AM license in Spain: what you can drive, minimum age, and exam

The AM license is designed for mopeds and light quadricycles and has a minimum age of 15 years. Before enrolling, confirm that this is the category you actually need, because many mistakes start with preparing for a license that does not cover the real vehicle you want to drive.

Beyond age, you must pass the medical check at an authorized center, prepare the relevant theory, and pass the practical part. If the license requires a valid B license or family consent because you are underage, sort that out before paying enrolment so your application is not blocked.

Keep a copy of the requirements that apply to you and review them before booking the exam. It sounds administrative, but it can prevent losing weeks because of an expired certificate, pending authorization, or the wrong category choice.

The main authorization covers two- or three-wheeled mopeds with a maximum speed of 45 km/h, an engine up to 50 cc or 4 kW electric, and light quadricycles up to 425 kg unladen. In practical terms, the license works when the vehicle fits those technical limits, not simply when the commercial name sounds right.

It may also include AM-class vehicles within those limits, always with an approved helmet where required. Always check the vehicle documents, MAM, power, or vehicle type when there is any doubt, because the license applies by category and limits, not by intuition.

When comparing vehicles, look at the technical data and not only at everyday use. Two similar vehicles may require different licenses because of weight, power, seats, trailer, or professional purpose.

The AM license does not cover A1 or A2 motorcycles, B-category cars, motorway or dual-carriageway riding, or carrying a passenger before turning 18. This matters because many license searches mix similar vehicles, trailers, passengers, or professional uses.

If your case is close to the limit, do not improvise: take the vehicle documents to the driving school or check with DGT before driving. Studying that difference also helps in the exam, because questions often use scenarios with weights, seats, power, or road type.

This limit also protects you from penalties and from buying incomplete training. If you know from the start what is outside the license, you can decide whether you need another permit now or whether this one is enough for your immediate goal.

Theory preparation is organized around the AM specific test: 20 multiple-choice questions, 3 options, a maximum of 2 mistakes, and 20 minutes. Study the rule first and then take full tests; that way you do not turn learning into memorising isolated answers without understanding the traffic situation.

The practical part consists of a practical test on a closed circuit, designed to check basic handling, balance, turns, braking, and low-speed control. During lessons, ask for specific corrections: observation, road position, anticipation, braking, use of controls, and safety before each manoeuvre. That list is more useful than only counting how many lessons you have taken.

For theory, work by topic blocks and finish with full mock exams. For practice, ask to rehearse situations that resemble the test: starts, merging, turns, direction changes, stops, manoeuvres, and awareness of the surroundings.

The AM price varies by province and driving school. You usually need to budget for the medical test, fee, management if you use the school, and circuit practice; a general reference for practical lessons is EUR 30-50, but the number of lessons depends on your confidence.

To compare properly, ask for a breakdown: enrolment, materials, administration, fees, medical test, lesson price, real lesson duration, vehicle use for the exam, and renewal or retake costs. The cheapest option at the start may not be cheapest if it hides items or if lessons are shorter.

Also write down what each payment includes and what happens if you fail. Knowing the price of a new fee, another lesson, exam vehicle use, or file renewal lets you estimate the real cost without surprises.

The common mistake is treating AM as if it were only a bicycle with an engine. In reality you must master basic signs, priority at intersections and roundabouts, visibility, lights, road position, and sharing the road with pedestrians and cyclists.

A reasonable plan is to alternate theory, tests, and mistake review from the first week. When you miss a question, write down the exact reason: you did not know the rule, read too fast, confused a sign, or missed the key detail. That review prevents repeated mistakes on the official day.

Before taking the exam, review your latest mistakes and look for patterns. If most come from reading too fast, train calm reading; if they come from one rule, return to the theory; if they come from practice, ask for one lesson focused only on that manoeuvre.

Yes. The configured minimum age for this category is 15 years. If you are underage, you need consent from your parents or guardians to process the license.

You cannot carry a passenger until you turn 18. In addition, both rider and passenger must use an approved helmet when the vehicle requires it.

No. A special AM restriction is that you cannot ride on motorways or dual carriageways. You should also remember that the vehicle maximum speed is 45 km/h.

In practice, treat AM as your first serious contact with traffic. Even though the vehicle is light, you share space with cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and other users, so anticipation and visibility are central parts of the license.