Getting your AM licence is the most straightforward way to start riding in the UK. Whether you’re 16 and after some independence, or an adult who wants to skip the traffic on a 50cc commuter, the AM motorbike licence gets you there without breaking the bank.
With total costs usually under £400 and a full licence card that arrives within a week of passing, there’s no reason to sit on it. Get your gear sorted first at Maximo Moto— helmet, jacket, gloves, all meeting UK safety standards — then work through the steps one at a time. Take it seriously and you’ll be rolling in no time.
When you’re ready to move up to bigger bikes, check out the full motorcycle licences UK guide for new riders to see what comes next.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the AM licence — what it covers, how to get it, what you can ride, and what happens if you already hold a full car licence.
What Does AM Mean on a Driving Licence?
If you’ve looked at the back of your pink photocard and spotted the letters “AM”, you’re not the only one who’s had to do a double take. That small code carries a lot of weight. It’s what stands between you and your first taste of two-wheeled freedom on UK roads.
What Is Category AM on a Driving Licence?
The driving licence category AM covers light, low-powered two-wheelers and small quadricycles. It’s the entry point for anyone who wants to ride legally in the UK before stepping up to bigger machines.
When people ask “what is AM on driving licence?”, the short answer is this: it’s your legal permission to ride a moped. More specifically, the AM driving licence entitles you to ride:
• Two-wheeled mopeds with a maximum design speed between 25 km/h and 45 km/h (28 mph)
• Engines limited to 50cc for petrol-powered bikes or 4kW for electric motors
• Light quadricycles weighing under 350kg, subject to the same speed limit
The driving licence code AM sits on the back of your photocard under the entitlements section. If you see it there, you’re cleared to ride within those limits. If you don’t have it yet, this guide will show you how to get it.
AM Licence — Quick Summary
| Feature | Details | Estimated Cost (2026) |
| Minimum Age | 16 years old | — |
| Provisional Licence | Required before training | £34 (online) / £43 (post) |
| CBT Course | Compulsory basic training | £130 – £190 |
| Theory Test | Hazard perception & multiple choice | £23 |
| Practical Test (Mod 1) | Off-road manoeuvres | £15.50 |
| Practical Test (Mod 2) | On-road riding assessment | £75 (weekday) / £88.50 (weekend) |
| Vehicle Limit | 50cc / 28 mph max | — |
| Total Estimated Cost | Full AM entitlement | £275 – £400+ |
*Important Note: All costs are approximate. Please check the latest prices and fees before proceeding.
What Bike Can I Ride at 16? Moped Age UK Explained
This is one of the most common questions from new riders. At 16, you are legally limited to AM category bikes. You cannot ride a 125cc motorcycle until you are 17, no matter how many courses you’ve done.
To get on the road at 16, you need a provisional moped licence. Once that’s sorted, you do your CBT and you’re good to go, within the AM restrictions. You’ll need L-plates front and rear, and you’ll be capped at 28 mph.
It’s worth knowing the difference between riding on a CBT and holding a full moped licence. A CBT alone lets you ride for two years. After that, you either take your full tests or redo the CBT. Getting the full AM licence removes that two-year clock for good.
How to Get Your AM Motorbike Licence: Step by Step
Getting your AM bike licence involves four steps. None of them are particularly complicated, but they do need to happen in the right order.
Step 1 — Apply for Your Provisional Licence
You can apply for your provisional through the DVLA up to three months before your 16th birthday. Do it online and it costs £34. The card usually arrives within five working days, and in 2026 the DVLA’s digital-first processing has made that even more reliable.
Step 2 — Complete Your CBT
CBT meaning bike training, your Compulsory Basic Training, is a single day course. You’ll cover basic controls, safety checks, and get some supervised time on the road. Pass it and you receive a DL196 certificate, which lets you ride on public roads with L-plates for two years.
Cost sits between £130 and £190 depending on where you are in the country. London and other major cities tend to be at the higher end.
Step 3 — Pass the Theory Test
To get your full moped licence, you need to pass the motorcycle theory test. It covers hazard perception and multiple choice questions. It costs £23 and you get your result the same day at the test centre. You can practice motorcycle license theory tests here.
Step 4 — Take the Moped Exam (Module 1 and Module 2)
The practical side is split into two parts.
- Module 1 is off-road. You’ll do slaloms, figure-of-eights, and an emergency stop. It costs £15.50.
- Module 2 is on-road. A 40-minute ride with an examiner following behind in a car. It costs £75 on a weekday or £88.50 at the weekend.
Once you pass both, the examiner sends your results straight to the DVLA. Your full AM driving licence card arrives within seven to ten days. Book your Module 1 and Module 2 slots as soon as you pass your theory. Waiting times in busy areas can stretch to four to eight weeks.
Driving a Moped on a Car Licence
A lot of car drivers want to know whether they can ride a moped without taking a separate test. The answer depends on when you passed your car test.
Passed Before 1 February 2001
You likely have grandfather rights. This means you can ride a 50cc moped without L-plates and without a CBT. Check the back of your licence to confirm what entitlements are listed.
Passed After 1 February 2001
You still have the AM category on your licence, but it isn’t active. You need to complete a CBT first. Once you do, the AM motorcycle licence becomes valid, and here’s the good part ; it stays valid for as long as your car licence does. It doesn’t expire every two years like a standard learner CBT certificate.
So if you’re using a full car licence to ride a moped, completing your CBT is a smart move. You won’t need to repeat it unless your full car licence expires.
AM on Driving Licence 122: What Does That Code Mean?
If you look at the back of your UK photocard and see “AM 122”, that number tells you something important. The code 122 means your AM entitlement is provisional. It only becomes active once you’ve completed your CBT.
Once you’ve done the CBT, the 122 restriction is satisfied. You can then ride a 50cc moped on public roads with L-plates, for as long as the licence itself is valid.
If you’ve already passed your Module 1 and Module 2 and hold a full moped licence, the 122 code no longer applies. Your AM entitlement is fully active with no CBT requirement attached to it.
AM Licence Bikes: What About Scooters and Quad Bikes?
The AM category covers more than just traditional mopeds. Here’s how it applies to other vehicles.
Scooter Licence
If the scooter is 50cc or electric up to 4kW, it falls squarely under the AM motorcycle licence. Anything 125cc or above moves into A1 licence territory. The rules for a scooter licence are identical to those for a moped; the engine size is what counts, not the style of the bike.
What Licence Do You Need for a Quad Bike?
A light quadricycle that weighs under 350kg and is limited to 28 mph is covered by the AM licence. But most road-legal quad bikes are heavier and faster than that, which means they fall under category B (car licence) or B1 instead.
So if you’re asking “what licence do I need for a quad bike?”, the answer for most standard road quads is a full car licence, not a motorbike licence. Can you ride a quad with a car licence? In most cases, yes — but always check the specs of the specific quad against the legal categories before you ride.
AM and A on Driving Licence: UK Motorcycle Licence Categories
The UK motorcycle licence system has several tiers, and the AM sits at the bottom of that ladder. Here’s a quick overview so you can see how it fits into the bigger picture.
| Category | What It Covers | Min. Age |
| AM | Mopeds up to 50cc or 4kW, max 28 mph | 16 |
| A1 | Motorcycles up to 125cc and 11kW | 17 |
| A2 | Motorcycles up to 35kW | 19 |
| A | Full licence, any motorcycle size | 24 |
When people ask “what is A and AM on driving licence?”, they’re essentially asking about the full progression. AM is where most riders begin, and each step up opens the door to bigger, more powerful machines.
FAQs
What Motorbike Can I Ride on a CBT?
If you’re 16, you’re limited to a 50cc moped doing no more than 28 mph. At 17 or older, a CBT lets you ride a 125cc bike up to 11kW, but L-plates are still required throughout.
Do You Need a License for a Moped on Private Land?
Not legally, no. If you’re on strictly private land with the owner’s permission, no moped licence is required. But any land that’s accessible to the public, car parks, estate roads, shared driveways, counts as a public road, and you’ll need a valid licence.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Ride a Moped?
The minimum moped age in the UK is 16. You can move up to 125cc bikes at 17, A2 category at 19, and the full A licence at 24, or 21 if you go down the direct access route.
Do You Need a Licence for a Scooter?
Yes. If the scooter is 50cc, you need at minimum a CBT certificate under the AM category. If it’s 125cc, you need an A1 licence or a valid CBT at age 17 or over. There’s no separate scooter licence, the standard motorcycle licence categories cover it all.
Can You Ride a Quad with a Car Licence?
For most road-legal quad bikes, a full car licence covers you under the B1 category. Very light quads under 350kg fall under AM instead. Always check the specific vehicle’s weight and speed rating before assuming.
Do You Pay for a New Licence Card After Passing?
No. When you pass your Module 2, the examiner sends your results directly to the DVLA and your new AM motorcycle licence is issued at no extra cost. You only pay if you want to update your photo or change your address at the same time.
