MPU because of points in Flensburg: getting your licence back from 8 points

The MPU (medical-psychological assessment, Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung) because of points is a separate reason alongside alcohol, drugs and criminal offences. The legal basis is § 4 StVG (Road Traffic Act, Straßenverkehrsgesetz), the so-called driving aptitude rating system (Fahreignungs-Bewertungssystem). The points (Punkte) are stored in the driving aptitude register (Fahreignungsregister, FAER, "Flensburg") at the Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt) in Flensburg. If you do not yet know the basics of the assessment, you can find them under What is an MPU?.

How does the points system in Flensburg work?

The driving aptitude rating system is a scale from 1 to 8 points with fixed stages, each linked to a measure by the authority. The higher your points total, the stronger the reaction – up to revocation of your driving licence at 8 points.

The stages are deliberately designed as an early warning system. So you usually receive two written signals before things get serious. This phase is exactly the best time to take countermeasures.

How many points are there for which offence?

Depending on its seriousness, an offence results in 1, 2 or 3 points. The classification depends on whether it is an administrative offence or a criminal offence and whether a driving ban or revocation was also imposed.

• 1 point: serious administrative offence
• 2 points: particularly serious administrative offence with a driving ban, or criminal offence without revocation of the driving licence
• 3 points: criminal offence with revocation of the driving licence

Everyday examples

The following examples show how quickly points can add up. What counts is always the specific notice or judgment in your case.

Anyone who collects several offences in a short time often reaches the 8-point limit faster than expected. Drink-driving and drug-driving also usually lead to a separate MPU question – more on this under MPU because of alcohol.

What happens at 8 points?

At 8 points, the driving licence authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) compulsorily revokes your driving licence. There is no discretion at this point: the law assumes that you are considered unfit to drive motor vehicles.

After revocation, a ban of at least 6 months applies, during which no new driving licence is issued. For the reissue of the licence (Neuerteilung), the authority usually requires a positive MPU expert report (Gutachten). It decides on a case-by-case basis – it looks not only at the number of points, but also at the type of offences.

Note: Apply for reissue early, about 3 months before the ban expires, because processing and the MPU take time.

After passing the MPU, your points total in the driving aptitude register is reset to 0. So you start again with a clean record. The page Ban period, deletion and time limits explains how the time limits work in detail.

Can I still reduce points before the MPU?

You can reduce points through the driving aptitude seminar (Fahreignungsseminar, FES) under § 4a StVG, but only within narrow limits. The seminar removes 1 point and is only possible if you have 1 to 5 points, and only once within 5 years. The guide Driving aptitude seminar: reducing points explains how to use the seminar in a targeted way.

From 6 points, it is no longer possible to reduce points. The seminar consists of a traffic education module and a traffic psychology module. You must submit the certificate of attendance to the authority within 2 weeks.

The FES is not a substitute for the MPU. It is an early measure that makes sense as long as you are still at 4 or 5 points. Anyone who has already been warned should honestly question their own driving style before the next offence crosses the limit.

Do I need a proof of abstinence for an MPU because of points?

A proof of abstinence (Abstinenznachweis) is usually not necessary for an MPU purely because of points. Unlike in alcohol or drug cases, this is not about consumption, but about your behaviour in road traffic and your attitude to rules.

This changes if your points include drink-driving or drug-driving. The authority can then formulate a combined question, and requirements regarding abstinence or consumption behaviour are added. The exact question asked is stated in the order – which is why file inspection (Akteneinsicht) is the first step. The page Proof of abstinence explains when proof is required.

What does the assessor talk about in an MPU because of points?

In the psychological interview for an MPU because of points, the focus is mainly on your attitude to traffic rules and whether your behaviour has changed in a stable way. The assessor wants to understand why the offences accumulated and what is different today.

According to the assessment criteria (Beurteilungskriterien), traffic offences are assigned to the so-called V hypotheses. Points cases often show a pattern of rationalising and "calculated risk": you consider yourself a good driver and the rules exaggerated in individual cases. It is exactly this way of thinking that you should become aware of.

Typical interview topics are:

• Acceptance of rules: Why are there speed limits, distances and traffic lights – and why do they apply to you too?
• Causes: Time pressure, stress, habit, overestimating yourself or a particular environment?
• Pattern instead of individual case: Why were there several offences and not just one?
• Specific change: What do you do differently today, for example in planning your time or dealing with your mobile phone?
• Stability and motive: Why does the change hold up even under pressure, and not just "for the driving licence"?

What is not convincing in the interview

Trivialising comes across as not credible particularly quickly in an MPU because of points. Statements such as "The speed cameras are only there to make money" or "Those were just minor things" show that you have not yet accepted your own responsibility.

Memorised model answers or formulaic expressions of regret do not help either. The assessor checks whether your account matches your file and whether you can describe your change in your own words and with specific examples. You can read how to prepare sensibly under MPU preparation.

How much does an MPU because of points cost?

According to guidelines (as of 2026), the fee for the expert report for an MPU because of points is around €400–650. Since 2018, each assessment centre has set its own prices, so there are only ranges.

In addition, there are the costs of preparation and the authority's fee for the reissue of around €140–260. Because an abstinence programme is usually not necessary for points, the total is often lower than in alcohol or drug cases. You can find a complete overview under MPU costs.

What happens next?

First apply for file inspection so that you know the exact question and all the recorded offences. Apply for reissue in good time and use the ban period to work through your behaviour honestly. Through MPU Plus you can find suitable counselling that fits your reason.