Norwegian roads now accommodate nearly 13,500 four-wheeled mopeds as a sharp surge in young drivers seeking AM 147 licenses drives demand for compact vehicles. Statens vegvesen reports that the number of people acquiring a moped car license jumped by roughly 300 percent between 2021 and 2025, climbing from 643 to 2,591 individuals. This growth has created severe delivery bottlenecks for dealers across the country while prompting regulatory bodies to consider mandatory practical driving tests.
The 300 Percent License Surge Driving Moped Cars on Norwegian Roads
The appetite among teenagers for small motor vehicles has escalated dramatically over a five-year window, according to Statens vegvesen senior advisor Geir Aage Sogn. While only 643 people completed the AM 147 license requirements in 2021, that total reached 2,591 by 2025. Data for 2026 indicates that momentum remains unabated, with figures from earlier in the year nearly matching the entirety of the previous annual total. The certification currently costs around 15,000 Norwegian kroner, drawing steady streams of applicants to traffic schools.
Among those adapting to the heavy demand is Renate Tandrevoll, a traffic instructor at Hognestad Trafikkskole with 15 years of experience. Tandrevoll reports receiving weekly inquiries from youths eager to earn their credentials, noting that some driving schools face full booking schedules far in advance. At her own school, moped car instruction now consumes half of her weekly schedule. Simultaenously, 16-year-old Jim Tuen from Sirevåg in Rogaland joined the wave of buyers by purchasing a moped car valued at 270,000 kroner, funding the majority of the purchase through years of after-school agricultural work as a farm relief worker.
Did You Know? Jim Tuen financed his 270,000-kroner moped car primarily through his own earnings as an after-school farm relief worker in Sirevåg, supplemented by his parents, after previously obtaining a tractor license and completing a mandatory road safety course.
Inventory Shortages and Record Sales at Dealerships
The sharp increase in young motorists has generated intense commercial activity for national distributors and local dealerships alike. Mads Pettersen, head of business development and sales at Mopedbil Norge—the country’s largest importer with approximately 30 affiliated dealers—notes that sales consistently outpace inventory acquisitions. That supply strain is mirrored at Bryne Autosalg, where general manager Tom Salte describes an exceptionally high workload. The dealership currently maintains a waiting list of 10 to 12 prospective buyers awaiting fresh vehicle arrivals.
Salte highlights a stark turnaround from previous years, contrasting annual figures that sat between 35 and 40 units in 2019 against current sales volume exceeding one hundred vehicles per year. This sales velocity positions 2026 to conclude as another record-breaking period for the firm. Despite broader economic pressures affecting the general automotive sector, local sellers characterize their current market position as a distinct privilege driven by sustained consumer demand.
Statens Vegvesen Proposes Mandatory Practical Tests for AM 147
The rapid expansion of 16- and 17-year-olds operating lightweight vehicles in traffic streams has prompted regulatory scrutiny from authorities. Senior advisor Geir Aage Sogn points out that this age cohort remains visible in national accident statistics. In response to the high volume of new license holders and the reality that these operators share roadways with cars traveling up to 80 kilometers per hour, Statens vegvesen aims to update the current educational framework.
The proposed regulatory shift would introduce a practical driving test for the AM 147 class, matching the standard evaluation required for regular passenger cars. While officials acknowledge the competence delivered through current mandatory instruction hours, Sogn emphasizes that an actual driving test would better separate qualified operators from those lacking sufficient skill while granting professional instructors greater flexibility. Industry participants, including driving instructor Tandrevoll and dealer Tom Salte, have voiced support for the proposed overhaul, with Salte arguing that practical testing should have been mandatory since 2019.
Statens Vegvesen Proposes Introducing Practical Driving Tests for Moped Cars
How much does the moped car license cost?
Obtaining the AM 147 certificate currently costs around 15,000 Norwegian kroner, according to data from regional traffic schools.
How many four-wheeled mopeds are registered in Norway?
Statens vegvesen records show that there are close to 13,500 registered four-wheeled mopeds operating on Norwegian roads.
What specific regulatory change is Statens vegvesen proposing?
Statens vegvesen wants to replace the current system of only mandatory lessons with a formal practical driving test—an opkjøring—modeled after the standard examination for ordinary passenger cars.
What route do you think young drivers typically prioritize for their very first trip behind the wheel of a newly purchased vehicle?
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