In short
If you did not pass the MPU, you do not have to submit the negative expert report to the authority, because submitting it is voluntary. There is no fixed waiting period before you can repeat it. What matters is to analyse the reasons in the report carefully and close the gaps by genuinely working through them before you try again.
What does a negative MPU expert report mean for you?
A negative MPU (medical-psychological assessment, Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung) expert report (Gutachten) means that, in the view of the assessment centre (Begutachtungsstelle für Fahreignung), the doubts about your fitness to drive have not been removed. It is not the definitive end, because you can repeat the MPU after you have taken the causes seriously and done targeted further work.
You receive the report from the assessment centre. Read it calmly and in full, because the reasoning shows you where the assessor was not convinced. These are exactly the points you need to work on for your next attempt.
Do you have to submit a negative report?
You do not have to submit a negative report to the driving licence authority (Führerscheinstelle). Submitting it is voluntary, and the authority only knows the report that you submit yourself. A report that has not been submitted is known only to you and the assessment centre.
Note: If you still have your driving licence and a deadline set by the authority is running, you will usually face revocation without proof of fitness – in that case, get advice on the deadlines.
If the authority has set you a deadline for proof of fitness, timing is particularly important. Whether an extension or another route is possible is a legal question. A lawyer specialising in traffic law (Fachanwalt für Verkehrsrecht) can help here. MPU time limits gives an overview of time limits and ban periods.
What does a recommendation for a remedial course mean?
A recommendation for a remedial course (Nachschulung) means that your result was borderline and that a course under § 70 FeV (Driving Licence Regulation, Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung) is enough to remove the remaining doubts. The report is then neither clearly positive nor clearly negative. With the officially recognised course, "borderline" can become "fit".
This route is usually faster than a completely new MPU. You complete the course and then submit the report to the authority together with the course certificate.
Why do people fail the MPU?
People usually fail the MPU in the psychological interview because their account is not credible, not free of contradictions or not sufficiently supported by evidence. The performance test, on the other hand, is rarely the reason, because if the result is weak, a driving behaviour test is often possible to compensate.
The most common reasons are:
- Contradictions between the questionnaire, your account, your file and laboratory values
- Playing down or dramatising your own consumption or behaviour
- Lack of insight – "I have learned from it" without being able to explain why it happened in the first place
- Causes not reflected on – only seeing the drive, not the pattern behind it
- Rehearsed model answers that do not seem credible
- Change in behaviour only announced rather than already lived
- Incomplete proof or a proof of abstinence (Abstinenznachweis) started too late
Why playing things down is noticed so quickly
Playing things down is noticed so quickly because the assessor compares your statements with the values in your file. With alcohol, for example, the assessor calculates the amount drunk backwards: if the amount you state does not match the measured blood alcohol level or the CDT value, there is a contradiction. A high blood alcohol level without signs of impairment also indicates strong alcohol tolerance, so the story of a "one-off slip" is hardly convincing. More on this under MPU because of alcohol.
How do you analyse the reasons for failing?
The best way to analyse the reasons for failing is on the basis of the written reasoning in the report, ideally together with a professional. It usually states whether there was a lack of insight, change in behaviour, stability or proof.
These questions help with the analysis:
- Which statements in the report describe contradictions or doubts?
- Were you able to explain what purpose your past behaviour served for you?
- Were your changes specific, since when had they existed, and were they documented?
- Was all your proof complete, without gaps and in line with the CTU criteria?
- Did you speak in your own words or repeat memorised sentences?
The assessor is looking for functional understanding and lived, documented change, not formulaic expressions of regret. Where exactly your gap lay determines how much time you should plan for the next attempt.
What will you do differently next time?
Next time, you start precisely at the points criticised in the report. This overview shows typical reasons and suitable countermeasures:
| Reason for failing | What you do differently next time |
|---|---|
| Contradictions between statements and file | Request file inspection (Akteneinsicht) and align your statements honestly with the facts |
| Consumption or behaviour played down | Name amounts and extent honestly; better "more than I would have liked" than an implausible understatement |
| Lack of insight into the problem | Work through the real causes and your pattern with a professional |
| Change only announced | Put the change into practice now and test it over a sufficient period |
| Incomplete or missing proof | Complete a recognised abstinence programme again, without gaps |
| Model answers instead of your own words | Tell your own story in concrete terms and practise the interview |
| Motive only "because of the driving licence" | Develop an inner motive that holds up even under stress |
If your proof of abstinence had gaps, you usually have to build it up again, because a missed appointment or a positive result restarts the abstinence clock. Proof of abstinence explains what a recognised proof looks like. For working through the content, structured MPU preparation is worthwhile, and in the case of dependence or repeat offences possibly traffic therapy.
When can you repeat the MPU?
In principle, you can repeat the MPU at any time, because there is no fixed waiting period between two attempts. However, a new appointment only makes sense once you have really worked on the reasons for the negative result. A quick second attempt without genuine change usually leads to the same result. The guide MPU second attempt gives a step-by-step plan for this.
For the repeat, expect to pay the fee for the report again; as a guideline (as of 2026), around €550–750 for alcohol or drugs. Next time, you can again choose freely among the officially recognised assessment centres. You should not get involved with offers that promise a pass guarantee or ways around the MPU.
What happens next?
Read the reasoning in the report carefully and clarify whether an authority deadline is running in your case. If you have not already done so, request file inspection and check whether your proof of abstinence needs to be restarted. Through MPU Plus you can find suitable counselling that specifically targets the weak points of your first attempt.
Frequently asked questions
Will the driving licence authority find out about a failed MPU?
The driving licence authority only finds out about the result if you submit the report yourself. You do not have to submit a negative report; it then remains known only to you and the assessment centre. If an authority deadline is running, however, you should get advice on the consequences.
How often can you repeat the MPU?
There is no fixed limit on the number of repeats and no waiting period between two attempts. However, a new appointment only makes sense once you have worked through the reasons for the negative result. Otherwise, you risk the same result again.
Can I take the MPU at a different centre the second time?
Yes, you can again choose the assessment centre freely, as long as it is officially recognised. More important than the location, however, is that you have worked on the weak points mentioned in the first report. The assessment follows the same assessment criteria everywhere.
What is a § 70 course after the MPU?
A § 70 course is an officially recognised course to restore fitness to drive under § 70 FeV. It is recommended in the report if the result is borderline. With the course, the report can be turned into "fit" without you having to repeat the whole MPU.
Do I have to start my proof of abstinence again after failing the MPU?
That depends on whether your previous proof was complete and recognised. If it had gaps, was too short or a positive result occurred, you usually have to build it up again. A programme that has been valid throughout, on the other hand, should be continued without interruption if possible.