Apply for a driving license for categories AM, A, A1, A2 or A
Online services
You can apply for a Class AM, A1, A2, or A driver's license.
This is the first time a driver's license of classes AM, A1, A2 of A has been issued. The applicant has never held a driver's license before.
What do I need to know?
Service description
With a Class AM driver's license, you can drive two- and three-wheeled mopeds as well as four-wheeled light motor vehicles.
With a Class A1 driver's license, you can drive motorcycles with an engine displacement of up to 125 cubic centimeters and a power output of up to 11 kW.
With a class A2 driver's license, you can drive motorcycles with up to 35 kW of power and a maximum output of 70 kW.
With a Class A driver's license, you can drive motorcycles and three-wheeled motor vehicles.
Driving licenses for categories AM, A1, A2, and A are issued for an indefinite period.
To obtain a driver's license, you must pass a theoretical and practical test.
Application
- You must submit the application in person (for identification and signature purposes).
- You can apply for your first driver's license at the earliest 6 months before reaching the minimum age.
Issuance
- If you have only applied for one class (e.g., B or A1), the license will be issued immediately after you pass the test by the examiner.
- If you have applied for several classes, the examiner will only issue you with the test certificate. With this, you can apply for a provisional driver's license at the driver's license authority (additional fee: 11.20 euros or 12 euros during the probationary period). The provisional driver's license is valid for a maximum of 3 months and is only valid within the Federal Republic of Germany.
Collecting your card driving license from the driver's license authority
- in person
- by an authorized person
Prerequisites
- You must have your primary residence in the Federal Republic of Germany.
- The minimum age for class AM is 15 years.
- The minimum age for class A1 is 16 years.
- The minimum age for class A2 is 18 years.
- The minimum age for class A is 24 years for motorcycles with direct access, 21 years for three-wheeled motor vehicles with a power output of more than 15 kW, or 20 years for motorcycles if you have held a class A2 license for at least 2 years.
- Your primary residence is in Mainz.
- When applying for a driver's license for the first time in categories AM, A1, A2, or A, you do not need to hold a driver's license in any other category.
Remark
- When applying for a driver's license for the first time, we generally issue it for a 2-year probationary period. Driver's license classes AM, L, and T are exempt from the probationary period.
- You must have passed the theory test before you can take the practical test. You may take the theory test at the earliest 3 months and the practical test at the earliest 1 month before reaching the minimum age.
- The application expires if
- you have not passed the theory test within 12 months of the test application being received.
- you have not passed the practical test within 12 months of passing the theory test.
- The "moped license at 15" does not apply in all federal states, but initially only in those federal states that also make use of the regulatory authority. In addition to Rhineland-Palatinate, these are currently Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and North Rhine-Westphalia. If another federal state joins, this will be announced in the official section of the Federal Gazette.
Only when you reach the age of 16 can you drive a class AM motor vehicle throughout Germany. Since class AM is an international driving license class, the card driving license is also valid abroad from the age of 16.
We issue you with a class AM license at the age of 15 by handing you the card license with the key number 195. The key number 195 on the card driving license means that until you reach the age of 16, you may only drive a class AM motor vehicle in countries that also allow moped licenses at the age of 15.
In order to save young people from having to submit a new application for an AM driver's license when they turn 16, the above requirement no longer applies once they reach the age of 16. At the age of 16, you can then drive a Class AM motor vehicle throughout Germany.
What else should I know?
The first driver's license (with the exception of AM, L, and T) is issued on a provisional basis. The probationary period lasts for two years.
Legal basis
- State ordinance on lowering the minimum age for obtaining a Class AM driver's license to 15 years
- Schedule of fees for road traffic measures (opens in a new tab)
- Regulation on the admission of persons to road traffic (opens in a new tab)
Deadlines
The application for a first driver's license expires if the theory test is not passed within 12 months of receipt of the test request or the practical test is not passed within 12 months of passing the theory test.
Processing time
approximately 6 to 8 weeks
Responsible body
Please contact your local driver's license authority at the city or district administration or, if applicable, your local citizens' office at the municipal administration of the independent municipality or the association of municipalities.
What do I need to bring or submit?
- Valid identity card or passport (with current registration certificate, if applicable)
- If applicable, application for a driver's license
- A biometric photograph in accordance with the provisions of the Passport Ordinance (size 45x35 mm, portrait format, frontal view).
- Eye test certificate (not older than 2 years)
- Proof of participation in a first aid training course
- Current biometric photo (size 45x35 mm, portrait format, frontal view), no digital code possible!
Note:
Since May 1, 2025, the rule for passport photos for identity cards and passports is that you must submit a digital passport photo to the registration authority. However, this requirement does not apply to the driver's license authority and therefore does not affect the application for driver's license documents. Please also note that the driver's license authorities do not have the technical equipment to take photos on site. You must therefore submit passport photos in analog form, preferably together with the complete application documents, to the driver's license authority.
- Designation of a driving school for taking the driver's license exam
- Application for a driver's license (provided by driving schools)
Collection of the card driving license from the driver's license authority:
in person
- Letter from the driver's license authority
- Identification document
by an authorized person
- Letter from the driver's license authority
- Identification documents of both persons
- Written power of attorney
When applying for class AM 15, additionally
- Declaration of consent from the parents or legal representative or guardian
- If only one parent has custody, you must provide proof of this.
- Copy of the identity card of the parents or legal representative
How much does it cost and how can I pay?
Fees
The fee is based on the schedule of fees for road traffic measures (GebOSt).
An additional shipping fee will be charged if the driver's license is sent directly to your home address.
- Initial issuance of a driver's license: €45.90 (if only classes AM and L, the cost is €45.10)
- Issuance of a provisional driver's license: €11.20 or €12 during the probationary period
Payment methods
Cash/EC
Forms, information sheets, links
Formulare
- Driving license: Application for the issue, extension, renewal or transfer of a driving licensePDF-File214,80 kB
- Collecting a driving license from the driving license authority, power of attorneyPDF-File156,76 kB
- Driver's license, declaration of consent from legal representative(s), formPDF-File91,53 kB
Internetverweise
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Contact us
Address
Fahrerlaubnisbehörde (Führerscheinstelle)
Elly-Beinhorn-Straße 16
55129 Mainz
Postal address
55028 Mainz
Your way to us
Contact persons
| Mr. BossogProcessing for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letters A to B and U | Letter range: A–B und U | +49 6131 12 ext. 3482 | |
| Mr. KeilProcessing for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letters D to G and T | Letter range: D–G und T | +49 6131 12 ext. 3728 | |
| Mrs. WeideClerk for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letters I to L and C | Letter range: I–L und C | +49 6131 12 ext. 2193 | |
| Mrs. TrabertClerk for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letter range L to Q | Letter range: M–Q und V | +49 6131 12 ext. 2634 | |
| Mrs. LangeProcessing for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letter range R to S | Letter range: R–S | +49 6131 12 ext. 2812 | |
| Mrs. MayerProcessing for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letters U to Z | Letter range: W–Z und H | +49 6131 12 ext. 2187 |
Opening hours
Current information:
Appointments can only be made at the times listed below after booking online in advance.
Online appointment scheduling/Vehicle Registration Office (opens in a new tab)
Monday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Thursday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays!
Please also note that due to the time required to accept an affidavit in the event of a driver's license loss, we can only accept these on Thursdays until 5 p.m.
Accessibility
Information on accessibility
Barrier-free access available. Wheelchair-accessible WC available.