Taking the MPU voluntarily in advance? What is really possible without an order

Why is the MPU tied to an order?

The MPU is tied to an order because the expert report (Gutachten) is meant to answer exactly the questions the authority asks. Under § 11 Abs. 6 FeV (Driving Licence Regulation, Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung), the authority sets out in the order which questions about fitness to drive need to be clarified, and it takes the individual case into account.

The same procedure also governs the rest: the authority states the reasons for its doubts and sets a deadline. You tell it which assessment centre you have commissioned. The authority then sends the centre the questions to be clarified and the documents. The assessment is carried out on your instruction.

Without an order, two building blocks that a usable expert report depends on are therefore missing: the authority's question and the file. An expert report that answers a different question or no question at all will not help you in the later procedure. Whether an assessment centre will act outside this framework is something you would have to ask the centre directly.

Is an MPU „in reserve" worth it?

An MPU „in reserve" is generally not worth it. Apart from the missing question, timing also speaks against it.

An MPU expert report has no statutory expiry date, but in practice authorities usually only accept it for about 1–3 years. On top of that: if proof of abstinence (Abstinenznachweis) is required, the period of 6 or 12 months must be completed before the MPU. An assessment taken too early would therefore often come before the proof that matters.

Then there is the question of cost. As a guide, the fee for the expert report in 2026 is about €550–750 for alcohol or drugs and €400–650 for points. This money is usually better spent on targeted preparation. The page MPU costs gives you an overview.

What can you do voluntarily in advance instead?

You can voluntarily do anything in advance that improves your starting position for the later MPU. These steps are possible without an order and are often decisive for your timetable:

These steps are not an MPU, but they prepare you for exactly that. The abstinence period in particular often determines the earliest date on which you can take the MPU.

What does counselling in advance do for you?

Above all, counselling in advance gives you clarity about your case before important time passes. It does not replace an expert report, but it shows you what lies ahead.

In the first meeting, qualified counselling should clarify these questions with you:

1. What is the reason? Alcohol under § 13 FeV, cannabis under § 13a FeV, drugs under § 14 FeV, points under § 4 StVG or a medical question under § 11 FeV.
2. Which hypothesis is likely? For example A1 to A4 for alcohol or V1 to V3 for traffic offences and criminal offences.
3. Is proof of abstinence needed? And if so, 6 or 12 months, by urine, hair or PEth?
4. What does a realistic timetable look like? Including the ban period (Sperrfrist), abstinence and application date.
5. Which form of support suits you? Counselling, preparation, traffic therapy or a course.

Clarity about roles is important: counsellors prepare, assessors evaluate independently. Counselling in advance therefore cannot give you a guaranteed prognosis. You can read how to recognise qualified counselling in the guide Finding a traffic psychologist.

Why is an early start so important?

An early start is important because the abstinence period is usually the bottleneck of the whole plan. If you only begin after the order, you often lose months.

This applies especially during a ban period. The ban period under § 69a StGB (Criminal Code) is usually 6 months to 5 years. You can use this time to prove abstinence and prepare. You then apply for the reissue of the licence (Neuerteilung) about 1–3 months before the ban ends.

An early start can even pay off before the ban ends. Under § 69a Abs. 7 StGB, the court can lift a ban early if it is credible that you are no longer unfit. Immediate participation in a qualified rehabilitation course (Nachschulung) can demonstrate this. The minimum duration is 3 months, or 1 year if there was a previous ban in the last 3 years. However, this does not replace an MPU if the authority orders one.

When is counselling in advance particularly useful?

It is particularly useful if it is foreseeable that an MPU will come but the order has not yet been issued. Typical situations are these:

• Drink-driving with 1.6 ‰ or more: here the MPU is the clearest case.
• Second cannabis drive above the limit of 3.5 ng/ml, or additional facts on the first.
• Hard drugs: even a single use can rule out fitness to drive.
• 6 or 7 points: warning stage before withdrawal at 8 points.
• Criminal offences involving aggression, also outside road traffic.

You can assess whether you are facing an MPU at all on the page Do I need an MPU?. If you have doubts about an order, deadlines or whether entries may be used, a specialist lawyer for traffic law (Fachanwalt für Verkehrsrecht) is the right person to contact.

What you can do now

1. Clarify the reason: which paragraphs and values are stated in the judgment or the authority's letter?
2. Apply for file inspection as soon as the driving licence authority keeps a file.
3. Check an abstinence programme: if it is likely to be required, start now with an accredited laboratory.
4. Arrange a first meeting to realistically assess your hypothesis and timetable.
5. Choose your support and find suitable preparation.