or utility). If there is any doubt about a specific model's specification, the vehicle's certificate of conformity (or cantonal registration) indicates the exact category.