What does BfF mean in the MPU?

BfF stands for Begutachtungsstelle für Fahreignung (assessment centre). This is the officially recognised centre that carries out your MPU and prepares the expert report, for example TÜV or DEKRA. The MPU itself, however, is ordered by the driving licence authority.

What is the difference between EtG and PEth?

EtG and PEth are both direct alcohol markers, but they are measured differently. EtG is determined in urine or hair, PEth in blood. PEth reflects consumption over roughly the last 2 to 4 weeks; a value below 20 ng/ml counts as abstinence.

What do A1 to A4 mean in the MPU?

A1 to A4 are the hypotheses for alcohol cases from the assessment criteria. A1 stands for dependence, A2 for advanced misuse, A3 for alcohol risk and A4 for cases that concern reliably separating drinking and driving. The classification determines whether abstinence is necessary or whether controlled drinking may be sufficient.

What is CTU in the MPU?

CTU stands for Chemisch-Toxikologische Untersuchung (chemical-toxicological testing). It sets out how proofs of abstinence must be carried out, for example with an accredited laboratory, unannounced appointments and complete documentation. Only proofs according to CTU criteria are recognised.

What does Sperrfrist mean for a driving licence?

The Sperrfrist (ban period) is the period during which you cannot obtain a new driving licence. The court sets it under § 69a StGB, usually between 6 months and 5 years. You should apply for reissue around 3 months before it expires.

MPU glossary: terms & abbreviations A to Z

Around the MPU (medical-psychological assessment, Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung) you will come across many abbreviations from law, medicine and traffic psychology. This glossary lists the German terms as they appear in official letters, sorts them alphabetically and explains each term briefly. What is an MPU? gives you an introduction to the topic.

A to E

Abstinenznachweis (proof of abstinence) – Documented abstention from alcohol or drugs, usually over 6 or 12 months before the MPU. It must be provided according to CTU criteria in an accredited laboratory; details under Proof of abstinence.
Akteneinsicht (file inspection) – Inspection of your file at the driving licence authority. It shows you all the facts held against you and the exact question, and it is the basis of any serious preparation.
ASF (Aufbauseminar für Fahranfänger) (remedial course for new drivers) – Compulsory course for offences during the probationary period, with 4 sessions of 135 minutes each. The ASF is not an MPU and extends the probationary period by 2 years.
BAK (Blutalkoholkonzentration) (blood alcohol concentration) – Alcohol content in the blood, given in per mille (‰). From 1.6‰ when driving, an MPU is ordered; from 1.1‰, there is absolute unfitness to drive.
Begutachtungsleitlinien zur Kraftfahreignung (Guidelines for Assessing Fitness to Drive) – Professional standard of the Federal Highway Research Institute (Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen, BASt) for assessing fitness to drive. They also apply to medical questions such as epilepsy or diabetes.
Behördliche Fragestellung (question set by the authority) – The specific question that the driving licence authority asks in the MPU order. The expert report answers exactly this question.
Beurteilungskriterien (assessment criteria) – The guideline "Forming a judgement in fitness-to-drive assessments" (Urteilsbildung in der Fahreignungsbegutachtung) of the professional societies DGVP and DGVM, according to which assessors evaluate. The 5th edition of 2026 currently applies.
BfF (Begutachtungsstelle für Fahreignung) (assessment centre) – Officially recognised centre that carries out the MPU, for example TÜV, DEKRA, pima-mpu, AVUS or ias. You may choose it freely.
Chain of Custody – Complete documentation of the sample chain for the proof of abstinence, from the identity check to the laboratory. If it is missing, the proof may be worthless.
Corporal – Computer-based test system for the performance and reaction test. It is used at assessment centres alongside the Vienna Test System.
CTU (Chemisch-Toxikologische Untersuchung) (chemical-toxicological testing) – Standard for proofs of abstinence with fixed rules on the laboratory, unannounced appointments and documentation. Only proofs according to CTU criteria are recognised for the MPU.
EtG (Ethylglucuronid) (ethyl glucuronide) – Direct alcohol marker, detectable in urine for about 24 to 80 hours and in hair retrospectively for about 3 months. EtG can also be triggered by foods containing alcohol or by mouthwash.

F to J

FAER (Fahreignungsregister) (driving aptitude register) – The register in Flensburg in which points and decisions relevant to fitness to drive are stored. It is kept by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, KBA).
Fahrerlaubnisbehörde (driving licence authority) – The driving licence office (Führerscheinstelle) of your city or district. It orders the MPU and decides on issuing the driving licence.
Fahrverhaltensprobe (driving behaviour test) – A real drive under observation, possible as compensation if the performance test is weak. A weak test result alone therefore rarely leads to failure.
FES (Fahreignungsseminar) (driving aptitude seminar) – Voluntary seminar under § 4a StVG that removes 1 point if you have 1 to 5 points. It is only possible once in 5 years and is not a substitute for an MPU.
FeV (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung) (Driving Licence Regulation) – Regulation containing the central rules on ordering an MPU. Important are § 11 (general fitness), § 13 (alcohol), § 13a (cannabis) and § 14 (drugs and medicines).
Führerscheintourismus (driving licence tourism) – Obtaining an EU driving licence via a sham residence in order to get around the MPU. Because of the residence principle, such a licence is generally not recognised in Germany.
Giftfestigkeit (tolerance) – A high blood alcohol level without signs of impairment as a sign of strong alcohol habituation. Assessors conclude from this that there has been regular consumption over a longer period.
Haaranalyse (hair analysis) – Proof of abstinence using a hair sample; for alcohol, a maximum of 3 cm of hair for about 3 months. Dyed or bleached hair makes the EtG hair analysis unusable.
Hypothese (hypothesis) – Case group from the assessment criteria, for example A1 to A4 for alcohol, D1 to D3 for drugs or V1 to V3 for traffic offences. It determines what you have to prove for a positive expert report.
Idiotentest ("idiot test") – Colloquial name for the MPU. However, the MPU is not an intelligence test; it examines your change in behaviour.

K to O

KBA (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt) (Federal Motor Transport Authority) – Federal authority that keeps the driving aptitude register in Flensburg. Your points are stored there.
Kontrolliertes Trinken (controlled drinking) – Alternative to abstinence for alcohol, with fixed rules on amounts and occasions and always 0.0‰ at the wheel. It is only possible without a finding of dependence and if your file fits.
Kurs nach § 70 FeV (course under § 70 FeV) – Officially recognised course to restore fitness to drive. It can turn a borderline MPU result into "fit" if the expert report recommends it.
Leberwerte (GGT, GOT, GPT, CDT, MCV) (liver values) – Indirect alcohol markers from the medical examination. Today they hardly play a role in the proof of abstinence.
Leistungstest (performance test) – Computer test of reaction, concentration, perception and ability to cope with pressure, lasting about 30 to 40 minutes. It is one of the three components of the MPU and is easy to practise.
Medikamentenprivileg (medication privilege) – Rule in § 24a (4) StVG under which taking prescribed medicines as intended, including medical cannabis, is not an administrative offence. It does not protect you if you are unfit to drive.
Medizinische MPU (medical MPU) – MPU because of an illness or long-term medication under § 11 FeV, for example in the case of epilepsy, diabetes or eyesight problems. A specialist medical report is often enough at first; more under medical MPU.
MPU (Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung) (medical-psychological assessment) – Fitness-to-drive assessment that clarifies whether you can drive safely again after an incident. It consists of a medical examination, a performance test and a psychological interview.
Negatives Gutachten (negative expert report) – MPU result according to which fitness to drive is not confirmed. You do not have to submit it to the authority; more under Failed the MPU.

P to S

PEth (Phosphatidylethanol) (phosphatidylethanol) – Alcohol marker in the blood that reflects consumption over roughly the last 2 to 4 weeks. A value below 20 ng/ml counts as abstinence.
Prozentrang (percentile rank) – Result in the performance test compared with a standard sample. Minimum requirements apply for the MPU.
Psychologisches Gespräch (psychological interview) – Interview with a traffic psychologist lasting 45 to 60 minutes. It is the most important part of the MPU and examines insight, change and stability.
Sperrfrist (ban period) – Period set by the court under § 69a StGB during which no new driving licence is issued. It is usually 6 months to 5 years.
StGB (Strafgesetzbuch) (German Criminal Code) – Law containing the rules on revocation and ban (§ 69, § 69a) and on typical traffic offences. These include hit-and-run (§ 142), coercion (§ 240) and endangering road traffic (§ 315c).
StVG (Straßenverkehrsgesetz) (Road Traffic Act) – Law with basic rules on fitness to drive, points (§ 4) and deletion (§ 29). § 24a contains the THC limit of 3.5 ng/ml.

T to Z

THC und THC-COOH (THC and THC-COOH) – THC is the active ingredient of cannabis, THC-COOH its breakdown product. In road traffic, a limit of 3.5 ng/ml THC in blood serum applies.
Tilgung (deletion) – Deletion of an entry in the driving aptitude register after graded periods of 2.5, 5 or 10 years (§ 29 StVG). Once the deletion date has been reached, a transition period follows.
Trennvermögen (ability to separate) – The ability to reliably separate alcohol consumption and driving. It corresponds to hypothesis A4 in the assessment criteria.
Überliegefrist (transition period) – Additional year after the deletion date before an entry in the driving aptitude register is finally deleted. Only then can it no longer be used.
Urinscreening (urine screening) – Proof of abstinence through unannounced urine samples given under observation. 4 tests in 6 months or 6 tests in 12 months are usual.
Verhaltenstransfer (behaviour transfer) – Principle according to which offences outside road traffic can also affect your fitness to drive. The authority assumes that problematic patterns carry over to driving.
Verkehrspsychologische Beratung nach § 71 FeV (traffic psychology counselling under § 71 FeV) – Officially recognised counselling, mainly for new drivers in the probationary period. Voluntary MPU preparation with traffic psychologists is related in content, but not necessarily tied to it.
Verkehrstherapie (traffic therapy) – More intensive, longer-term support, for example in the case of dependence or repeat offences. More on the forms of preparation under MPU preparation.
Verwertbarkeit (usability) – The question of whether an entry may still be used to assess your fitness to drive. After deletion, this is no longer permitted.
Wiener Testsystem (WTS) (Vienna Test System) – Widely used computer system for the MPU performance test. Among other things, it measures reaction, concentration and ability to cope with time pressure.
Wohnsitzprinzip (residence principle) – Rule under which an EU driving licence is only recognised if you lived in the issuing country for at least 185 days a year. Sham residences generally do not meet this requirement.

What happens next?

Now that you can place the terms in your order, file inspection is your next step. Start any required proof of abstinence as early as possible, because it usually determines your timetable. Through MPU Plus you can find suitable counselling.

MPU glossary: all the key terms around the MPU explained