Being nervous before the MPU (medical-psychological assessment, Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung) is normal and not a disadvantage, as long as you are well prepared. What helps most is knowing how the 3–4 hours will go, having all your documents with you, and arriving well rested and on time. In the interview, what then counts is not perfection, but honesty and consistency.
What awaits you on the day of the MPU?
On the day of the MPU, you go through several components in approx. 3–4 hours: questionnaire, medical examination, performance test and psychological interview. If you know the order and duration, you will have fewer surprises.
| Component | Duration (guideline) | What it is about |
|---|---|---|
| Written questionnaire | 30–40 min. | Background, offence, consumption, living circumstances; sometimes also a personality questionnaire |
| Medical examination | 30–40 min. | Physical findings, lab values (for alcohol e.g. GGT, GOT, GPT, CDT, MCV), conversation about the reason and consumption |
| Performance/reaction test | 30–40 min. | Computer test (Vienna Test System or Corporal): reaction, concentration, perception, ability to cope under pressure |
| Psychological interview | 45–60 min. | Understanding of the causes, stable change in behaviour, sustainable motive |
You can practise well for the performance test, and the medical examination follows a fixed pattern. The psychological interview is decisive, so it is worth focusing your energy on it above all. Good to know: the assessor compares what you say in all the components. If you stay honest and consistent with the case file throughout, you do not need to worry about contradictions. The order can vary depending on the assessment centre (Begutachtungsstelle für Fahreignung). You can find a detailed overview on the page about the MPU procedure.
What should you bring to the MPU?
Bring your ID and all your evidence in the original to the MPU. Missing documents are avoidable stress, so it is best to pack the evening before.
- Identity card or passport
- Proof of abstinence (Abstinenznachweise), complete and in the original, and your drinking log (Trinkprotokoll) if applicable
- Course or therapy certificates, for example under § 70 or § 71 FeV (Driving Licence Regulation, Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung) or from traffic therapy
- Reports from medical specialists if there is a medical question, as a rule no older than 3 months
- Glasses or contact lenses for the eye test
Also have your own notes on your file ready so you can go through them once more beforehand. The order and the file inspection (Akteneinsicht) show you which facts the assessor knows.
How do you prepare the day before and in the morning?
The day before and in the morning, it is about being physically fit and relaxed about time. You will not learn anything new now; you are just making sure the conditions are good.
- Arrive well rested: plan for a normal night's sleep instead of going over answers until late.
- Arrive sober: no alcohol and no drugs, not even the evening before. If you are in an abstinence programme, the 0.0 rule (0,0-Regel) applies anyway.
- Be on time: plan your journey with a buffer. If your driving licence has been revoked, arrange a lift or take public transport.
- Check your documents: go through the list of things to bring one last time.
- Dress neatly and normally: what counts is the content, not your outward appearance.
If you take medication prescribed by a doctor, clarify with your doctor in advance what you should bring with you regarding it.
How do you deal with the questionnaire and trick questions?
With the questionnaire and trick questions, only one thing helps: answering calmly, honestly and consistently. What you state must match the later interview and the case file.
Trick questions seem harmless, for example "How long have you had your driving licence?". They test whether you are prepared and answer honestly. If you are unsure about a date, say so openly instead of guessing. A contradiction between the questionnaire, your account and the lab values weighs more heavily than an honest "I no longer remember exactly".
What helps against nervousness in the performance test?
What helps most against nervousness in the performance test is practising beforehand. You can practise well for the test, and a weak test result alone rarely leads to failing.
The result is calculated as a percentile rank against a norm sample, and there are minimum requirements. With free simulators you can get used to the tasks beforehand. If the result is weak, a driving behaviour test (Fahrverhaltensprobe), i.e. a real drive, is often possible to compensate. More on this in the guide Practising the MPU performance test.
How should you behave in the psychological interview?
In the psychological interview, it is best to behave as you are: honest, calm and in your own words. This part is the most important part of the MPU, and here credibility counts for more than rhetorical skill.
Thinking briefly is allowed
You do not have to answer immediately. A short pause to think does not come across negatively; it shows that you are engaging with the question. If you have not understood a question, ask.
Stand by the case file
Stick to the facts that are in your file. Playing things down does as much harm as dramatising. In alcohol cases, the assessor works out the amount you drank from the blood alcohol concentration; stating too low an amount is noticed immediately.
No excuses, no blaming others
Explain what the actual cause was and what part you yourself played in it. Shifting the blame onto others, or speaking of a "one-off slip" when the values say otherwise, comes across as implausible.
Your own words instead of empty phrases
Rehearsed sentences are among the most common reasons for failing. Concrete details are more convincing: since when you have changed something, how you prove it and how others notice the change. You can find typical questions in the guide on questions in the psychological interview.
The assessor notices nervousness, but it is not the criterion. What is assessed is whether you have understood your causes and can show a stable, documented change.
What happens after the day of the MPU?
After the day of the MPU, you receive the expert report (Gutachten) from the assessment centre. It is positive, negative or recommends a follow-up course (Nachschulung).
Presenting it to the authority is voluntary. You do not have to submit a negative report. If a follow-up course is recommended, a course under § 70 FeV can turn a borderline result into "fit". What you can do after a negative result is explained on the page Failed the MPU.
What you can do now
- Print out the list of things to bring and tick it off the evening before.
- Practise the performance test a few times with a free simulator.
- Read your file again and check whether what you say about amounts, dates and values matches it.
- Plan your journey and sleep so that you arrive without time pressure.
- If you still feel unsure about the interview: find suitable preparation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to arrive sober on the day of the MPU?
Yes, you arrive sober, i.e. without alcohol and without drugs. If you are in an abstinence programme, the 0.0 rule applies anyway, and even a single slip can invalidate the programme. You should therefore strictly abstain the evening before as well.
What if I have a blackout in the interview?
Then say so openly and take a moment. Thinking briefly is allowed and does not come across negatively. If you have really worked through your story, you will usually find the thread again quickly.
Does it look bad if I am visibly nervous?
No, nervousness alone is not an assessment criterion. What matters is insight into the problem, documented change in behaviour and a sustainable motive. Honest, consistent answers count for more than a confident performance.
Is blood taken on the day of the MPU?
That is possible. In the medical examination, lab values are taken depending on the question, for alcohol for example liver values such as GGT or CDT. You also bring your proof of abstinence in the original.
