MPU after riding a bicycle or e-scooter: blood alcohol limits and consequences

Can I get an MPU after cycling?

An MPU (medical-psychological assessment, Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung) after cycling is possible, even after a single ride with 1.6‰ or more. From this level, you are considered absolutely unfit to drive even on a bicycle. The ride is then a criminal offence, 3 points are entered in the driving aptitude register (Fahreignungsregister, "Flensburg"), and the driving licence authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) orders an MPU.

Many people underestimate this because there is no fixed blood alcohol limit for cyclists like the 0.5‰ for cars. However, § 13 FeV (Driving Licence Regulation, Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung) links the MPU to the fact that a vehicle was driven with 1.6‰ or more, and this includes bicycles.

Even below 1.6‰ you are not on the safe side on a bicycle. From as little as 0.3‰ you commit a criminal offence if you show signs of impairment or cause an accident, for example because you are weaving or fall.

What happens to my car driving licence after drunk cycling?

After drunk cycling, your car driving licence is at stake, even though you did not drive a car at all. This is because the MPU clarifies whether you are generally fit to drive motor vehicles.

Anyone who does not pass or does not take the ordered MPU loses their driving licence for cars. For many of those affected, this is the biggest surprise, because the incident "only" happened on a bicycle.

The authority's logic is understandable: in the assessors' view, high blood alcohol levels tend to indicate habitual alcohol consumption rather than a one-off slip. The question is then whether you can reliably separate drinking and driving a car. If you have received an order with a deadline, you should take the deadline seriously, otherwise your licence may be revoked.

Which blood alcohol limits apply to bicycles, e-scooters and cars?

The blood alcohol limits for bicycles, e-scooters and cars differ mainly for bicycles. E-scooters and cars, on the other hand, are treated the same, because both count as motor vehicles.

The overview shows the basic rules (as of 2026). In the case of repeated drink-driving, an MPU may also be ordered below 1.6‰, regardless of the vehicle. You can find the general rules on the alcohol MPU under MPU because of alcohol.

Why is an e-scooter treated like a car?

An e-scooter is treated like a car because it is legally a motor vehicle. That is why the same blood alcohol limits and the same MPU consequences apply as for a car.

Specifically, this means:

• From 0.5‰ you commit an administrative offence, even without signs of impairment.
• From 1.1‰ you are absolutely unfit to drive, and the ride is a criminal offence.
• For new drivers in the probationary period and drivers under 21, 0.0‰ applies.
• As with a car, an MPU may be ordered from 1.6‰, for repeated rides or for high levels without signs of impairment.

Many people see the e-scooter as a toy or a better alternative to a taxi after a beer after work. Legally, however, riding an e-scooter is not a harmless exception, but is assessed in exactly the same way as driving a car under the influence of alcohol.

For new drivers, the 0.0‰ limit is particularly important. An offence during the probationary period may initially lead to the remedial course for new drivers (Aufbauseminar für Fahranfänger, ASF), which is not an MPU. Even for new drivers, an MPU is only ordered for the genuine reasons, such as from 1.6‰, for repeated drink-driving or for drugs.

What applies to drugs on a bicycle or e-scooter?

Drugs on a bicycle or e-scooter can also lead to doubts about fitness and an MPU. Since an e-scooter is a motor vehicle, the rules for cannabis and drugs apply as for a car, for example the THC limit of 3.5 ng/ml under § 24a StVG (Road Traffic Act, Straßenverkehrsgesetz).

With hard drugs, the ride is not decisive anyway, because under § 14 FeV the use itself can rule out fitness to drive. You can find out more under MPU because of cannabis and MPU because of drugs.

How does the MPU work after a bicycle or scooter ride?

The MPU after a bicycle or scooter ride works in exactly the same way as any alcohol MPU. It consists of a questionnaire, a medical examination, a performance test and a psychological interview and takes about 3 to 4 hours in total.

The interview is not about the vehicle, but about how you deal with alcohol. The assessor asks how much and how often you drank at the time, why you rode anyway and what has changed since then. High levels tend to indicate an entrenched drinking pattern rather than a one-off. The argument "it was only a bicycle" will therefore not help you in the interview.

Depending on the case, you will have to provide a proof of abstinence (Abstinenznachweis) over 6 or 12 months or document stable controlled drinking. The page Proof of abstinence explains how this works. Realistically, the total costs are around €1,500 to €4,000 (guideline, as of 2026).

Note: This page does not replace legal advice. A lawyer specialising in traffic law (Fachanwalt für Verkehrsrecht) can check whether an order is lawful in your case.

What happens next?

Apply for file inspection (Akteneinsicht) and read the authority's question carefully, especially the deadline set. If a proof of abstinence is required, start it immediately, because it determines your timetable. Through MPU Plus you can find suitable counselling that prepares you for the MPU.