In short
The ban period is the time of 6 months to 5 years during which no new driving licence is issued after revocation by a court (§ 69a StGB). Deletion periods of 2.5, 5 or 10 years determine how long entries in Flensburg can be used. Both time limits help decide when and whether you need an MPU.
Several time limits run side by side around the MPU (medical-psychological assessment, Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung): the ban period (Sperrfrist) set by the court, the deletion periods (Tilgungsfristen) in the driving aptitude register (Fahreignungsregister, "Flensburg") and the deadlines set by the authority itself. If you know them, you can plan your preparation better. This page is for orientation and not legal advice – for your specific case, a lawyer specialising in traffic law (Fachanwalt für Verkehrsrecht) is the right person to contact.
The timeline calculator works out your personal timetable: enter your ban period and abstinence and see the earliest possible MPU date.
What is the ban period?
The ban period is the period during which no new driving licence may be issued to you after revocation by a court. The court sets it under § 69a StGB (German Criminal Code, Strafgesetzbuch), usually at 6 months to 5 years.
The minimum increases to 1 year if a ban has already been imposed on you once in the 3 years before the offence (§ 69a (3) StGB). In the case of revocation because of 8 points in Flensburg, a ban of at least 6 months applies – more on this under MPU because of points.
Important: when the ban period ends, you do not automatically get your driving licence back. You have to apply for the reissue of the licence (Neuerteilung), and the driving licence authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) then orders an MPU if necessary. The court imposes revocation and ban; the MPU order comes from the authority.
When should I apply for the reissue of my licence?
You should submit your application for reissue about 3 months before the ban period ends. Processing, the MPU order, the appointment and the expert report take time, and otherwise this time only starts to run after the ban has ended.
Even more important is to consider a possible proof of abstinence (Abstinenznachweis). If it is required, you have to plan 6 or 12 months before the MPU. This period is usually the factor that determines the entire timetable. Anyone who only starts the programme after the ban has expired loses months unnecessarily. You can find details under Proof of abstinence.
| Step | Timing (guideline) |
|---|---|
| Request file inspection (Akteneinsicht) | Immediately after revocation or the order |
| Start abstinence programme (if required) | As early as possible, 6 or 12 months before the MPU |
| Apply for reissue | About 3 months before the ban expires |
| MPU at an assessment centre of your choice | After the order from the authority |
| Submit positive expert report | Afterwards, within its period of acceptance |
Can the ban period be lifted early?
The court can lift the ban period early if there is reason to believe that you are no longer unfit to drive motor vehicles (§ 69a (7) StGB). This is not a gradual reduction, but a lifting as soon as the purpose of the ban has been achieved.
Early lifting is possible at the earliest when the ban has lasted at least 3 months. If there was already a ban in the 3 years before the offence, it must have lasted at least 1 year.
An important lever is immediate participation in a qualified traffic psychology or traffic therapy remedial course, for example according to recognised models such as "Mainz 77" or "Leer". It can document a change in attitude and behaviour. You submit the application with evidence to the court, usually through a lawyer. Do not confuse this with the MPU: early lifting only concerns the ban imposed by the court. The guide Shortening the ban period through a remedial course explains how to go about this in practice.
When are entries in Flensburg deleted?
Entries in the driving aptitude register are deleted after graded deletion periods, which depend on the seriousness of the offence (§ 29 (1) StVG, Road Traffic Act, Straßenverkehrsgesetz). After the deletion period has expired, there is a further transition period of 1 year (Überliegefrist), after which the entry is automatically deleted.
| Entry | Deletion period |
|---|---|
| Administrative offence with 1 point | 2.5 years |
| Administrative offence with 2 points, criminal offence without revocation | 5 years |
| Criminal offence with revocation or ban (e.g. alcohol and drug cases relevant to fitness) | 10 years |
The period generally begins when the decision becomes final (Rechtskraft). If the driving licence was revoked because of lack of fitness, the deletion period under § 29 (5) StVG only begins with the reissue, but no later than 5 years after the decision. You should have the effect of this on your case checked individually.
No more suspension of deletion since 2014
Since the reform of 1 May 2014 (01.05.2014), there has no longer been any suspension of deletion (Tilgungshemmung). Each entry is deleted independently – new offences no longer extend the periods for old entries.
The former rule, under which entries could block each other and sometimes remained stored for up to 15 years, now only applies to old cases before 1 May 2014. Anyone with older entries should therefore have it checked carefully which law applies.
What does usability mean for my MPU?
Usability (Verwertbarkeit) means that the authority may base its assessment of fitness on an entry as long as it has not yet been deleted. After deletion, the entry may no longer be used.
It follows that the timing of your application can determine whether an MPU is necessary at all. If an entry is about to be deleted, this may be relevant to your planning. This assessment is legally demanding and should always be checked individually by a lawyer specialising in traffic law.
The only legitimate way to avoid an MPU is to check whether the order can be challenged or whether time limits and usability have expired. Tricks or internet "standard solutions" are not part of this. The page Do I need an MPU? clarifies whether you are affected at all.
How long is an MPU expert report valid?
An MPU expert report (Gutachten) has no statutory expiry date. In practice, however, authorities usually only accept a report for about 1 to 3 years (guideline). The guide How long is an MPU expert report valid? shows what this means for your planning.
Submitting the report is voluntary. You do not have to submit a negative report; the authority will then not know about it. The page Failed the MPU explains what makes sense after a negative result.
If you still have your driving licence and the authority has doubts about your fitness, it usually sets you a deadline for proof of fitness. If you miss it, your licence may be revoked. You should definitely keep an eye on this deadline.
Can I get around the MPU with an EU driving licence?
Getting around the MPU with an EU driving licence is not legitimate and highly risky. An EU driving licence is only recognised in Germany if you had your normal residence in the issuing country, i.e. lived there for at least 185 days a year (residence principle, Wohnsitzprinzip).
"Complete package" offers with a sham residence generally do not meet this requirement. The European Court of Justice (EuGH) and German courts regard this as a fictitious residence. In addition, the German ban period also applies abroad: during the ban, you may not obtain a valid driving licence there either.
Note: If such a driving licence is not recognised, you are legally driving without a licence – and that is a criminal offence.
So-called driving licence tourism therefore does not save time, but can lead to new criminal proceedings. The safe route is good preparation and, if you have legal doubts, a lawyer specialising in traffic law.
What happens next?
Request file inspection so that you know your ban period, entries and the question exactly, and if necessary have questions about time limits and usability checked by a lawyer specialising in traffic law. Start any required abstinence programme immediately and apply for reissue about 3 months before the ban expires. For preparing the content, you can find suitable counselling through MPU Plus.
Frequently asked questions
Will I automatically get my driving licence back when the ban period ends?
No, after the ban period has ended, you have to actively apply for reissue. The driving licence authority then checks your fitness and orders an MPU depending on the reason. It is best to submit the application about 3 months before the ban ends.
When does the MPU requirement expire?
An MPU requirement does not expire in the strict sense, but it depends on whether the entries can still be used. After the deletion period (usually 10 years for criminal offences with revocation) and the transition period of 1 year have expired, the entry is deleted and may no longer be used. A lawyer specialising in traffic law should check whether this applies in your case.
Do new points extend the deletion period for old points?
No, since 1 May 2014 there has no longer been any suspension of deletion. Each entry is deleted independently according to its own period. The old suspension rule only applies to cases before this date.
Can I get around the MPU with a driving licence from another EU country?
There is no legitimate way to do this. An EU driving licence is only recognised if you had a genuine residence of at least 185 days a year in the issuing country, and the German ban period also applies abroad. Anyone who drives with a licence that is not recognised commits the criminal offence of driving without a licence.
How long can I use a positive MPU expert report?
A positive report has no statutory expiry date. In practice, however, authorities usually only accept it for about 1 to 3 years. So submit it promptly after the assessment.
How early can the court lift the ban?
Early lifting under § 69a (7) StGB is possible at the earliest after 3 months of the ban. If there was already a ban in the 3 years before the offence, it must have lasted at least 1 year. The requirement is that you are credibly no longer unfit, for example through a recognised remedial course.