Category AM?

[Deleted User]

I've just renewed my Photocard Driving Licence, and it has come back with an extra Category on it - Category AM.

Mopeds

Category AM

You can drive 2-wheeled or 3-wheeled vehicles with a maximum design speed of over 25km/h (15.5mph) but not more than 45km/h (28mph).

This category also includes light quad bikes with:

unladen mass of not more than 350kg (not including batteries if it’s an electric vehicle)

maximum design speed of over 25km/h (15.5mph) but not more than 45km/h (28mph)

What I don't understand is, the Category AM is valid from the date of licence renewal, whereas I have Categories A, B, C1 and D1 (with associated E Categories) running from 1981 and 1987 respectively, which should surely, between them, cover the vehicles in Category AM.

According to my licence, if I were to buy a Category AM vehicle tomorrow, I've apparently got to tell my insurance company that I've only been licensed for it for about a week.

Surely that can't be right?

datostar

Your full Group A would have covered you for mopeds from the date of its issue. AM is a fairly new separate category for low powered mopeds and motor tricycles, and they've added in quad bikes which are a fairly recent invention anyway. I'm in the same position as you - this AM category appeared on my licence when I had to renew at age 70. If I was asked for the date of passing a motorcycle/moped test I'd tell them 1963 because I've been allowed to ride them on a full licence since then. BTW, the likes of the Raleigh pedal and pop mopeds weren't capable of 28mph in those distant days!

jimbo6977

Yeah buy a Chinese moped and get riding

[Deleted User]

datostar wrote: »

Your full Group A would have covered you for mopeds from the date of its issue.

Do you mean Group A or Category A?

and they've added in quad bikes which are a fairly recent invention anyway.

I think Quad Bikes will be covered by my Category A, and Category B1, and Category B.

[Deleted User]

jimbo6977 wrote: »

Yeah buy a Chinese moped and get riding

Bit of a step down from the XS 1100 I used to own, but it could be fun.

GunJack

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Bit of a step down from the XS 1100 I used to own, but it could be fun.

Yup, a nifty 50 moped/scooter with no L-plates, your insurance will be about £40 a year, and tax £17p.a.

AdrianC

Driving licence categories changed in 2013, so if this is a renewal of a 10yo photocard then - yes - it will be different.

If you passed your car test in the 80s, you would have full entitlement to <50cc since that date. Look for the date for category P. And, yes, my own (2013-issued due to change of address) photocard has the licence issue date as the AM date, too.

This explains the way categories have changed over the years...
https://www.gov.uk/old-driving-licence-categories