As a professional driver, your job depends directly on your driving licence, which is why an MPU (medical-psychological assessment, Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung) hits you particularly hard. For passenger transport under § 48 FeV (Driving Licence Regulation, Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung) and for lorries and buses, stricter fitness requirements also apply than for cars. The sooner you start with file inspection (Akteneinsicht), abstinence and preparation, the shorter the time without a licence.
Why is the MPU so critical for professional drivers?
The MPU is critical for professional drivers because without a driving licence the basis for your work is missing. Every month of delay has a direct impact on your income.
The reasons are the same as for everyone else: alcohol (§ 13 FeV), cannabis (§ 13a FeV), drugs (§ 14 FeV), points (Punkte, § 4 StVG, Road Traffic Act), criminal offences or health-related doubts (§ 11 FeV). The page Do I need an MPU? clarifies which reason applies to you. The difference lies in the time pressure and in the fact that additional requirements apply to professional driving licences.
What does § 48 FeV regulate for passenger transport?
§ 48 FeV regulates the driving licence for passenger transport (Fahrerlaubnis zur Fahrgastbeförderung), known as the passenger transport licence (Personenbeförderungsschein). You need it, for example, for taxis, private hire vehicles and paid or commercial patient transport.
If you hold class D or D1, you generally do not need this additional licence. For everyone else, § 48 (4) FeV requires, among other things:
- a valid driving licence of the appropriate class
- a minimum age of 21 years (ambulances: 19 years)
- the assurance that you will live up to the special responsibility of transporting passengers, checked for example via a certificate of good conduct (Führungszeugnis) and an extract from the driving aptitude register (Fahreignungsregister)
- mental and physical fitness according to Annex 5 FeV
- eyesight according to Annex 6 number 2 FeV, i.e. according to the stricter values of group 2
The licence is issued for a maximum of 5 years and can be renewed. From the age of 60, additional proof of fitness is required for renewal. In commercial passenger transport, the 0.0‰ limit also applies.
Which stricter requirements apply to lorries and buses?
For lorries and buses (classes C and D, known as group 2), significantly stricter requirements apply than for cars and motorcycles (group 1). This mainly concerns eyesight and certain illnesses.
| Requirement | Group 1 (A/B, car/motorcycle) | Group 2 (C/D, lorry/bus) |
|---|---|---|
| Visual acuity | Eye test from 0.7/0.7; by an ophthalmologist at least 0.5 | better eye 0.8, worse eye 0.8 (both eyes 1.0); exception worse eye down to 0.5 |
| Field of vision | at least 120° | at least 140° |
| Epilepsy | as a rule after at least 1 year without seizures | much stricter, usually only without anti-epileptic drugs and after a long period without seizures |
The values come from Annex 6 FeV and the BASt assessment guidelines (Begutachtungsleitlinien). If your MPU involves a health-related question, you need a specialist medical report, generally no older than 3 months, with an explicit statement on fitness to drive. More on this on the page on the medical MPU.
Why should you start as early as possible?
You should start early because the timetable is usually not determined by the MPU itself but by the evidence period and the ban period (Sperrfrist). If you wait, you extend the time without a driving licence.
If proof of abstinence (Abstinenznachweis) is required, it must run for 6 or 12 months before the MPU, and in the case of dependence usually at least 12 months. Every month you start later pushes your MPU appointment back by a month. The preparation itself typically comprises 10–12 sessions over 2–3 months and can run in parallel with abstinence.
After withdrawal by a court, a ban period of usually 6 months to 5 years applies (§ 69a StGB, Criminal Code). It is best to apply for the reissue of your licence (Neuerteilung) about 3 months before it ends. Under certain conditions, the court can lift the ban early under § 69a (7) StGB, at the earliest after 3 months. One lever for this is a recognised traffic-psychological follow-up course started immediately. Details in the guide Shortening the ban period with a follow-up course.
What does a realistic roadmap look like?
A realistic roadmap begins with the file and ends with submitting the positive expert report (Gutachten). You can tackle some of the steps in parallel.
- Request file inspection: only then do you know the reason, the levels and the authority's question.
- Have it legally checked: a specialist lawyer for traffic law (Fachanwalt für Verkehrsrecht) can check the order, deadlines and whether facts may be used, and clarify whether early lifting of the ban is an option.
- Start abstinence immediately if required: only in a programme accredited to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025, without gaps.
- Start preparing: work through the causes, change your behaviour, prepare for the interview.
- Clarify your health: for group 2 classes, have your eyesight and any illnesses checked by a specialist in advance.
- Apply for the reissue: in good time before the ban period ends.
- MPU and expert report: you only submit a positive expert report; submission is voluntary.
What does the MPU mean for your employment?
What the MPU means for your employment depends very much on the individual case, for example on your employment contract and whether there are other roles available in the company. There is no general answer.
For specific employment law questions, a specialist lawyer for employment law (Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht) is the right person to contact. For the MPU itself: a clear, realistic timetable helps you assess your situation and plan openly.
No shortcuts via a sham residence in another EU country: such driving licences are not recognised in Germany, and if you drive with one, you commit the criminal offence of driving without a licence. For professional drivers, the consequences would be doubly serious.
What matters in the interview for professional drivers?
In the interview, the same things matter as for everyone: insight into the problem, change in behaviour and a stable motive. Professional drivers in particular should watch out for one trap.
„I need my driving licence for my job“ is understandable, but it is not enough as a motive. The assessor is looking for an inner motive that holds up under stress, not just fear of the consequences. You may mention the role of your job, but the change itself should come from you.
What you can do now
- Request file inspection immediately and note down the reason, levels and question.
- Start any required proof of abstinence without delay in an accredited programme.
- Have the order, the ban period and possible early lifting of the ban checked by a specialist lawyer for traffic law.
- For group 2 classes, clarify eyesight and health questions with a specialist early on.
- Plan your preparation in parallel with abstinence: find suitable preparation.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a different blood alcohol limit for taxi drivers?
Yes, in commercial passenger transport the 0.0‰ limit applies. It also applies to novice drivers and people under 21. Regardless of this, the MPU threshold for alcohol is 1.6‰ under § 13 FeV.
How long is the passenger transport licence valid?
Under § 48 FeV, the driving licence for passenger transport is issued for a maximum of 5 years and can be renewed. From the age of 60, additional proof of fitness is required for renewal.
Do I need an additional passenger transport licence as a bus driver?
If you hold class D or D1, you generally do not need the driving licence for passenger transport under § 48 (2) FeV. For classes C and D, however, the stricter group 2 requirements apply anyway.
Is the MPU stricter for professional drivers?
The assessment logic in the interview is the same as for everyone else. The fitness requirements for group 2 and for passenger transport are stricter, for example regarding eyesight or certain illnesses.
