Mopeds in Germany (2026)

Last reviewed: 9 October 2026

In short: A Kleinkraftrad needs licence class AM from age 15, and the rider must wear a helmet. It is exempt from registration but needs a valid insurance plate.

RuleWhat applies
Minimum age to ridePrivately owned; Moped (Kleinkraftrad, licence class AM)15 years [1]
LicencePrivately owned; Moped (Kleinkraftrad, licence class AM)Driving licence class AM (light two-wheel motor vehicles of class L1e-B). [2]
Helmet requiredPrivately owned; Moped (Kleinkraftrad, licence class AM)Yes [3]
Insurance requiredPrivately owned; Moped (Kleinkraftrad, licence class AM)Yes [4]
Plate / registrationPrivately owned; Moped (Kleinkraftrad, licence class AM)Exempt from registration, but must carry a valid insurance plate (Versicherungskennzeichen). [5]
Maximum design speedPrivately owned; Moped (Kleinkraftrad, licence class AM)up to 45 km/h (design speed) [6]

Notes

  • Until the age of 16 the AM licence carries a condition (Auflage) under § 10 FeV; the page does not say more.
  • Figure from the EU type-approval rules: vehicles in category L1e have a maximum design speed of 45 km/h. German licence class AM refers to L1e-B.

Sources

  1. Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de): § 10 FeV - Einzelnorm (Mindestalter) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de): § 6 FeV - Einzelnorm (Einteilung der Fahrerlaubnisklassen) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  3. Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de): § 21a StVO 2013 - Einzelnorm (Sicherheitsgurte, Schutzhelme) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  4. Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de): § 1 PflVG - Einzelnorm (Versicherungspflicht) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  5. Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de): § 4 FZV - Einzelnorm (Voraussetzungen für die Inbetriebsetzung eines zulassungsfreien Fahrzeuges) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  6. European Union (EUR-Lex): Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.