Requirements for driving a car without a license

Cars without license, mini-cars, microcars, ATVs ... call them as you call these vehicles are increasingly popular in our streets. Either because you are not old enough for a conventional car, because you can not get your driving license or for whatever reason, this type of vehicle has become an option to consider for many people.

However, there is still a lot of ignorance about who can drive them and who does not, so in the following article we want to explain what are the requirements to drive a car without a license .

What is a vehicle without a license?

A vehicle without a license is what is popularly known as a microcar and, legally, they are classified as light quadricycles. Vehicles without a license or light quadricycles must comply with a series of characteristics in order to be identified as follows:

They can not exceed speeds greater than 45 km / h.
They can not have a displacement greater than 50 cc.

This type of vehicle has gained much popularity in recent decades for different reasons. The first, and most obvious, is that they do not need a license as that of conventional vehicles, therefore, many young people use them while they are not of the age of driving those with the largest displacement. However, say car without license is not entirely true, since, although they do not need the same permits as a conventional car, they do require some permission, license and requirement to be able to drive them.

Apart from those already mentioned, other differences between a conventional car and a microcar are:

The smallest size.
The license plates are different.

However, they do have aspects in common, for example, the need to pass a periodic technical inspection every two years after two years of use.

Cars without a license can circulate

Cars without a license can travel on urban roads and on conventional roads, but can not do so by motorways or motorways. In addition, whenever these roads have a walkable road you must travel there. In the case that there is no such shoulder, the vehicle must go to the right occupying the minimum space possible.

As we have said, cars without a license can not exceed 45 km / h, therefore, they can not travel on those roads where they travel at a higher speed. The reason is that the difference between its speed and that of other vehicles would be enormous, being an important risk when it comes to accidents.

Requirements for driving a car without a license

Although in comparison with the rest of the cars there are still few microcars, the reality is that in recent years there are more and more that we can see on the streets. There are all kinds, the prices of cars without a license are very variable, there are cheap and expensive, and in the market there are a lot of brands that manufacture them.

Anyway, to know who can drive cars without a license, you have to take into account a series of requirements :

It is necessary to have at least the AM driving license.
Have completed at least 15 years.
Pass a psychophysical aptitude test or psychotechnical test at an authorized medical examination center.
Pass a test of 20 questions proposed by the Traffic Department.
Pass a practical test.

Before the new regulations, this type of car could be driven with only having the moped license, but nowadays it is necessary to pass another type of tests.

Cars without license or microcars are a safe alternative for all those people who do not have a driver's license but want to have the possibility of having a practical vehicle with a reduced consumption. Although it is necessary to take into account that this type of vehicle can not travel on motorways or highways.

As for their safety, cars without a license are subject to certain tests, such as frontal, side and rear impacts, although the marks are not required by law.

Exam for cars without license

As we have explained before, it is not correct to call them a car without a license, since a carnet is needed, even if it is not the B of conventional cars. In this case it is required to have the driving license AM, the same one that is needed to be able to drive mopeds. Below we explain how to obtain the AM permit and how is the exam for cars without a license :

It is necessary to have turned 15 years old.
It is necessary to pass a psychophysical test and a psychotechnical test in an authorized center.
You have to pass a theoretical traffic test consisting of 20 questions.
You have to pass a practical test in which the ability to perform certain maneuvers must be demonstrated .

There is not a single AM permit, but there are two types of permits :

With restrictions: you can only drive microcars and tricycles.
No restrictions: in addition to these vehicles, you can drive any type of moped, even those with 2 wheels.

The difference at the time of obtaining the card with or without restrictions is in the practical exam, which must demonstrate different skills. Below we explain how this practical test for cars without a license is, both the permit with restrictions and without restrictions.

Practical exam cars without license

To obtain the AM class permit without restrictions and also be able to drive two-wheeled mopeds, the practical tests are:

Go through some obstacles zigzagging at low speed.
Pass over a limited fringe.

For its part, the permit with restrictions meets the following practical test :

In a marked space, change the direction of the car both forward and backward.
Park and unset in different ways, both flat and steep.

How to drive a car without a license

The steps to follow when taking the permit and driving a car without a license are the following:

Ask for it at the corresponding offices, in Spain the DGT.
Present the ID or an identification document.
Present a passport photo.
Perform the tests of the psychotechnical test in an authorized center.
Pay the corresponding fee.
Take the theoretical exam.
Take the practical exam.

Regulations about cars without a license

In addition to everything we have discussed so far, there are other regulations regarding the microcars you should know when driving:

Whenever you drive you must take your driving license with you.
Whenever requested by a traffic agent you must show the permit.
You must renew it every time it is due.
You can not travel on highways or highways.
You should always drive on the shoulder or, if it does not exist, on the right without invading a lot of space.
You must have third party insurance.
You are responsible for the car passing the ITV.
You need the circulation permit.
The car must be registered.
Children can be taken in a car without a license at all times and carry the systems required by law. In the following article we explain what are the laws to travel with children by car.