File inspection (Akteneinsicht) at the driving licence authority (Führerscheinstelle) means that you read the authority's file on your case before you prepare for the MPU (medical-psychological assessment, Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung). Only then do you know the authority's exact question and all the facts you are accused of. Without this step, you are preparing for a case that you only know from your own memory.
Why is file inspection the basis of any MPU preparation?
File inspection is the basis because the expert report (Gutachten) answers exactly one question: the specific question put by the driving licence authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde), which is tied to the reason for the MPU. If you do not know this question, you can neither collect evidence in a targeted way nor prepare for the interview.
There is a second reason: in the psychological interview, the assessor checks the consistency between the file, the questionnaire, the lab results and your account. Contradictions, for example between the amount you say you drank and the measured blood alcohol level (in ‰), stand out immediately and are among the common reasons for failing. So you should know what is in the file before you talk about your case.
Third, the timetable depends on the file. Whether proof of abstinence (Abstinenznachweis) over 6 or 12 months is needed, and for which substances, follows from the reason and your history. You can find more on how to assess this on the page Do I need an MPU?.
What do you learn from the driving licence file?
From the driving licence file you mainly learn the authority's question and the facts on which the authority relies. When reading, you should look specifically for these points:
- Reason and legal basis: for example alcohol under § 13 FeV (Driving Licence Regulation, Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung), cannabis under § 13a FeV, drugs under § 14 FeV, points (Punkte) under § 4 StVG (Road Traffic Act) or a medical question under § 11 FeV.
- The exact question: it determines what the expert report has to clarify.
- Facts you are accused of: date, time, situation, blood alcohol or THC levels, signs of impairment or their absence.
- Earlier incidents: other journeys, entries in the driving aptitude register (Fahreignungsregister, „Flensburg“), criminal offences outside road traffic.
- Deadlines: by when the authority expects proof of fitness to drive if you still have your licence.
Details such as „no signs of impairment despite high levels“ are particularly important. The assessor treats high blood alcohol levels without impairment as an indication of alcohol tolerance. The story of a one-off slip then does not fit the file.
How do you request file inspection step by step?
You request file inspection from the driving licence authority responsible for your place of residence. Procedures differ from authority to authority. The following steps are therefore a guide:
- Find out which authority is responsible: this is the driving licence authority for your place of residence, not the court. The court imposes the withdrawal and the ban period (Sperrfrist); the MPU order comes from the authority.
- Have your documents ready: the file reference (Aktenzeichen) from the authority's letters, the judgment or penalty order (Strafbefehl), your personal details.
- Make a written request: short, factual, with the file reference. You will find a sample text further below.
- Agree on the form of inspection: ask whether the inspection takes place on site or whether copies are possible, and whether there are any costs.
- Evaluate the file thoroughly: note down the question, levels and accusations. Mark anything that is unclear.
- Transfer the result to your planning: align your abstinence programme, preparation and timing of the application with the file.
Tip: Make the request as early as possible. An abstinence period of 6 or 12 months is usually the bottleneck of the whole plan.
What could a request for file inspection look like?
A request for file inspection can be short and factual. The following text is a neutrally worded example, not legal advice. Replace the details in square brackets and adapt the text to your situation. The letter itself should be written in German; the English meaning is given here.
[Your first and last name], [street, house number], [postcode, town]
An: [name of the driving licence authority], [address]
[Town], den [date]
Betreff: Antrag auf Akteneinsicht – Aktenzeichen [file reference], geboren am [date of birth]
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
hiermit beantrage ich Einsicht in die bei Ihnen geführte Akte zu meiner Fahrerlaubnis. Bitte teilen Sie mir mit, wann und in welcher Form die Einsicht möglich ist und ob mir Kopien der Unterlagen zur Verfügung gestellt werden können. Falls hierfür Kosten entstehen, bitte ich vorab um einen Hinweis.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
[Signature]
Send the request to the authority in German, as shown above. What it says: Subject: Application for file inspection – file reference [file reference], born on [date of birth] Dear Sir or Madam, I hereby apply for inspection of the file you hold on my driving licence. Please let me know when and in what form the inspection is possible and whether copies of the documents can be made available to me. If there are any costs involved, I would ask you to let me know in advance. Yours faithfully
As a rule, the request does not need anything more. Justifications, excuses or descriptions of the incident do not belong in this letter.
Which mistakes should you avoid around file inspection?
The most common mistake is to skip file inspection altogether and rely on your own memory. You then often lack exactly the details the assessor will ask about later.
- Requesting too late: if you only look at the file shortly before the MPU appointment, you can no longer complete a necessary abstinence programme in time.
- Only skimming it: levels, dates and the exact question should be written down.
- Playing down the file: in the interview, what counts is an honest account that matches the file, not a glossed-over version.
- Overlooking earlier entries: older incidents or offences outside road traffic can also be taken into account in the assessment.
When should you involve a lawyer?
A lawyer makes sense if you have doubts about the order, about deadlines or about whether individual facts may be used. A legal review can clarify whether the MPU order is lawful, because not every order is.
One important point is the driving aptitude register. Entries are deleted after periods set out in § 29 StVG: 2.5 years, 5 years or 10 years, depending on severity. Once an entry has been deleted, it may no longer be used as a basis for assessing fitness to drive. The time at which you apply can therefore decide whether an MPU is needed at all. You should have this checked individually by a specialist lawyer for traffic law (Fachanwalt für Verkehrsrecht). You can find more on timing under MPU deadlines.
What do you do with the information after inspecting the file?
After inspecting the file, you use the information to align your preparation with the actual question. The file shows which topics are certain to come up in the interview.
If proof of abstinence is required, you should start the programme immediately. It must be run by a laboratory accredited to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 and must have no gaps. Details are on the page Proof of abstinence.
For the interview, the rule is: honest information that matches the file. If you play down amounts or describe accusations differently from how they are documented, you lose credibility. You can read how serious preparation is structured under MPU preparation. The next formal step is explained in the guide Applying for the reissue of your driving licence.
What you can do now
- Find your file reference and identify the responsible driving licence authority.
- Submit a written request for file inspection using the sample text.
- Evaluate the file: note down the question, legal basis, levels and earlier entries.
- Clarify open legal questions about the order, deadlines or whether facts may be used with a specialist lawyer for traffic law.
- Plan your preparation and find suitable preparation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to give a reason when I request file inspection?
No, a detailed reason is usually not necessary. It is enough to identify yourself as the person concerned, give the file reference and ask for inspection. Descriptions of the incident do not belong in the request.
Can a lawyer request the file for me?
Yes, a lawyer can apply for file inspection on your behalf and review the file legally at the same time. This is a good idea if you have doubts about the order, about deadlines or about whether entries may be used.
Will the file tell me whether I need 6 or 12 months of abstinence?
The file provides the basis for this assessment. The reason, levels and history show how seriously the case is classified, and this determines whether 6 or 12 months of proof of abstinence make sense. Clarify this before starting the programme.
Is it enough if I remember the incident?
No, your memory does not replace the file. The assessor compares your statements with the file and the lab results, and discrepancies stand out immediately. That is why you should know exactly what is documented.
