Is an Eye Test Required for Class AM (Moped) Licences?

A moped or a small scooter is the first taste of freedom for many teenagers in Germany. At fifteen or sixteen you can finally ride to school, to training or to meet friends without depending on your parents or the bus timetable. Before you can enjoy that freedom, though, there is paperwork to do, and one question comes up again and again: is an eye test required for class AM (moped) licences? The short answer is yes. In Germany, every first driving licence, including the moped licence, class AM, requires a simple eye test, and you need the official certificate before you can apply. This guide explains the rules in plain English, what the test involves, how much it costs, and what happens if you do not pass.

The eye test for class AM is the same simple test that car drivers take. You go to an optician, read letters or symbols from an eye chart, and receive a certificate that says whether your vision meets the legal standard. The standard is a binocular visus of at least 0.7 and a visus of at least 0.5 in the weaker eye, exactly the same as for a car licence, class B. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, you take the test with them on, and the entry is noted on your licence. The whole thing takes about five minutes, costs only a few euros, and is usually the easiest part of getting your moped licence.

What surprises many young applicants, and their parents, is how early you need to think about it. You can take the eye test before you turn fifteen, and the certificate is valid for two years, so there is no reason to leave it to the last minute. Getting the eye test done early also means that if you do need glasses, you have time to get used to them before your practical riding lessons begin. This guide covers the test itself, the minimum age and the other requirements for class AM, the difference between mopeds, scooters and light motorcycles, and what to do if you already hold another licence.

The short answer: yes, you need an eye test for class AM

Every driving licence issued for the first time in Germany requires a vision test, and class AM is no exception. The driving licence regulation, the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung, lists the eye test as a mandatory requirement for the application. The driving licence authority will not process your application without the eye test certificate, the Sehtestbescheinigung. It does not matter that a moped is small, slow and limited to 45 kilometres per hour. You will be riding in real traffic, alongside cars, lorries and buses, and you need to be able to see road signs, other vehicles and hazards clearly.

Some people assume that the moped licence is only a small step and that the rules are relaxed. That is not true. The eye test for class AM is identical to the one for class B, with the same visus limits and the same certificate. The only difference is the licence class printed on the form. If you have already taken an eye test for another licence class, for example if you hold a car licence and want to add class AM, you do not need a new test, provided the certificate is still valid. But for a first licence, a fresh eye test is always required.

There is one special case worth knowing. In Germany, you can ride a moped with a so-called Mofa test certificate, the Mofa-Prüfbescheinigung, which is a simpler document for mopeds limited to 25 kilometres per hour. Even for that certificate, an eye test is required, although the driving school or the testing body may organise it differently. And if you hold a car licence, class B, you automatically hold class AM as well, so you do not need a separate moped licence or a separate eye test at all. Our guide on the differences between the driving licence classes explains which classes include which.

What the class AM eye test involves

The eye test for a moped licence is quick, simple and painless, and it is exactly the same as the test for a car licence. You visit an optician, who will ask you to read letters, numbers or symbols from a chart at a fixed distance, first with your right eye, then with your left eye, and finally with both eyes together. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, you keep them on throughout, because the test measures your corrected vision, the vision you will actually ride with. The optician records a visus value for each eye and for both eyes together.

To pass, you need a binocular visus of at least 0.7 and a visus of at least 0.5 in the weaker eye. In practice, most teenagers pass without any difficulty. If your vision is below the limit, the optician will try a trial lens in front of the weaker eye to see whether a different correction helps. If it does, the optician can recommend a visit to get your glasses prescription updated. If no lens helps, you will be referred to an ophthalmologist for a more detailed examination, which can take longer but is usually nothing to worry about.

The certificate is issued on the spot if you pass. It is a small official form, and it is valid for two years. You can take the test at almost any optician in Germany, often without an appointment, and it usually costs between five and ten euros, sometimes even less. Some opticians do it for free when you buy glasses from them. Bring your identity card and your glasses or contact lenses if you wear them, and the test is done in a few minutes. You can read more about how the test works in our guide to the eye test for motorbike licences, which covers the same procedure.

Minimum age and the other requirements for class AM

In Germany, the minimum age for class AM is fifteen. You can start your theory lessons up to three months before your fifteenth birthday and take the theory test one month before, but you cannot ride alone until you turn fifteen. In some federal states, the accompanied driving scheme for mopeds, similar to the car scheme, allows riding from fifteen with a registered accompanying person, but the standard rule is fifteen, and the practical test can only be taken once you have reached that age.

Besides the eye test, you need a first aid course, the Erste-Hilfe-Kurs, which takes one day and is offered by driving schools and first aid organisations all over Germany. You also need a biometric passport photo and proof of identity, and your parents or legal guardians must give their written consent if you are under eighteen. There is no minimum number of driving lessons prescribed by law for class AM in the same way as for cars, but your driving school will decide with you how many practical lessons you need before the test. Most learners need only a handful of lessons, because the practical test for mopeds is short and focuses on handling the vehicle safely in traffic.

The theory test for class AM covers road signs, right of way, speed limits, and the special rules for two-wheeled vehicles, such as the ban on using the motorway and the requirement to use cycle paths where they are marked for mopeds. You can prepare with the official question catalogue, and many driving schools offer apps and practice tests. The theory test and the practical test are both taken through the driving school, and the total cost of a class AM licence, including the eye test, the first aid course, lessons and both tests, is usually between 500 and 800 euros, depending on the region and the school.

Moped, scooter or light motorcycle: which licence do you need?

The terms moped, scooter and light motorcycle get mixed up a lot, and the licence you need depends on the vehicle, not on what people call it. Class AM covers two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles with a maximum design speed of 45 kilometres per hour and an engine up to 50 cubic centimetres for petrol engines, or up to 4 kilowatts for electric motors. That covers almost all mopeds and small scooters you see on the road. A vehicle that goes faster than 45 kilometres per hour, or has a bigger engine, needs a higher licence class.

A light motorcycle, with up to 125 cubic centimetres and 11 kilowatts, needs class A1, which you can get from the age of sixteen. The eye test for class A1 is the same as for class AM, and if you already hold class AM, you do not need a new eye test when you upgrade to A1, provided the certificate is still valid. A full motorbike licence, class A, needs a higher minimum age and a more demanding test, but again the eye test is the same simple procedure. Our guide to the motorbike licence eye test explains the requirements for classes A1, A2 and A in detail.

Before you buy a vehicle, check its papers carefully. The registration document states the maximum speed and the engine size, and those numbers decide the licence class. A scooter that has been tuned to go faster than 45 kilometres per hour is no longer a class AM vehicle, and riding it with only a class AM licence can lead to a fine, penalty points and a driving ban. Insurance is also mandatory: every moped and scooter needs a small insurance plate, the Versicherungskennzeichen, which you renew every year in March.

What if you already hold a car or motorbike licence?

If you already hold a driving licence, you almost certainly do not need a separate eye test or a separate class AM licence. Class B, the car licence, automatically includes class AM and class L, so you can ride a moped or a small scooter with your car licence. The same is true of the motorbike classes: A1, A2 and A all include class AM. The eye test you took for your car or motorbike licence already covered the moped standard, because the requirements are identical.

The situation is different if you hold a foreign licence. An EU driving licence that includes class AM is recognised in Germany, and you can ride a moped with it. A non-EU licence may be valid for six months after you move to Germany, and after that you need to exchange it for a German licence. The exchange process may require a new eye test, depending on the country that issued your licence and the classes you want to exchange. In any case, the eye test for class AM itself is the same simple test described above, and once you have it, the certificate is valid for two years and can be used for any licence application.

One more special case: if your car licence was issued before the class AM rules changed, or if you hold an old paper licence, the class AM entry may be listed under an older code. That does not change anything in practice. If you are unsure whether your licence covers mopeds, look for the AM entry on the back of your card, or ask at your local driving licence authority. In almost all cases, a valid car or motorbike licence is all you need.

Tips for passing the eye test the first time

First, get your eyes checked before the official test if you are not sure about your vision. Many opticians offer a free short check, and it will tell you whether you need glasses or whether your current glasses are still right. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, make sure they are the right strength and that you bring them to the test. Taking the test with an old, weak prescription is the most common reason for a failed first attempt among teenagers.

Second, look after your eyes on the day. Sleep well the night before, and avoid screens late at night if your eyes feel tired. If you wear contact lenses, put them in at least half an hour before the test so they settle, and bring your glasses as a backup. Do not practise reading an eye chart with one eye covered at home in a way that makes you anxious; a calm, rested pair of eyes performs better.

Third, tell the optician that the test is for your driving licence, so they use the official form and the correct procedure. The certificate is only valid if it is issued on the official form by a recognised optician or ophthalmologist. Keep the certificate safe, because you will need the original when you apply at the driving licence authority. A copy is not enough, and a lost certificate means a new test, although it only takes a few minutes and costs a few euros.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an eye test required for a moped licence in Germany?
Yes. Class AM requires the same eye test as a car licence: a binocular visus of at least 0.7 and at least 0.5 in the weaker eye, certified by an optician or ophthalmologist.

How old do you have to be for class AM?
Fifteen. You can start lessons earlier, but you cannot take the practical test or ride alone until your fifteenth birthday.

How much does the eye test for class AM cost?
Usually between five and ten euros at an optician, and sometimes free. The certificate is valid for two years.

Can I ride a moped with a car licence?
Yes. Class B automatically includes class AM, so you can ride a moped or small scooter with your car licence, and you do not need a separate eye test.

What happens if I fail the eye test for class AM?
You will be referred to an ophthalmologist for a more detailed examination. In many cases a new pair of glasses or contact lenses is all you need, and you can take the test again once your vision is corrected.

Conclusion

Yes, an eye test is required for class AM moped licences in Germany, and it is the same simple, quick test that car drivers take. You need a binocular visus of 0.7 and at least 0.5 in the weaker eye, and the certificate is valid for two years. The test costs only a few euros, takes about five minutes, and can be done at almost any optician, often without an appointment. Do it early, bring your glasses or contact lenses if you wear them, and keep the original certificate safe for your application. With the eye test done, the road to your moped licence is straightforward, and your first taste of freedom on two wheels is only a few lessons away.