How to Get a Category AM Driving Licence in Denmark?

Denmark’s actual EU Category AM license, what Danes call “stor knallert” (big moped, 45 km/h), requires you to be 18, not 16 as in most of the EU. A separate, purely Danish “lille knallert” (small moped, 30 km/h) license exists for 15-year-olds, but it isn’t the EU AM category. This piece explains both systems clearly.

Denmark runs two separate moped systems.

This is genuinely important to understand before anything else. Denmark distinguishes between “lille knallert” (small moped, capped at 30 km/h) and “stor knallert” (big moped, capped at 45 km/h). Only the stor knallert corresponds to the EU’s Category AM. Lille knallert uses a separate, Denmark-specific category called LK, which follows bicycle-path rules rather than road rules.

What Category AM (stor knallert) covers

Denmark’s actual AM license authorizeslicense authorizes one-, two-,, or three-wheeled vehicles capable of speeds up to 45 km/h. A stor knallert must be registered and have a number plate, and it follows the same traffic rules as cars and motorcycles, unlike the bicycle-path rules that apply to lille knallert.

Minimum age for AM (stor knallert)

You need to be 18 to hold Denmark’s genuine AM license for a stor knallert, which is 2 years above the EU baseline used by most countries. Training can begin from 17 years and 9 months, through approved driving schools nationwide.

Minimum age for the separate lille knallert (LK) category

The Denmark-specific lille knallert license can be obtained from age 15, with training starting at 14 years and 6 months through municipal youth schools (ungdomsskoler). This is a genuinely different system from AM, capped at 30 km/h.

Training for AM (stor knallert)

Training for the actual AM license is conducted by certified driving instructors and requires at least 22 theory lessons and at least 12 driving lessons, each lasting 45 minutes. This training closely resembles motorcycle instruction in both structure and content.

Training for lille knallert (LK)

Training for lille knallert, arranged through your local municipality’s youth school, comprises 30 lessons of 45 minutes each, covering theory, closed-track riding and traffic riding. The whole process typically takes between 2 weeks and 6 months. You must also complete a dedicated 8-hour traffic-related first-aid course (4 hours traffic first aid, 4 hours basic resuscitation) before sitting the practical test.

The exam

Both license types end with a theory exam and a practical driving exam, organized by the relevant authority; the police handle the stor knallert exams. In contrast, Lille Knallert exams are arranged locally through your municipality.

The theory exam content

Theory covers traffic rules, road safety, weather and visibility conditions, handling the knallert’s controls, and basic first-aid principles related to motorized two-wheelers.

The 2013 rule change

Rules in their current form took effect on 19 January 2013. Before then, anyone over 18 could ride a knallert without any license at all. The reform introduced the requirement for a specific license and increased minimum theory training from 24 to 30 hours for a lille knallert.

What it costs

The driving exam and license issuance fee for a stor knallert (Category AM) is 550 kr. Course fees for driving lessons are separate and vary by driving school.

If you already hold a car or motorcycle license

If you’re 18 or older and already hold a car (Category B) or motorcycle license, you don’t need a separate knallert license for either lille or stor knallert; your existing license already covers you.

Documents you’ll need

• Valid photo identification, such as a passport
• A passport-style photo meeting specific requirements (35x45mm, head 30–36mm, plain light background)
• Parental or guardian consent, if you’re a minor applying for a Lille Knallert
• Proof of usual residence in Denmark (assessed by your local Borgerservice)

Automatic transmission

Many knallerts, particularly scooters, are automatic-transmission by design, so this generally isn’t a separate licensing restriction.

Temporary license and collection

Once you pass your exam, you receive a temporary paper license, valid for driving across the Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland) until your permanent plastic card arrives, typically within about 4 weeks. You choose whether to collect it from Borgerservice or have it posted.

Validity

A Danish knallert license is valid for 15 years from the date of issue, after which it needs to be renewed through Borgerservice, typically just a fee and an application, without a new test or training.

Possible future changes

There’s ongoing political discussion in Denmark about lowering the stor knallert age from 18 to 17, though, as of this writing, no change has been implemented; the current rules remain in effect.

Tips that actually help

• Be clear on which knallert type you actually want, since lille and stor knallert are genuinely separate systems with different ages and rules.
• If you’re aiming for stor knallert (actual AM), remember the age is 18, not 16.
• Complete the mandatory first-aid course early if you’re going for a lille knallert, since it’s required before your practical test.
• If you already hold a car or motorcycle license at 18+, check whether you even need a separate knallert license.

Where does this fit going forward?

Denmark’s AM system genuinely differs from most of the EU in both structure and age. 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 Denmark 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 possible age reforms are under political discussion in Denmark. Always confirm current requirements with official Danish sources before making decisions, such as Færdselsstyrelsen (Danish Road Traffic Authority). FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.