Do I need a licence, a number plate and insurance to ride a moped (scooter)?
In short
Under certain conditions. You do not need a licence for a class A moped (at most 25 km/h); for a class B moped (45 km/h) you need an AM licence. Both need a number plate and insurance.
Video transcript
Your 16-year-old son bought a moped that does 45 km/h. He's in no hurry about the plate and insurance. It depends: Class A, 25 km/h: no licence needed; class B, 45 km/h: AM licence needed. Both need a number plate and insurance. The right way: Get the AM licence and take out insurance; the insurer handles registration. Class B plates start with 'S-B'. Consequences (Level 2 offence): Class B, no AM licence: 2.000 € – 20.000 €; Exact amount: Set by police court; No insurance: Moped can be seized.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- A class A moped (bromfiets klasse A / cyclomoteur classe A) has a top speed of 25 km/h. You do not need a licence, but the rider must be at least 16 years old.
- A class B moped has a top speed of 45 km/h. For this you need an AM licence (rijbewijs AM / permis AM), which you can get from the age of 16.
- People born before 15 February 1961 do not need an AM licence.
- Every moped must be registered and have a number plate. The plate of a class A moped starts with 'S-A', and that of a class B moped with 'S-B'. Your insurer handles the registration.
- A moped is also a motor vehicle, so it may not be used on the road without compulsory motor insurance (BA-verzekering / assurance RC).
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- Riding a class B moped without an AM licence counts as driving without a licence. The law sets a fine of 1.600 € – 16.000 € (level 2 crime); with the surcharge multiplier (×1,25), the amount payable is 2.000 € – 20.000 €. The police court decides the exact amount.
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 30 §1, 1° (Justel)
- Court / prison
- Cases of driving without a licence go to the police court (politierechtbank / tribunal de police). The court decides the type of penalty; consult a lawyer.
Legal basis:Sv. art. 138, 6°
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- If a moped is not insured, the police can immobilise it or seize the vehicle and its number plate.
Legal basis:WAM-wet 21.11.1989 (Justel)
- If there is an accident with an uninsured vehicle, the Common Motor Guarantee Fund (Gemeenschappelijk Motorwaarborgfonds / Fonds commun de garantie automobile) compensates the victim. The Fund then claims the money back from the vehicle's owner.
Legal basis:WAM-wet 21.11.1989 (Justel)
- A 16-year-old's moped also needs a number plate and insurance; the vehicle's owner is responsible for this.
Legal basis:WAM-wet 21.11.1989, art. 2 (Justel)
What do these terms mean?
- Police court
- The court for traffic offences and appeals against GAS fines. Despite the name, it is not part of the police; an independent judge decides.
Why does this rule exist?
Mopeds use the same roads as cars, and an accident can cause serious injuries. A licence shows that the rider knows the rules. A number plate and insurance make sure that victims are compensated after an accident.
Where can you go?
- Municipal driving licence serviceExchanging a foreign driving licence and other licence matters
- Free first-line legal adviceIf you have been summoned to the police court (juridische eerstelijnsbijstand / aide juridique de première ligne)
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 14 / 14 statements in an official source
- Checked: 16.10.2026
- Last checked
- 16.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 14 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
A sınıfı mopet en fazla 25 km/s, 50 cc
KB 1.12.1975 art. 2.17 (Justel) - Found in an official source
25 km/s'e kadar mopet için ehliyet gerekmez
KB 23.3.1998 art. 4, 11° (Justel) - Found in an official source
Mopet sürücüsü en az 16 yaş (yolcusuz)
KB 1.12.1975 art. 8.2, 3° a) (Justel) - Found in an official source
B sınıfı en fazla 45 km/s
KB 1.12.1975 art. 2.17 (Justel) - Found in an official source
AM kategorisi 25 km/s üstü mopetler
KB 23.3.1998 art. 2 §1 (Justel) - Found in an official source
AM için asgari yaş 16
KB 23.3.1998 art. 18 (Justel) - Found in an official source
15.2.1961'den önce doğanlar AM'den muaf
KB 23.3.1998 art. 4, 10° (Justel) - Found in an official source
Tüm mopetler kayıtlı ve plakalı; S-A / S-B; kaydı sigortacı yapar
vlaanderen.be: Nummerplaat voor bromfiets - Found in an official source
Motorlu araçlar yalnız sigortayla trafiğe çıkar; mopet istisnada değil (istisna ≤25 km/s ve ≤25 kg)
Wet 21.11.1989 art. 1, 2 §1, 2bis (Justel) - Found in an official source
Ehliyetsiz sürüş seviye 2; 1.600–16.000 €
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 30 §1, 1° (Justel) - Found in an official source
Sigortasız araçta bağlama veya plakaya el koyma
WAM-wet 21.11.1989 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Fon mağduru öder, sahibinden geri ister
WAM-wet 21.11.1989 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Sigorta yükümlülüğü araç sahibinde
WAM-wet 21.11.1989, art. 2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Ehliyetsiz sürüş dosyası polis mahkemesine gider
Sv. art. 138, 6°
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?