You have decided! You are going to buy a micro car without B licence or a scooter. However, to drive this type of vehicle, you must have a category AM driving licence.
So how do you get an AM licence? Here are the steps to follow.
Why take the AM licence?
From the age of 14 in France, the AM licence authorises driving:
- Mopeds: two or three-wheelers, such as scooters, with a cylinder capacity of 50 cm3 or less
- Light quadricycles such as VSPs (cars without a licence such as Ligier or Aixam), with a maximum power of 6 kW, closed, secure
Their maximum speed is 45 km/h.
People born before 1988 in France do not need to hold an AM licence to drive these vehicles. The same applies to people who have already obtained their driving licence (category B) or an equivalent European title (Germany, Spain, Italy, etc.)
In addition, if your B driving licence has been cancelled, suspended or invalidated, you can still obtain an AM licence. However, make sure that you are not banned from driving any motorised vehicle (decision of a judge following a repeat offence of alcoholism for example).
Passing the AM licence: which courses?
This licence is obtained after two courses:
- Theoretical training
In France, it is a question of validating the ASSR (school road safety certificates, taken at secondary school) or the ASR (road safety certificate, at approved centres for people not attending school). This is an examination covering knowledge of the risks and environment of the road: different users, basic traffic rules, vertical and horizontal signs, etc. It consists of a 20-question MCQ. A minimum mark of 10/20 is required.
Please note that having these certificates does not give you the right to drive a small car or a two-wheeler.
- Practical training
This driving course teaches the future motorist to:
- Driving a vehicle without a licence
- Manoeuvring and parking
- Gaining fluency and experience
To get behind the wheel with minimal risk.
In France, these driving courses form a total of 8 hours of learning, spread over 2 days (i.e. a maximum of 4 hours per driving day).
2 options are available to you:
- Option light motor quadricycle
- Option moped
L’option cyclomoteur vaut la reconnaissance du suivi de l’option quadricycle léger mais l’inverse n’est pas valable. En effet, la conduite de cyclomoteurs reste différente d’un quatre-roues stable et fermé.
The practical training takes place as follows:
- Individual exchanges on the perception of driving, ease of use
- Non-traffic driving (1 hour minimum training): learning how to handle the vehicle in isolated areas
- Awareness of the highway code
- Driving on public roads with traffic (3 hours minimum)
- Risk awareness. For the minors, au moins l’un de vos parents ou votre représentant légal doit être présent.
Please note: for the moped option, you must come with the compulsory equipment, as for the motorbike licence:
- An approved helmet
- Suitable gloves (PPE, NF or CE marked, reinforced and closed at the wrist)
- Motorbike trousers or overalls
- A suitable long-sleeved jacket or blouse
- High boots (no rubber boots)
If you show up with non-compliant equipment, the training will not take place.
How to take the AM licence: where to go?
To start the process, you can go to :
- In a driving school, or in an association driving school
- In an approved establishment (social and/or professional reintegration centres)
The price of the practical training is free and negotiable, generally between €150 and €400 in a classic driving school.
Only the establishment where you took the training can apply for AM licence.
You will need to provide these supporting documents, in digital form:
- An identity document
- A digital identity photo
- Proof of address
- In France, if you were born in 1988 or later, certificate of completion of practical training and ASSR
- For a 1st demande de permis, si vous êtes français, âgé de 17 à 25 ans, le certificat individuel de participation à la journée défense et citoyenneté (JDC) (ou attestation de recensement, attestation d’exemption, ou attestation de situation vis-à-vis du service national, provisoire ou non)
- For foreigners, proof of legal residence or proof of your presence in France for at least 6 months (rent receipt, pay slip, etc.)
You can follow your procedures as well as the production and delivery of the document on the ANTS (Agence Nationale des titres sécurisés) website
The AM licence is sent by Lettre Expertsecure delivery, with hand-delivered against signature).
- L’adresse indicated during the online procedure must be the most complete possible
(numéro de bâtiment, numéro d’appartement..). - The mailbox must have the name and surname the person receiving the permit
If you are not present when the postman comes, you must go to the post office in the fifteen days with your delivery notice or with the number of the Expert Letter.
Si vous n’avez pas pu aller à la Poste dans les 15 jours, vous n’avez rien à faire. Votre permis vous sera envoyé.
The validity is 15 years from the date of issue (duration indicated on the document) if obtained after 19 January 2013. Before this date, the validity is unlimited in time.
Vous pouvez conduire dans tous les pays de l’Union européenne mais vérifiez l’âge minimal exigé to drive vehicles without an AM licence: some countries have different rules.
How do I get my AM licence back: I've lost the document, what should I do?
A la fin de votre formation, l’établissement vous délivre une attestation et s’occupe de faire les démarches pour recevoir le permis AM. En cas de perte de cette attestation avant réception du titre, vous pouvez toujours demander un duplicata.
The AM licence itself is a small pink card, just like the driving licence.
If you loose your licence after receiving it, you must reapply for an AM licence card online on the ANTS website, declaring the loss.
