Can I take the driving test at 17?
It depends on the licence category you want. The minimum licence age in Romania is: 16 for categories AM (mopeds), A1 (light motorcycles) and B1 (light quadricycles); 18 for categories A2, B (car), BE, C1, C1E and others. For category B (the ordinary car) you must therefore be 18. You can start the driving school a little before the minimum age (from 15 years and 9 months for the 16-and-up categories), and you take the exam when you reach the required age. Category AM covers mopeds at 25–45 km/h. To get the licence, you must be medically and psychologically fit and not convicted of certain crimes. In short: for a car — 18; for a moped — from 16.
📋 The rules
- Category B (car): minimum age 18
- AM, A1, B1: from 16
- The school can start from 15 years and 9 months
- Medically and psychologically fit; no certain convictions
- AM = mopeds at 25–45 km/h
🔓 Exceptions
- A2 (motorcycles): from 18; A (unrestricted) at higher ages
- C/D (trucks/buses): higher minimum ages
- Theory exam: at least 22 of 26 answers correct
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Driving a vehicle without a licence matching the category or under the minimum age is, as the case may be, a contravention or a crime. Driving a vehicle on public roads by a person without a valid licence for that category is a crime, punished with imprisonment or a criminal fine, under the Penal Code. For mopeds and light vehicles, the lack of an AM/A1/B1 licence at the required age brings sanctions. To stay compliant: enrol at the driving school for the right category, take the exam at the minimum age (18 for B, 16 for AM), get the medical and psychological approvals and only drive the categories you're authorised for. Never drive a car before getting the category B licence.
📎 Official sources
- GEO 195/2002 · Road Code →
- Directorate for Driving Licences and Vehicle Registration (DGPCI) →
- Application regulation · the driving licence →
❓ Frequently asked
At what age can I take the category B exam?
For category B (car) you must be 18. Below this age you can't get the ordinary car licence. You can, however, start the driving school a little earlier, so you're ready to take the exam as soon as you turn 18.
Can I ride a moped at 16?
Yes. For category AM (mopeds at 25–45 km/h) you can enrol and get the licence from 16. Categories A1 (light motorcycles) and B1 (light quadricycles) are also accessible from 16. For these categories, the school can start from 15 years and 9 months.
When can I start the driving school?
You can start the driving school a few months before reaching the minimum exam age. For the categories accessible from 16, the minimum age to start training is 15 years and 9 months. You take the police exam only after reaching the age required by law.
What conditions must I meet for the licence?
You must be medically and psychologically fit, not convicted of certain crimes set out in the Road Code, and present valid ID. The theory exam has 26 multiple-choice questions, and to pass you must answer at least 22 of them correctly.
What do I risk driving without the right licence?
Driving on public roads without a valid licence for that category is a crime, punished with imprisonment or a criminal fine, under the Penal Code. For mopeds and light vehicles, the lack of an AM, A1 or B1 licence at the required age brings sanctions. Never drive a category you're not authorised for.
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