With the driving aptitude seminar (Fahreignungsseminar, FES) you can remove 1 point (Punkt) from the driving aptitude register (Fahreignungsregister, „Flensburg“). However, this is only possible if you have 1 to 5 points, and only once within 5 years (§ 4 (7) StVG, Road Traffic Act). From 6 points onwards, no reduction is possible, so it pays to act early. The page MPU for points explains what you face at 8 points.
How does reducing points with the driving aptitude seminar work?
Reducing points works like this: you voluntarily attend the driving aptitude seminar, submit the certificate of attendance to the driving licence authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde), and 1 point is deducted. The legal bases are § 4a StVG for the seminar and § 4 (7) StVG for the deduction of points.
The seminar consists of two coordinated parts: a traffic-educational and a traffic-psychological module. The aim is for you to recognise and eliminate safety-relevant shortcomings in your behaviour in traffic and at the wheel.
Three conditions apply to the deduction:
- Points balance 1 to 5: what counts is the balance on the day the certificate of attendance is issued.
- Once in 5 years: a further deduction is only possible after this period has expired.
- Submit the certificate within 2 weeks of the end of the seminar to the authority.
Caution: If you miss the 2-week deadline for the certificate, you risk the point not being deducted. Plan to submit it straight after the last session.
What are the points levels and when does the FES help?
The driving aptitude rating system (Fahreignungs-Bewertungssystem) has four levels, and the FES only helps in the first two. The levels are set out in § 4 (5) StVG:
| Points balance | Level | Measure by the authority | Points reduction via FES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Registration (Vormerkung) | No measure | Possible (1 point) |
| 4–5 | Admonition (Ermahnung) | Written admonition with reference to the voluntary FES | Possible (1 point) |
| 6–7 | Warning (Verwarnung) | Written warning, warning of withdrawal | Not possible |
| 8 and more | Withdrawal (Entziehung) | Driving licence is withdrawn | Not possible |
The authority does not decide on the basis of the number of points alone but also takes the type of offences into account. You can find a detailed overview of points and the MPU (medical-psychological assessment, Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung) under MPU for points.
How many points are there for typical offences?
An offence earns 1, 2 or 3 points, depending on its severity. This helps you judge how quickly you could slip into a critical level.
- 1 point: serious administrative offences, for example speeding by 21 km/h or more, a simple red-light offence or using a mobile phone at the wheel.
- 2 points: particularly serious administrative offences with a driving ban, such as speeding by 31 km/h in built-up areas or 41 km/h outside built-up areas, a qualified red-light offence, or criminal offences without withdrawal of the licence.
- 3 points: criminal offences with withdrawal of the driving licence.
So two or three offences with 2 points are already enough to reach the admonition or warning level.
What does the seminar give you beyond the one point?
Beyond the one point, the seminar above all gives you an honest look at your own driving behaviour. That is exactly what the traffic-psychological module is about: recognising and eliminating shortcomings before they lead to more points.
This is also relevant for a possible later MPU. In points cases, the assessor examines attitude and behaviour, for example whether someone rationalises offences or drives with a „calculated risk“. If you address such patterns early, in the best case you prevent things from getting that far at all.
When are points deleted without a seminar?
Without a seminar, points are deleted according to the deletion periods (Tilgungsfristen) in § 29 (1) StVG. The period depends on the severity of the entry and begins when the decision becomes final (Rechtskraft).
| Entry | Deletion period |
|---|---|
| Administrative offence with 1 point | 2.5 years |
| Administrative offence with 2 points or criminal offence without withdrawal | 5 years |
| Criminal offence with withdrawal or ban | 10 years |
Once the entry is due for deletion, there is an additional holding period (Überliegefrist) of 1 year, after which the entry is deleted. Since 1 May 2014, each entry has been deleted independently. New offences therefore no longer extend the period for old entries. You can find more on deadlines under MPU deadlines.
How do you take action before reaching 8 points?
The best way to take action is to respond while you are still at 1 to 5 points. From 6 points onwards, you can no longer reduce points through the seminar, and at 8 points the driving licence is mandatorily withdrawn.
A sensible strategy in steps:
- Know your points balance: get an overview of how many points are registered and when they will be deleted.
- Use the FES in good time: the admonition at 4 or 5 points is the right moment at the latest. What counts is the balance when the certificate is issued.
- Submit the certificate on time: within 2 weeks of the end of the seminar.
- Really change your driving behaviour: the seminar is only worth 1 point. What matters is that no new points are added until old ones have been deleted.
- Take a warning seriously: with 6 or 7 points, every further offence puts your licence at risk.
Important for context: the FES is an early measure and not a substitute for an MPU. If you already have 8 points, you can no longer prevent the withdrawal with it.
What happens if you do reach 8 points?
At 8 points, the driving licence is withdrawn because under § 4 (5) StVG you are considered unfit to drive. A new driving licence is available at the earliest 6 months after the withdrawal takes effect (§ 4 (10) StVG), and the authority usually orders an MPU.
The points MPU is usually about attitude and behaviour; proof of abstinence (Abstinenznachweis) is generally not required. After passing the MPU, the points balance is reset to 0. As a guide, you submit the application about 3 months before the end of the ban, as described in the guide Applying for the reissue of your driving licence. The page Do I need an MPU? clarifies whether an MPU is likely in your situation.
What you can do now
- Find out your current points balance and the deletion dates of your entries.
- With 1 to 5 points, check whether you have already used the FES in the last 5 years and register if appropriate.
- Submit the certificate within 2 weeks of the end of the seminar to the driving licence authority.
- With 8 points or an impending withdrawal, start preparing early and find suitable preparation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still attend a driving aptitude seminar with 6 points?
With 6 points you will no longer get a points deduction. The deduction under § 4 (7) StVG only applies with a balance of 1 to 5 points on the day of the certificate.
How often can I reduce points with the FES?
Once within 5 years. Each seminar gives a deduction of exactly 1 point; more is not possible.
Does the driving aptitude seminar replace an MPU?
No, the FES is a voluntary early measure to reduce points. In the case of a withdrawal due to 8 points, the authority usually still orders an MPU for the reissue of the licence (Neuerteilung).
Do new points extend the deletion period of my old points?
No, since 1 May 2014 each entry has been deleted independently of new offences. The former suspension of deletion (Tilgungshemmung) now only applies to old cases before this date.
