How to Get a Category AM Driving Licence in Romania?

Romania’s AM category is genuinely distinctive in one respect: unlike other license categories, its practical exam doesn’t include a real-traffic route component at all. This piece covers what AM authorizes at 16, the 24-hour theory structure, and a new 2026 registration requirement to know before buying a scooter.

What category does AM cover?

AM authorizes mopeds and scooters with two, three, or four wheels; engine capacity up to 50 cc or power up to 4 kW; unladen mass up to 350 kg; and a maximum design speed between 25 and 45 km/h.

Minimum age

You need to be 16 to hold an AM. Driving school can begin at 15 years and 9 months, with the practical exam available once you turn 16.

No real-traffic test for the practical exam

This is genuinely unusual and worth knowing. Unlike other Romanian license categories, AM’s practical exam doesn’t include a real-traffic route component; your practical assessment is limited to controlled conditions rather than driving through actual city traffic as part of the formal test.

Training structure

Total theoretical training runs 24 hours, split into 14 hours of traffic legislation, 2 hours of category-specific legislation, 4 hours of preventive and ecological driving, 2 hours of first-aid instruction, and 2 hours of moped knowledge and maintenance. Practical training follows, with the whole process typically taking around four weeks from enrolment to a finished license.

What it costs

The official license tax is 89 lei, payable at Poșta Română, BCR branches, or via the online payment portal. Driving school course fees for AM training are separate and vary by provider; confirm current specific pricing directly with your chosen school.

Automatic entitlement from any other license category

If you already hold a license in any of the following categories: B, B1, A, A1, A2, or others, you automatically have the right to ride a 49cc moped on Romanian public roads without any additional procedure. This follows from EU Directive 2006/126/CE, which has been adopted into Romanian law.

The new 2026 registration requirement

From 2026, mopeds and scooters up to 45 km/h operating on Romanian public roads must be registered, either at DRPCIV’s Serviciul de Înmatriculări (Registration Service) or at your local primărie, depending on the exact vehicle type and local interpretation. This applies whether the vehicle is petrol or electric, and confirming which office handles your specific registration is worth doing before you buy.

Documents you’ll need

• A medical certificate from an authorized clinic
• A psychological fitness assessment
• Confirmation of no relevant criminal convictions under Article 24 of OUG 195/2002
• A completed application file with all required paperwork, presented on your exam day

Mandatory helmet and reflective vest

Romania requires both an EU-homologated helmet and a reflective vest for all riders and passengers on public roads, a notably stricter requirement than the helmet-only rule common in many other countries.

The theory exam

The theory exam covers material from your 24-hour training program, traffic legislation, category-specific rules, and safe, environmentally conscious riding practices, and is administered by the licensing authority once your training is complete.

Choosing a driving school

Costs and exact scheduling vary by school, and pass rates are often advertised as very high for AM specifically, given the Category’s relatively contained scope compared to full motorcycle or car licenses. Comparing a few local schools before enrolling is worthwhile.

Automatic transmission

As with other EU-aligned systems, testing on an automatic-transmission moped typically restricts the resulting license to automatic machines only.

The 2024 reform for Category B holders and 125cc scooters

Worth knowing if you’re planning further ahead: Law 118/2024 lets Category B (car) license holders ride automatic-transmission two-wheelers up to 125cc and 11 kW, broadly A1-equivalent, but automatic-only after completing just 10 hours of practical training at an authorized unit, without needing the full A1 license process.

Upgrading to A1, A2 or full Category A

Romania runs a staged motorcycle system above AM: A1 from 16 (up to 125cc/11kW), A2 from 18 (up to 35kW), and full Category A from 24, or earlier with sufficient A2 experience. Each stage requires its own training and exam process.

Validity

Romanian driving licenses, including AM licenses, follow standard administrative validity periods, subject to any applicable renewal requirements.

Tips that actually help

• If you already hold any other license category, you likely don’t need a separate AM application for a 49cc moped.
• Confirm your vehicle’s registration route (DRPCIV or primărie) before buying, given the new 2026 requirement.
• Remember, both a helmet and a reflective vest are mandatory, not just one or the other.
• If you hold Category B and want a 125cc automatic scooter, check whether the 2024 reform’s 10-hour route suits you better than a full A1 course.

Where does this fit going forward?

AM in Romania is genuinely accessible at 16, with a distinctive practical exam structure and a new 2026 registration requirement to factor into your planning. 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 Romania 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 may change; the moped registration requirement described here applies starting in 2026. Always confirm current requirements with official Romanian sources, such as the DRPCIV, before making decisions. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.