How to Get a Category AM Driving Licence in Germany?

Germany runs a genuine two-tier system below the car license: the Mofa-Prüfbescheinigung, a simple proficiency certificate for 25 km/h mopeds that isn’t a real driving license, and the actual Class AM license for the full 45 km/h category. This piece explains both clearly, since confusing them is a common and costly mistake.

Two separate systems: MOFA versus Class AM

This distinction genuinely matters. A Mofa (motorized bicycle) is capped at 25 km/h and 50 cc and only requires a Mofa-Prüfbescheinigung, a certificate of proficiency, not a formal driving license category. A moped or scooter capable of up to 45 km/h requires a Class AM license; the MoFA certificate alone doesn’t suffice, even if the vehicle is limited (gedrosselt) to 25 km/h.

What Class AM covers

AM authorizes two-wheeled light motorcycles (Kleinkräfteräder, including those with a sidecar) up to 45 km/h with an engine up to 50cc or an electric motor up to 4 kW, three-wheeled light motorcycles with the same limits, and four-wheeled light vehicles (Leichtkraftfahrzeuge, microcars) up to 425 kg unladen weight (excluding the traction battery for electric versions) and the same 45 km/h limit.

Minimum age

You can hold Class AM from 15 in Germany. Training can begin six months earlier, from 14 and a half. Note that while your AM license is valid in Germany from 15, it’s generally only usable abroad from 16, since that’s the EU-wide minimum most other member states apply.

Minimum age for the MOFA certificate

The Mofa-Prüfbescheinigung can also be obtained from 15, with training starting from 14.

Training for Class AM

AM training splits into theory and practical components. Theory covers 14 double lessons, each 90 minutes long, 12 covering longer material and 2 covering supplementary content. Practical training includes a mandatory slalom course among other maneuvering exercises, preparing you for the road user world for the MOFA certificate

Mofa training is considerably lighter: 6 double-lessons of theory (90 minutes each, groups capped at 20 participants), plus 1–2 double-lessons of practical instruction. No first-aid course is required for either the MOFA certificate or Class AM.

The exam

For the Mofa certificate, only a theory exam is required: 20 questions, taken on a computer or tablet, with results available immediately. Class AM requires both a theory exam and a practical driving test, similar in structure to the car license process but scaled to the category.

What it costs

Mofa certificate packages, including theory and practical instruction, exam preparation materials, the €15 exam fee, and the €8 certificate fee, typically cost €300–400. Class AM, involving more theory hours and a full practical exam, generally costs more; get quotes from a few local driving schools, since pricing varies by region and provider.

Automatic entitlement from other licenses

Holding Category A, A1, A2, or B automatically grants you the right to ride both Mofa and Class AM vehicles; no separate application is needed for either. If you held a Category B license before 19 January 2013, you automatically have Mofa riding rights without needing the separate proficiency certificate.

Who’s exempt entirely

Anyone born before 1 April 1965 doesn’t need a MOFA certificate at all; a personal ID document proving your birth date is sufficient, since MOFA certification wasn’t introduced until 1 April 1980, and this grandfather clause covers those who were already 15 by that point.

Automatic transmission

Mofas, scooters and microcars are commonly automatic-transmission, so this generally isn’t a separate licensing restriction for AM or the Mofa certificate.

An alternative: Class A1 or the B196 extension

If you’re aiming for a scooter or light motorcycle and are already 16, Class A1 (up to 125cc/11kW) also includes AM and Mofa riding rights and opens up a considerably wider range of machines. Category B holders can alternatively pursue the B196 extension, which adds rights to ride certain mopeds and light motorcycles without a full separate AM or A1 application.

Documents you’ll need

• Valid identity documents
• A biometric passport photo
• Parental consent, if you’re under 18
• Proof of completed training from your driving school

The history behind Class AM

Since January 2014, Class AM combines what were previously two separate German categories: the old Class S (for quad bikes) and Class M (for scooters and mopeds). These can no longer be obtained separately. Class AM covers both vehicle types under one license.

Validity

Once issued, both the Mofa certificate and Class AM license remain valid indefinitely in Germany, without periodic renewal.

Tips that actually help

• Be clear about whether you need the MoFA certificate or the actual AM license; they cover different speed classes and require very different training.
• Remember, your German AM license may not be valid abroad until you turn 16, even though Germany issues it at 15.
• Check whether you already hold another license category before enrolling, as A, A1, A2, and B all automatically include AM.
• If you’re 16 or older, compare Class A1 against AM, since A1 opens up considerably more powerful machines for similar effort.

Where does this fit going forward?

Germany’s AM system is genuinely more nuanced than most, thanks to the parallel Mofa certificate track. 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 Germany 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 driving school and region in Germany. Always confirm current requirements with the official German source, the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), before making decisions. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.