MPU preparation: how it works and how long it takes

Why is preparation the most important lever for the MPU?

Preparation (Vorbereitung) is the most important lever because the psychological interview decides your expert report (Gutachten), and what counts there is genuinely working through the issues. It is commonly stated that only about a third of participants pass the MPU (medical-psychological assessment, Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung) without preparation. With good preparation, the chances are significantly higher.

Success rates such as "over 90%" that some providers quote are advertising claims and not verified figures. What matters is not a percentage, but whether you have understood what happened back then and whether your behaviour has demonstrably changed. How the MPU works explains how the day of the assessment itself runs.

How long does MPU preparation take?

MPU preparation typically takes 2 to 3 months with 10 to 12 sessions of 60 minutes each, usually once a week. Depending on the case, there may be more or fewer sessions. In the case of dependence or repeat offences, longer support often makes sense.

However, the overall timetable is usually determined not by the counselling, but by the abstinence period of 6 or 12 months, if one is required. The proof must be complete before the MPU. So the rule is: start the abstinence programme as early as possible and run the preparation in parallel.

What happens in MPU preparation?

In MPU preparation, you work through your history step by step and develop an honest understanding of the causes. The aim is a lasting change in the problem behaviour, not answer drills.

File inspection as a starting point

The basis of any serious preparation is file inspection (Akteneinsicht) at the driving licence authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde). This is the only way to know all the facts held against you and the exact question set by the authority. Your counsellor (Berater) classifies your case on this basis, for example using the hypotheses from the assessment criteria (Beurteilungskriterien).

Working through your story

The central question is why it happened back then. This includes your pattern of consumption or behaviour, how much and how often, external triggers such as stress or crises, and the factors that lie within yourself. Statements about amounts should be honest and match your file, because assessors calculate backwards, for example, the amounts of alcohol drunk.

The three pillars of proof

A positive expert report usually requires all three pillars, credible and free of contradictions:

1. Insight into the problem: You understand your own pattern and the real cause, without trivialising.
2. Change in behaviour: You have changed something concrete, such as abstinence, a new environment or strategies for risk situations.
3. Stability and motive: The change has been tested over a sufficient period and comes from within, not just "for the driving licence".

Practising the interview

Finally, you practise the psychological interview with its three phases: past, present and future. This is not about memorised sentences, but about telling your own story calmly, concretely and in your own words.

What forms of preparation are there?

There are different forms of preparation for the MPU, which differ in depth and legal classification. Which one suits you depends on the reason and the severity of your case.

Voluntary MPU preparation by traffic psychologists is not necessarily tied to § 71 FeV (Driving Licence Regulation, Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung). Clarity of roles is also important: counselling and assessment are strictly separate. Counsellors prepare you; the expert report is prepared independently by the assessment centre (Begutachtungsstelle für Fahreignung). If your reason is points, it is worth looking at MPU because of points.

Is MPU preparation better online or in person?

MPU preparation can work equally well online or in person. What matters is the qualifications of the counsellor, a realistic timetable and a focus on genuinely working through the issues. Online sessions save travel time; some people find it easier to talk openly in person.

Choose the form in which you can take part regularly and honestly. The costs also vary widely: as a guideline (as of 2026), preparation and counselling cost around €50–2,000. MPU costs gives an overview of all items.

How do you recognise dubious providers?

You can recognise dubious providers above all by promises that no one can keep. No counselling can guarantee the result of an independent expert report.

Watch out for these warning signs:

• Pass guarantee or fixed promises of success
• Model answers to memorise – rehearsed language does not seem credible in the interview
• Unrealistic timetables, for example delaying or playing down the start of abstinence
• Non-transparent costs without a clear description of services
• Offers of "ready-made" proofs or ways around the MPU, for example via a foreign driving licence

Note: Anyone who promises a pass guarantee or model answers is not trustworthy – what counts in the interview is your genuine, documented change.

Reputable providers work with qualified professionals, state transparent costs and rely on honestly working through the issues. For legal questions, such as the lawfulness of the order, they refer you to a lawyer specialising in traffic law (Fachanwalt für Verkehrsrecht).

What happens next?

First apply for file inspection and clarify whether a proof of abstinence is required – if so, start it immediately. Then plan the preparation so that it is completed in good time before your MPU appointment. Through MPU Plus you can find suitable counselling that fits your reason.