How to Get a Category AM Driving Licence in Italy?

Italy’s AM license, still widely called the patentino, is available from just 14. However, it’s officially recognized for EU-wide moped riding only from age 16, unless the specific country you’re visiting separately honors Italy’s lower minimum age. This piece covers what AM authorizes, the exact 2026 official fees, and the exam structure.

What category does AM cover?

AM authorises ciclomotori  two-wheeled (L1e) or three-wheeled (L2e) mopeds with a maximum speed of 45 km/h, engine displacement up to 50cc or power up to 4 kW  and quadricicli leggeri (light quadricycles, L6e: microcars and quads), with unladen mass up to 425 kg, the same 45 km/h speed cap, engine displacement up to 50cc for petrol or 500cc for diesel, and power up to 4 kW for open-bodied quads or 6 kW for closed-bodied microcars, with a maximum of two seats including the driver.

Minimum age

You need to be 14 to hold an AM. You can carry a passenger only from 16, and only on a vehicle homologated for two people.

AM’s EU recognition kicks in at 16

This is genuinely important if you’re planning to ride abroad. While Italy issues AM from 14, the license is officially recognized across the EU for riding mopeds and light quadricycles only from age 16, unless the specific country you’re in separately honors Italy’s younger domestic minimum.

Documents you’ll need

• A valid identity document (candidate, plus a parent or guardian if you’re a minor)
• Proof of psychophysical fitness from an authorized doctor, dated no more than three months before application if from a single physician, or six months if from a medical commission.
• The application form (modello TT2112), specifying which vehicle type you’ll test on (two-wheeled ciclomotore, three-wheeled ciclomotore, or light quadricycle) and its gearbox type

What it costs

Official Motorizzazione fees are fixed nationally: the theory exam (tariff N067) costs €26.40 in diritti plus €16.00 in bolli, and the practical exam (tariff N019) costs €16.00. The medical examination costs €30–80 depending on the provider. Taking the “privatista” route, self-study without a driving school keeps total costs around €100, covering just these official fees and stamps. Going through a private driving school with practice lessons typically costs around €250 in total.

The theory exam

The theory exam is a computerized true/false quiz with 30 questions, to be completed within 25 minutes, allowing a maximum of 3 errors; a 4th error results in failure.

The practical exam

The practical exam is conducted on a ciclomotor homologated to carry a passenger, since your instructor rides along (instructors must be under 65). The exam has two phases: a closed-area component assessing vehicle control and a real-traffic component, each capped at 25 minutes. You must pass the first phase before moving to the second.

Attempts and timelines

From the date you submit your application, you have two attempts within six months for the theory exam. Once you pass theory, you receive a foglio rosa (learner permit), valid for 12 months for permits issued from 10 November 2021 onward, giving you up to three attempts at the practical exam within that window.

Practicing without an instructor physically present

Since November 2021, candidates for AM and similar categories can practice riding ciclomotori and light motor vehicles without an instructor physically alongside, specifically when the vehicle’s design doesn’t allow for a passenger, a genuinely useful flexibility for solo-configuration mopeds.

Automatic transmission

The gearbox type (manual or automatic) you specify at booking determines what you’re tested and licensed on; testing on an automatic restricts your resulting license to automatic-transmission vehicles.

Upgrading to A1, A2 or full Category A

Moving from AM to A1 (16, up to 125cc/11kW) requires both a new theory and a practical exam. From A1 to A2, and from A2 to full Category A, you only need a practical exam or, since 2022, a 7-hour certified training course (3 hours closed-track, 4 hours real traffic) instead of a full retest, provided you’ve held the lower Category for at least two years. Direct entry to full Category A is available from age 24, with both theory and practical exams on a machine of at least 600 cc and 50kW.

2026 digital tracking update

From 2026, driving hours for motorcycle categories will be tracked digitally via a platform connected directly to the Motorizzazione, which is particularly relevant for the A1→A2→A progression route.

Validity

AM, alongside A1, A2, A, B1, B, and BE, is valid for 10 years, reducing to 5 years after age 50, 3 years after age 70, and 2 years after age 80.

Tips that actually help

• Decide upfront which vehicle type and gearbox you’ll test on, since this is fixed at booking time.
• Consider the privatista route if you’re comfortable self-studying, since it’s meaningfully cheaper than going through a driving school.
• Keep track of your foglio rosa’s 12-month validity window and three-attempt limit for the practical exam.
• Remember your AM license’s EU-wide recognition for riding only kicks in at 16, even though Italy issues it from 14.

Where does this fit going forward?

AM in Italy is genuinely accessible from a young age, with a clear fee structure and exam process. 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 Italy 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. Digital tracking of driving hours took effect in 2026. Always confirm current requirements with official Italian sources before making decisions, such as the Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.