How to Get a Category AM Driving Licence in the United Kingdom?

Getting the full AM license in the UK does something genuinely valuable that riding on CBT alone doesn’t: it removes the two-year expiry clock permanently and lets you carry a pillion passenger. This piece covers what AM authorizes at 16, the exact 2026 costs, and a nuance about grandfather rights worth checking if you already hold an older car license.

What category does AM cover?

AM authorizes two-wheeled mopeds with a maximum design speed between 25 and 45 km/h (28 mph), engines limited to 50 cc for petrol or 4 kW for electric motors, as well as light quadricycles weighing under 350 kg, all with the same speed limit.

Minimum age

You need to be 16 to hold an AM, one year younger than the 17 required for an A1. You can apply for your provisional license up to three months before your 16th birthday.

CBT versus the full AM license

This is genuinely worth understanding before you start. A CBT certificate alone lets you ride a moped with L-plates for two years, after which you must either retake CBT or progress to a full license. Getting the full AM license removes that two-year clock entirely. Once you hold it, there’s no expiry to worry about, and you’re also permitted to carry a pillion passenger if the moped is equipped for it, which CBT alone doesn’t allow.

The application process

You apply for your provisional license online for £34, and it typically arrives within about a week. Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) follows a one-day course at a DVSA-approved training center, resulting in a DL196 certificate once your instructor confirms you’ve reached a satisfactory standard. You must pass the motorcycle theory test before booking either practical module, even if you already hold a full car license; there’s no exemption from this separate test.

The theory test

The theory test consists of 50 multiple-choice questions from the DVSA question bank, and you need at least 43 correct answers to pass. It costs £23, and your pass certificate is valid for two years.

The practical test

The practical test follows the standard two-module structure used across motorcycle categories and is conducted on a moped appropriate for AM. Once you pass Module 2, your results are sent directly to the DVLA, and your AM license is issued automatically at no extra cost.

What does it cost overall?

Beyond the £34 provisional license and £23 theory test, CBT commonly costs £120–250, depending on the provider and location. All told, a complete AM license process typically runs somewhere in the region of £150–300, excluding any additional practical lessons you might want beyond CBT itself.

Grandfather rights for older car license holders

If you passed your car test some years ago, you may already have grandfather rights allowing you to ride a 50cc moped without L-plates and without a CBT. Check the back of your photocard license to see which entitlements are listed. If AM appears but isn’t active, completing CBT activates it permanently, tying it to your car license’s validity rather than expiring every two years.

Light quadricycles: AM covers more than just mopeds

Since 19 January 2013, full AM license holders can also drive light quadricycles (microcars) under 350 kg, with the same 28 mph speed limit, a genuinely useful extra entitlement. Provisional or CBT-only moped riders can’t drive these quadricycles, though; only a full AM license carries that right.

Automatic transmission

Testing on an automatic-transmission moped restricts your resulting license to automatic machines only, marked with code 78.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland runs the same core AM structure, administered regionally, with equivalent categories P and Q retained for those who held them before AM’s introduction.

Where AM sits in the UK’s motorcycle system

Above AM, the UK runs A1 from 17 (up to 125cc/11kW), A2 from 19 (up to 35kW), and full Category A from 24 direct, or 21 with two years’ A2 experience.

Validity

Once issued, a full AM license doesn’t expire or require retesting.

Tips that actually help

• Check whether you already have grandfathered rights from an older car license before assuming you need to go through the full process from scratch.
• Complete your full AM license rather than relying indefinitely on CBT renewals, since the full license removes the expiry clock permanently.
• Remember, only the full AM license, not a CBT alone, lets you ride a light quadricycle.
• Book your theory test before booking practical training, since a valid pass is needed for either practical module.

Where does this fit going forward?

AM in the UK offers genuine long-term value once you complete the full process, removing the hassle of repeated CBT renewals. 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 the United Kingdom 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. Always confirm current requirements with the official UK sources before making decisions: the DVSA/GOV.UK. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.