Getting your licence
At what age can you apply for a category B licence?
The minimum age for category B is 18. Here is how to plan your application, theory test and learner’s permit.
You can apply for a category B licence from the day after your 18th birthday. At 17, accompanied driving is possible only with an A1 or B1 licence and specific authorisation.
Minimum age and different milestones
You can apply for a category B licence from the day after your 18th birthday: you do not have to wait an extra day or for a particular exam session. From then on, you can start the medical examination and application process; you have two theory test attempts within the six months following your application. You can study before turning 18, but you cannot take the standard category B tests. These rules apply to category B, not to accompanied driving.
The accompanied driving scheme for 17-year-olds who hold an A1 or B1 licence is different from obtaining a category B licence early. It has specific conditions and requires authorisation; it does not make a minor a category B licence holder. If you are considering this option, consult the MIT page on accompanied driving and ask the Motor Vehicle Office which documents are required; having an adult in the car is not enough. If you are not eligible for that scheme, the minimum age of 18 remains the figure to use when planning your tests and licence issue.
How to prepare without wasting time
Before your birthday, you can learn about the procedure, gather documents that do not expire and start studying the theory. Medical examinations, photographs and certificates have requirements or validity periods that you should check with the relevant office: arranging them too early may mean having to repeat them. MIT also publishes the available tests and the deadlines linked to a category B application. Check the page when you apply and keep the receipt, because important time limits start from that date. If you enrol with a driving school, ask when they expect to submit your documents and schedule your test.
A practical plan is simple: identify the UMC responsible for your place of residence, read the category B guidance, clarify whether you can apply before your 18th birthday and ask for the earliest available test date. In the meantime, study by topic rather than relying only on random practice tests. If you already hold an A1, A2, A or B1 licence, check with MIT which test you need to upgrade to category B; the page provides for cases in which only the practical test remains. Your individual circumstances and the validity of your previous licence must still be confirmed before booking.
Essential planning
- Confirm your eligibility date with the Motor Vehicle Office in your area.
- Check the validity of your medical certificate and documents before submitting them.
- If you already hold a licence, ask whether it changes the test you must take.
Do you want to get your driving licence? Study and practise with Quiz Patente Ufficiale: exam questions, topic-by-topic explanations and review of your mistakes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the theory test before turning 18?
No. Under the standard category B route, you can apply from the day after your 18th birthday. At 17, you can practise through accompanied driving only if you hold an A1 or B1 licence and obtain the required authorisation.
Can I practise driving a car with an adult at 17?
Yes, but only through the accompanied driving scheme: you must hold a valid A1 or B1 licence, complete the required course and receive authorisation from the UMC. An adult simply being present is not enough.