In short
The MPU (medical-psychological assessment, Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung) is an assessment of fitness to drive. It clarifies whether you can take part safely in road traffic again after an incident such as drink-driving, drug use or 8 points. It is ordered by the driving licence authority and carried out by an officially recognised assessment centre (BfF).
What exactly does MPU mean?
The MPU is the medical-psychological assessment (Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung), an expert report (Gutachten) on your fitness to drive. It answers a specific question: after a previous incident, can you drive a vehicle safely again without the problem recurring?
The MPU is not a punishment and not a test of your general knowledge. It is an instrument for preventing danger. The authority wants to know whether the cause of your incident has changed to such an extent that you no longer pose an increased risk.
The legal basis is set out in the Road Traffic Act (Straßenverkehrsgesetz, StVG) and the Driving Licence Regulation (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung, FeV). The key provisions are:
- § 11 FeV – general fitness, e.g. in the case of illness
- § 13 FeV – alcohol
- § 13a FeV – cannabis (since 2024)
- § 14 FeV – narcotics and medicines other than cannabis
- § 4 StVG – driving aptitude register and points
Who orders the MPU and who carries it out?
The MPU is ordered by the driving licence authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde / Führerscheinstelle) and carried out by an independent assessment centre (Begutachtungsstelle für Fahreignung, BfF). This distinction is important, because many people believe that the court or the police demand the MPU.
In the case of a criminal offence, the court imposes the revocation of the driving licence and a ban period (Sperrfrist, § 69a StGB). The MPU order, however, always comes from the authority, usually when you apply for the reissue of your licence (Neuerteilung) after the ban has expired.
The authority formulates a question (behördliche Fragestellung) linked to your reason. The expert report answers exactly this question. That is why you should always read the order carefully and request file inspection (Akteneinsicht) beforehand.
| Role | Who? | Task |
|---|---|---|
| Order | Driving licence authority | Sets the reason and the question, decides on the driving licence |
| Assessment | Officially recognised BfF, e.g. TÜV, DEKRA, pima-mpu, AVUS, ias | Examines you and prepares the expert report |
| Preparation | Counselling, traffic psychology, traffic therapy | Helps you work through the causes, but does not assess |
You may choose freely among the officially recognised assessment centres. Counselling and assessment are strictly separate: whoever prepares you does not write your expert report.
What parts does the MPU consist of?
The MPU always consists of three parts: a medical examination, a performance test and a psychological interview. In addition, you fill in a standardised questionnaire beforehand. In total, the appointment takes about 3 to 4 hours.
Medical examination
The medical examination takes around 30 to 40 minutes. A doctor carries out a physical examination, talks to you about the reason and your consumption habits and evaluates laboratory values, for alcohol for example liver values such as GGT or CDT. You present proofs of abstinence (Abstinenznachweise) here in the original.
Performance and reaction test
The performance test also takes around 30 to 40 minutes and is done on a computer, usually on the Vienna Test System (Wiener Testsystem) or Corporal. It tests reaction, concentration, perception and ability to cope with time pressure. The test is easy to practise, and if the result is weak, a driving behaviour test (Fahrverhaltensprobe) is often possible to compensate.
Psychological interview
The psychological interview takes 45 to 60 minutes and is the most important part of the MPU. A traffic psychologist checks whether you have understood the causes of your incident and whether your change is stable, documented and motivated from within. You can find more about this under How the MPU works.
For which reasons is an MPU ordered?
An MPU is ordered if facts give rise to doubts about your fitness to drive. The most common reasons are alcohol, cannabis, other drugs, 8 points, criminal offences involving aggression and certain illnesses.
| Reason | Typical threshold | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Drink-driving | from 1.6‰ blood alcohol concentration (BAK), below that if repeated, possible from 1.1‰ without signs of impairment | § 13 FeV |
| Cannabis | usually from the 2nd drive above 3.5 ng/ml THC, with additional facts even on the 1st | § 13a FeV |
| Hard drugs | even one-off use can be enough, even without driving | § 14 FeV |
| Points | 8 points in the driving aptitude register | § 4 StVG |
| Criminal offences, aggression | e.g. coercion, hit-and-run, illegal racing, bodily harm | § 11 (3) FeV |
| Bicycle and e-scooter | bicycle from 1.6‰, e-scooter as for a car | § 13 FeV |
| Illness, medication | e.g. epilepsy, diabetes, eyesight | § 11 FeV |
You can check step by step whether you are affected under Do I need an MPU?. You can find the details on alcohol under MPU because of alcohol.
Roughly how much does an MPU cost?
Realistically, an MPU costs around €1,500 to €4,000 in total (guideline, as of 2026). Since 2018, each assessment centre has set its own prices, so there are only ranges.
The fee for the expert report alone is around €400 to €900, depending on the reason. The biggest differences come from proofs of abstinence for alcohol or drugs and the scope of the preparation. On top of this comes the authority's fee for the reissue. You can find a detailed breakdown with sample calculations under MPU costs.
How long does the route to the MPU take?
The MPU appointment itself only takes 3 to 4 hours, but the route there often takes many months. In most cases, the timetable is determined by the abstinence period, if one is required.
- Ban period: in the case of revocation by a court, usually 6 months to 5 years (§ 69a StGB).
- Proof of abstinence: usually 6 or 12 months before the MPU, documented according to CTU criteria.
- Preparation: typically 10 to 12 sessions over 2 to 3 months.
- Application for reissue: submit it about 3 months before the ban expires.
If you have to prove abstinence, you should start the programme as early as possible. How to do this correctly is explained under Proof of abstinence.
Do I have to submit the expert report to the authority?
You receive the MPU expert report yourself, and submitting it to the authority is voluntary. You do not have to submit a negative report; the authority will then learn nothing of its content.
A report can be positive, negative or contain a course recommendation. With a course recommendation, a recognised course under § 70 FeV can still turn a borderline result into "fit". The report has no statutory expiry date, but in practice authorities usually only accept it for about 1 to 3 years.
If you do not pass, it is not the definitive end. You can repeat the MPU, but you should first analyse the reasons and genuinely work through them. You can find tips on this under Failed the MPU.
Is the MPU really an "idiot test"?
The MPU is not an intelligence test, even though it is colloquially called the "idiot test" (Idiotentest). Nobody checks how clever you are. What is checked is whether you have understood your past behaviour and changed it for good.
Failing therefore rarely has anything to do with a lack of intelligence. Typical reasons are trivialising, memorised model answers, contradictions between statements and laboratory values, or a proof of abstinence started too late. Many people do not pass without preparation; those who prepare honestly and thoroughly have significantly better chances.
Note: Reputable preparation never promises a pass guarantee. What counts is genuine, documented change, not memorised answers.
"Shortcuts" such as an EU driving licence with a sham residence are not a solution either. Because of the residence principle (Wohnsitzprinzip), such a licence is generally not recognised in Germany, and anyone who drives with it risks a penalty for driving without a licence.
What happens next?
The first step is file inspection at your driving licence authority, because this is the only way to know the reason and the question. If abstinence could be required, start early with a recognised programme. Through MPU Plus you can find suitable counselling that fits your case. For legal questions about the order, a lawyer specialising in traffic law (Fachanwalt für Verkehrsrecht) can help.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an MPU take on the day of the assessment?
The MPU appointment takes about 3 to 4 hours. It includes a questionnaire, the medical examination, the computer-based performance test and the psychological interview. Allow the whole morning or afternoon and arrive well rested and on time.
Can I choose the MPU centre myself?
Yes, you may choose the assessment centre freely, as long as it is officially recognised. These include, for example, TÜV, DEKRA, pima-mpu, AVUS or ias. Prices differ because each centre has set its own fees since 2018.
Will the driving licence authority find out if I fail?
No, you do not have to submit a negative report. Submitting it is voluntary; only you and the assessment centre know the report. The authority only decides on the basis of the report that you actually submit.
Who pays for the MPU?
You bear the costs of the MPU yourself. These include the report fee, proofs of abstinence if applicable, preparation and the fee for the reissue. Realistically, this adds up to around €1,500 to €4,000 in total (guideline 2026).
Can I practise the performance test beforehand?
Yes, the performance test is easy to practise, for example with free simulators. It tests reaction, concentration and ability to cope with pressure. A weak test result alone rarely causes failure, because a driving behaviour test is often possible to compensate.