In short
An MPU because of criminal offences may be ordered if offences in or outside road traffic suggest a lack of self-control, little respect for rules or aggression. Typical examples are hit-and-run, coercion, dangerous interference with road traffic or bodily harm. What counts in the expert report is not remorse, but a comprehensible, stable change in your behaviour.
The MPU (medical-psychological assessment, Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung) because of criminal offences is a separate reason alongside alcohol, drugs and points. It affects people whose behaviour raises doubts about their fitness to drive in terms of character – even if no alcohol or drugs were involved. The page Do I need an MPU? gives an overview of all reasons.
Which criminal offences lead to an MPU?
An MPU because of criminal offences is typically ordered after offences that indicate a lack of self-control, little commitment to norms or a high potential for aggression. These include both traffic offences and offences outside road traffic.
Common reasons are:
- § 142 StGB (German Criminal Code, Strafgesetzbuch) – leaving the scene of an accident without permission (hit-and-run, Fahrerflucht)
- § 315b StGB – dangerous interference with road traffic
- § 315c StGB – endangering road traffic
- § 315d StGB – prohibited motor vehicle races and speeding
- § 240 StGB – coercion (Nötigung), for example through tailgating or brake-checking
- Bodily harm (Körperverletzung) – in traffic, for example after an argument at traffic lights, or outside traffic
The order (Anordnung) states which offence your case is based on and what question the authority is asking. The order comes from the driving licence authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde), not from the court. The court may impose revocation and a ban period (Sperrfrist); the MPU order then follows in the administrative procedure.
Why do offences outside road traffic count too?
Offences outside road traffic count because of the principle of behaviour transfer (Verhaltenstransfer). The authority assumes that problematic patterns of behaviour – such as impulsive aggression or a tendency to disregard rules – also carry over "behind the wheel".
Bodily harm in a pub or repeated violent offences can therefore raise doubts about your fitness to drive, even though you were not driving at all. What matters is not where the offence took place, but what it says about your self-control and how you deal with conflicts.
For many of those affected, this is difficult to understand at first. However, it helps to understand this idea before you start preparing. Anyone who only stresses in the interview that the offence "has nothing to do with driving" misses the actual question.
What matters for the individual offences?
For every offence, the assessor is mainly interested in what pattern lies behind it and whether you have this pattern under control today. The following table provides general orientation. It does not replace dealing with your specific case.
| Offence | Typical example | What matters in the MPU |
|---|---|---|
| Hit-and-run (§ 142 StGB) | Driving on after an accident without the parties' details being established | Dealing with responsibility and fear of consequences, honesty |
| Dangerous interference (§ 315b StGB) | Deliberately endangering others with the vehicle | Impulse control, insight into your own potential for endangering others |
| Endangering road traffic (§ 315c StGB) | Grossly improper and reckless driving | Willingness to take risks, consideration for others, acceptance of rules |
| Prohibited racing (§ 315d StGB) | Racing or speeding in public traffic | Dealing with speed, self-esteem and recognition from those around you |
| Coercion (§ 240 StGB) | Tailgating, brake-checking, pressuring others | Managing anger and stress, dealing with conflicts |
| Bodily harm | Physical violence in an argument, in or outside traffic | Triggers of aggression, de-escalation strategies, stability of the change |
In many cases, the topics overlap. Anyone who has come to attention for coercion and bodily harm, for example, must above all show how they deal with anger and provocation today.
What do assessors want to see in an MPU because of criminal offences?
In an MPU because of criminal offences, assessors want to see a fundamental, stable change in behaviour – not a formulaic expression of remorse. "I'm sorry, it will never happen again" is not enough if you cannot explain why it happened and what has specifically changed since then.
The evaluation is based on the assessment criteria (Beurteilungskriterien, DGVP/DGVM, 5th edition 2026). They assign traffic and criminal offence cases to the so-called V hypotheses. These determine what has to be proven.
| Hypothesis | Brief description | What is required |
|---|---|---|
| V1 | Generalised disorder of emotional or social development, significant or repeated offences | Therapeutically supported process of change, tested over a longer period |
| V2 | Entrenched problematic patterns of behaviour with reduced adaptability | Awareness of your own part in the problem and documented change |
| V3 | Least conspicuous, socially integrated, tendency to rationalise | Change of attitude and insight into your own risk |
Which hypothesis is likely in your case depends on your file – i.e. on the type, seriousness and frequency of the offences, not on your wishes. This also determines how extensive and how long the process of working through them should be.
The three pillars of a positive expert report
A positive expert report (Gutachten) usually requires three things that fit together credibly and without contradictions:
- Insight into the problem and understanding of the causes: You can explain which situations, thoughts and feelings led to the offence – and what your own part was.
- Change in behaviour: You have developed specific strategies, for example for dealing with anger, feeling hurt or time pressure.
- Stability and motive: The change has been tested over a sufficient period and holds up even under stress, because it matters to you personally.
Which mistakes often lead to failing an MPU because of criminal offences?
Common mistakes are blaming others, trivialising and rehearsed answers. Anyone who looks for the responsibility in the other road user, the victim or the circumstances shows the assessor that they have not yet understood their own role.
Contradictions between the questionnaire, the interview and the file are just as critical. The assessor knows your file and checks whether your account matches it. You can find out how the interview is structured under How the MPU works.
Other typical pitfalls:
- Presenting the offence as a one-off slip, although the file shows a pattern
- Only naming symptoms ("I was stressed") instead of the underlying patterns
- Announcing changes instead of already living them ("From now on I'll stay calmer")
- Naming only the driving licence as your motive
How do I prepare for an MPU because of aggression?
Preparing for an MPU because of criminal offences or aggression is above all about genuinely working through the issues and not about practising answers. The aim is to understand your triggers, try out new strategies in everyday life and be able to talk about them honestly and concretely.
Traffic psychology preparation typically comprises 10–12 sessions of 60 minutes each, usually once a week over 2–3 months, more or less depending on the case. For more deeply rooted patterns, such as those corresponding to hypothesis V1, longer-term therapeutic support may be advisable. Reputable providers do not give a pass guarantee or model answers.
Since, with this type of question, there is usually no abstinence period determining the timetable, you can start working through the issues immediately. What matters is that the change has been lived for long enough by the time of the MPU. More on this under MPU preparation.
How much does an MPU because of criminal offences cost?
According to guidelines (as of 2026), the fee for the expert report for an MPU because of criminal offences is around €500–700. For combined questions, such as a criminal offence and alcohol, it is around €650–900.
In addition, there are costs for preparation and for the reissue by the authority. You can find a detailed breakdown under MPU costs. Whether the order itself is lawful can be clarified by a legal review by a lawyer specialising in traffic law (Fachanwalt für Verkehrsrecht).
What happens next?
First request file inspection (Akteneinsicht) so that you know which offences the authority has on record and which question the expert report is to answer. Then start working through the issues honestly at an early stage so that your change is stable by the time of the assessment. Through MPU Plus you can find suitable counselling.
Frequently asked questions
Can a fight without a car lead to an MPU?
Yes, bodily harm outside road traffic can also trigger an MPU. According to the principle of behaviour transfer, the authority assumes that aggressive patterns can also carry over to driving. What matters is what the offence says about your self-control.
Who orders the MPU after a criminal offence – the court?
The MPU is ordered by the driving licence authority, not by the court. The court can revoke the driving licence and set a ban period. The authority then formulates the specific question for the expert report.
Is it enough to show remorse in the interview?
No, remorse alone is not enough. The assessor wants to understand why the offence happened, what strategies you use today and whether this change has been stable over a longer period. Memorised apologies tend to seem less credible.
Do I need a proof of abstinence for an MPU because of coercion?
For an MPU purely because of criminal offences or aggression, a proof of abstinence (Abstinenznachweis) is usually not necessary. It is different if alcohol or drugs played a role in the offence. The question in the order is decisive.
Can I challenge the MPU order?
Not every order is lawful, so a review can be worthwhile. This concerns, for example, the reason, time limits and whether the offences can still be used. It is best to clarify this question with a lawyer specialising in traffic law.