How to Get a Category AM Driving Licence in Belgium?

In Belgium, a class A moped, the 25 km/h kind, needs no license at all, while a class B moped or scooter up to 45 km/h requires the AM category. This piece covers what the AM authorizes, the actual theory and practical exam requirements, and the automatic entitlement that comes with other Belgian licenses.

What category does AM cover?

AM authorizes mopeds, scooters, and light motor-powered quadricycles with engine capacity up to 50 cc (or rated power up to 4 kW for electric motors) and a maximum speed not exceeding 45 km/h, which Belgium calls class B cyclomoteurs, including speed pedelecs.

Minimum age

You can sit the AM theory exam from 15 years and 9 months. The practical exam requires you to be 16 years old. There’s no provisional license for AM; you can only practice on public roads through an approved driving school before your practical test.

Class A mopeds don’t need an AM at all.

This is genuinely useful to know. Class A cyclomoteurs up to 50cc, capped at 25 km/h, require no license whatsoever, just a minimum age of 16 (or 18 if you want to carry a passenger). AM specifically applies to class B mopeds and scooters, the faster 45 km/h kind.

The theory exam

The AM theory exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, is computer-based with audio read-aloud and a 15-second timer per question, and takes around 25 minutes. You need a minimum score of 33 out of 40 (82%) to pass. This exam is distinct from the one used for A1, A2, A, or B (car) categories.

The practical training and exam

Once you’ve passed theory, you must complete 4 hours of practical training at an approved driving school, including at least 2 hours on public roads, before sitting a single practical test on private test ground.

Automatic entitlement from other licenses

If you hold a full (non-provisional) Category A1, A2, A, or B license, you automatically gain the right to ride AM-category vehicles, though AM won’t appear as a separate listed category on your card. A provisional license doesn’t carry this entitlement; only a full, definitive license does.

Older car licenses and cross-border riding

If you hold a Category B (car) license issued before 1 May 2011, you can ride a cyclomoteur or scooter within Belgium without further training, but this permission is limited to Belgian territory. To ride abroad, you need to exchange your older license at your local commune for a card-format license that explicitly shows the AM category, or obtain AM in the standard way.

Who doesn’t need a license at all

People born before 15 February 1961 don’t need a driving license to ride a moped or a light quadricycle in Belgium.m However, AM won’t appear on their license since it predates the Category’s introduction.

Automatic transmission

AM-category mopeds and scooters are commonly automatic-transmission by design, so this isn’t generally a separate license restriction issue the way it is for higher motorcycle categories.

Speed pedelecs are treated as mopeds too.

Speed pedelecs, electrically assisted bicycles capable of higher speeds than standard e-bikes, with power up to 4,000 W, fall under the AM category’s class B definition in Belgium, not under standard bicycle rules. If you’re riding one capable of assisted speeds up to 45 km/h, AM licensing requirements apply just as they would to a petrol scooter.

Repeated exam failures

If you fail the theory exam twice in a row, you’re required to complete 12 hours of theory classes at an approved driving school before attempting the exam again, a requirement that repeats after every subsequent pair of failures. You can attempt the exam again as early as the next day after a failed attempt, and there’s no overall limit on the number of attempts. A successful theory certificate remains valid for 36 months, within which you need to pass the practical exam, or you’ll need to retake the theory.

What it costs

Exam fees are set regionally and indexed annually; Wallonia and Brussels administer testing through GOCA, while Flanders uses its own examencentra. Beyond exam fees, budget for the mandatory 4 hours of practical training at an approved driving school, plus any protective equipment you don’t already own.

Regional administration

Belgium’s federal structure means the Regions are responsible for organizing AM training and exams. Wallonia and Brussels use the GOCA examination system, while Flanders operates its own examencentra network. The minimum age and core requirements are set federally and apply consistently across all three regions.

Getting your practical exam booked

You can travel to the exam center with your driving school, which will handle transporting the moped, or bring your own moped, though you can’t legally ride it there yourself, since you don’t yet hold a license. Once you pass, you’ll receive proof of success from the exam center, which you then present at your local town hall (hôtel de ville / stadhuis) to have your license issued.

The validity of your theory passes.

Once you pass the AM theory exam, your certificate is valid for a set period during which you must complete your practical training and pass the practical test. Confirm the current validity window with your driving school, as exam validity periods may change.

Tips that actually help

• Check whether you actually need AM at all. If you’re happy with a 25 km/h class A moped, no license is required.
• If you already hold a full A1, A2, A, or B license, you likely don’t need to apply for AM separately.
• If your car license predates 1 May 2011, remember that your moped riding rights don’t extend outside Belgium without exchanging your license.
• Book your 4 hours of mandatory practical training well ahead of your intended practical test date.

Where does this fit going forward?

AM in Belgium is genuinely straightforward once you understand which moped class actually needs it. If your plans extend toward professional driving down the line, take a look at the driver section, browse current vacancies, or see who’s hiring among employers on FastDriver.eu, alongside our broader job guides. Our driving license in Belgium and license eligibility pages provide the broader picture.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Fees, training requirements, and administrative rules can change and may vary by region in Belgium. Always confirm current requirements with the official Belgian sources before making decisions: the SPF Mobilité / FOD Mobiliteit. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.