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MPU (medical-psychological examination)

Führerscheinstelle · Driver fitness

In person

The medical-psychological examination (MPU) — colloquially the “idiot test” — is neither a penalty nor an official act of the authority, but a driver fitness assessment report. The driving licence authority orders it under § 11 Abs. 3 of the Driving Licence Ordinance (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung, FeV) if specific facts give rise to doubts as to whether you are fit to drive motor vehicles. The report is not prepared by the authority, but by an officially recognised assessment centre for driver fitness — such as TÜV, DEKRA, GTÜ, AVUS or pima-mpu. Only on this basis does the driving licence office (Führerscheinstelle) decide on withdrawal, refusal or reissue of the driving licence.

Which legal basis the order relies on determines the entire further process. For alcohol, § 13 FeV applies — in particular at a blood alcohol concentration of 1.6 per mille or more or a breath alcohol concentration of 0.8 mg/l or more, but also in cases of alcohol abuse, repeated violations or a previous withdrawal. For cannabis, the separate § 13a FeV (“clarifying doubts about fitness in cannabis-related cases”) has applied since the 2024 reform, and for other narcotics and psychoactive medicinal products, § 14 FeV applies. Anyone who reaches eight or more points in the Register of Driver Fitness (Fahreignungsregister, FAER) loses their driving licence under § 4 Abs. 5 of the Road Traffic Act (Straßenverkehrsgesetz, StVG); for reissue, the authority generally orders an assessment report under § 4 Abs. 10 StVG.

One particularly stubborn misconception concerns the cost: the MPU has no official fee. The former fee item in the Fee Schedule for Measures in Road Traffic (GebOSt, Nummer 451 ff.) was abolished on 1 August 2018. Since then, the recognised assessment centres set their own prices; figures such as “€350 to €750” come from the old fee schedule and are well below what is actually charged in 2026. Depending on the question at issue and the provider, a realistic figure is around €550 to €1,000, plus abstinence tests and preparation. To put the chances of success in context: according to the figures from the Federal Highway and Transport Research Institute (BASt), a total of 75,257 assessments were carried out in 2024, of which just under 57% were rated “fit”, just over 39% “not fit” and just over 4% ended with a course recommendation.

Last updated8 October 2026
Legal basis§ 11 Abs. 3, 6, 8 FeV · § 13 FeV · § 13a FeV · § 14 FeV · § 4 Abs. 10 StVG · Annex 4a FeV
VerificationChecked against gesetze-im-internet.de and the BASt press release 10/2025
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information site: we are not the Führerscheinstelle, not an authority and not a paid advice service — we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in simple terms; binding information always comes from the competent body. Not legal or road-traffic advice. The costs of the MPU, the abstinence evidence and the preparation are not official fees, but freely calculated prices set by private providers; only the administrative fee of the driving licence authority is officially set. All information provided without guarantee. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document official procedures and check the information against the official source — this is information, not legal or tax advice.
Costsapprox. €550–€1,000No official fee · freely calculated
Processing timedepends on the assessment centreThe FeV sets no deadline for the report
MethodIn personAssessment centre freely selectable (§ 11 Abs. 6 FeV)
ReasonAlcohol · cannabis · drugs · points§ 13, § 13a, § 14 FeV · § 4 Abs. 10 StVG
Required documents

What you need to gather for the MPU

Order from the driving licence authority, including the question to be assessed

The most important document is the letter from the Führerscheinstelle itself: under § 11 Abs. 6 FeV, the authority must set out in it the reasons for its doubts about your fitness, state the specific question to be assessed and set a deadline for submission. The assessment centre may answer only this question — it therefore determines whether the issue is alcohol abuse, a dependency or traffic-related conduct. Keep the original and object in writing to an unclear or evidently too broadly framed question before arranging an appointment.

Declaration of consent to send the driving licence file

Under Annex 4a FeV, the assessment centre works on a case-specific basis and exclusively with the documents sent to it by the authority; before the file may be transmitted, you sign a declaration of consent. This is either enclosed with the order letter or provided by the centre you choose. Before signing, § 11 Abs. 6 FeV entitles you to inspect the documents to be sent — this is the only way to find out which incidents and findings the assessor will actually have in front of them.

Valid official photo ID

For the examination, you must prove your identity beyond doubt with a valid identity card (Personalausweis) or passport; without a valid document, the appointment is refused and the deadline set by the authority continues to run. Check the expiry date early, therefore — a new identity card is issued by the Bürgeramt (citizens' office) at your principal residence. Since only digital biometric photographs have been permitted since 1 May 2025 and paper photos brought along are no longer accepted, you should allow several weeks for a new application.

Abstinence evidence (urine screening or hair analysis)

For orders under § 13, § 13a or § 14 FeV, assessment centres generally require forensically usable evidence of six or twelve months of abstinence. This is usable only if a suitable laboratory has collected it in accordance with the relevant assessment criteria: unannounced call-ins at short notice, secure identity checks and complete documentation. The period begins with the first properly documented sample — self-kept diaries, certificates from your general practitioner or pharmacy tests are not accepted.

Medical findings, medication plan and laboratory values

The medical examination includes blood values that can indicate regular alcohol consumption or liver damage; bring along current findings, medical letters and discharge reports if you are or have been in treatment. A complete medication plan is particularly important, because § 14 FeV expressly also covers psychoactive medicinal products, and a prescribed long-term medication can explain an adverse laboratory picture. Without evidence, in case of doubt the assessment centre interprets the finding against you.

Extract from the Register of Driver Fitness

For orders relating to traffic-related conduct and points, you should know your points status before going into the psychological interview. The information from the Register of Driver Fitness (Punkteauskunft) at the Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, KBA) in Flensburg is free of charge when you request it about yourself and lists all entries together with their removal dates. The extract helps in two ways — you identify forgotten entries and can prove which violations have already been removed; apply for it a few weeks before the appointment.

Proof of counselling or course attendance

If you have made use of traffic-psychological counselling, obtain a certificate of attendance; § 71 FeV governs the official recognition of counsellors. Whether the counselling is taken into account is a decision for the assessment centre alone, within the scope of the question to be assessed — there is no legal entitlement to a better rating. The courses for restoring driver fitness under § 70 FeV in conjunction with Annex 15 FeV are separately regulated; they are mainly relevant if the report concludes with a recommendation for a course.

Vision and hearing aids for the performance test

Part of the assessment is a computer-based performance test covering reaction ability, concentration, attention and resilience. If you need glasses, contact lenses or a hearing aid, you must bring and use them — otherwise the performance profile produced will not reflect your actual fitness to drive. Also bring any existing eye test certificate with you, so that the examination does not have to be interrupted because of an open question about your visual acuity.

Proof of payment for the assessment

Assessment centres generally require payment of the invoice amount before, or at the latest on, the day of the examination; without payment, the report will not be prepared. As this is not an official fee, the payment terms of the respective private provider apply — advance payment by bank transfer is just as common as card payment on site. Get the quote in writing in advance, because additional items such as a repeat blood sample or a duplicate copy of the report are often charged separately.

Step by step

How the MPU works

  1. 1

    Check the order and understand the question to be assessed

    Everything starts with the order letter from the driving licence authority. First read which provision it relies on: § 13 FeV for alcohol, § 13a FeV for cannabis, § 14 FeV for other narcotics and medicinal products, § 11 Abs. 3 FeV for traffic offences or serious violations, and § 4 Abs. 10 StVG after a withdrawal for eight or more points — this determines whether any abstinence evidence is required at all, and over what period. Equally important is the specific question to be assessed, because it is the standard against which the examination is measured: for example, the question may be whether you can be expected to drive a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol in future. Under Annex 4a FeV, the assessment centre may only answer this question and must give comprehensible and verifiable reasons for its report.

  2. 2

    Inspect the file and keep an eye on the deadline

    Under § 11 Abs. 6 FeV, the authority informs you that you may inspect the documents it intends to send to the assessment centre — make use of this before signing the declaration of consent, because the file often contains matters you no longer have in mind, which will come up in the examination interview. The most critical date in the entire procedure, however, is the deadline set: if the time is not enough for abstinence evidence, submit a reasoned, written application for an extension at an early stage. If you let the deadline pass unused or refuse the examination, the authority may, under § 11 Abs. 8 FeV, immediately conclude that you are unfit — no report is required for this.

  3. 3

    Start the abstinence evidence — as early as possible

    For alcohol, cannabis or drug questions, the abstinence evidence is the time-critical bottleneck. Two approaches are common: urine screening with four to six unannounced call-ins over twelve months, or hair analysis, where each sample covers around six months retrospectively; both methods must comply with the recognised assessment criteria in order to be forensically usable. Register with a suitable laboratory immediately after receiving the order, rather than waiting until after arranging an appointment — the period counts from the first documented sample. Anyone who delays the start by three months thereby delays the end of the entire procedure by three months.

  4. 4

    Working through it: choosing counselling, a course or therapy

    The psychological interview does not ask whether you regret the incident, but whether you can explain it: what consumption or behaviour pattern led to it, what has specifically changed since then, and what strategies are sustainable long-term? Traffic-psychological counselling with a person recognised under § 71 FeV helps you work through this in a structured way; if a dependency has been diagnosed, addiction rehabilitation treatment is required instead. Do not confuse these services with the driver fitness seminar under § 4 Abs. 7 StVG — the seminar is an instrument of the points system and has nothing to do with the driver fitness assessment (see our guide on reducing points).

  5. 5

    Choose an assessment centre and compare prices

    The choice is expressly yours: § 11 Abs. 6 FeV requires the authority to inform you that you determine the assessment centre yourself — assigning you to a particular provider is not permitted. All officially recognised assessment centres for driver fitness are eligible, such as TÜV, DEKRA, GTÜ, AVUS or pima-mpu. Because prices have no longer been set by the state since 1 August 2018 and vary considerably from provider to provider, obtain at least two to three written quotes and ask expressly which services are included; accessibility and waiting time also depend on the particular centre.

  6. 6

    Complete the examination: three components

    The assessment consists of a medical examination with a medical history, a physical examination and laboratory values, a computer-based performance test covering reaction, concentration, attention and resilience, and the psychological examination interview. Before it begins, the assessor must inform you about the subject and purpose under Annex 4a FeV; the examination may only be carried out in accordance with recognised scientific principles. How long an appointment takes and when the report is ready, however, is not prescribed by the Driving Licence Ordinance — both depend on the competent assessment centre and should be clarified in a binding way when arranging the appointment.

  7. 7

    Receive the report and decide on passing it on

    The finished report is sent to you first, and you alone decide whether to submit it to the driving licence authority — you do not have to submit a negative result. The practical benefit of this is limited, however: if the ordered report is not submitted by the deadline, § 11 Abs. 8 FeV applies, and the authority may assume you are unfit. Read a negative report thoroughly nonetheless, because it sets out the reasons in a comprehensible way and often also the missing steps — for example a longer abstinence period or a course under § 70 FeV — and is therefore the most reliable basis for a second attempt.

  8. 8

    Apply for reissue of the driving licence

    With the positive report, you apply to the driving licence authority for reissue. Only here does a genuine, officially set fee arise: under number 202.3 of the GebOSt fee schedule, the fee range for a new issue following a previous withdrawal is €35.70 to €258.50, plus €5.10 for the application review under number 201. Depending on the individual case, further evidence is required, such as an eye test and first-aid training, or a new driving test if the withdrawal was a long time ago; following a withdrawal for eight or more points, the new driving licence may be issued under § 4 Abs. 10 StVG at the earliest six months after the withdrawal took effect. Our guide on reissuing the driving licence describes the full process.

Cost information

Costs and payment — no official fee

Costs at a glance

MPU for alcohol (§ 13 FeV) — provider priceapprox. €550–€850
MPU for cannabis and narcotics (§ 13a, § 14 FeV) — provider priceapprox. €700–€1,000
MPU for traffic-related conduct and points (§ 4 Abs. 10 StVG) — provider priceapprox. €500–€700
Urine screening, per individual sample (4–6 samples per year)approx. €60–€120
Hair analysis, per sample (period of around 6 months)approx. €120–€200
Traffic-psychological counselling (§ 71 FeV), per sessiondepends on the provider
Course for restoring driver fitness (§ 70 FeV)depends on the recognised course provider
Administrative fee for reissue (GebOSt No. 202.3)€35.70–€258.50
Application review for driving licence (GebOSt No. 201)€5.10
Who bears the costalways the person concerned

Important for context: the amounts for the assessment, the abstinence evidence and the preparation are not official fees. Until 31 July 2018, the MPU was set by the state as fee number 451 ff. in the Fee Schedule for Measures in Road Traffic (GebOSt); this item was abolished on 1 August 2018. Since then, the officially recognised assessment centres have calculated their prices freely, which is why there is no longer a nationwide uniform amount, and the ranges given above reflect only the market prices typical in 2026. Only the written quote from the centre you choose is binding. By contrast, the fees of the driving licence authority are officially regulated: they are set out in the GebOSt fee schedule and only become due when you apply for reissue. A refund of the MPU costs by the authority or by statutory health insurance is never provided for — not even in the case of a positive result. Realistically expect a total burden in the four-figure range once a twelve-month abstinence programme is added.

Good to know

Important notes

The MPU has had no official fee since 1 August 2018. Older guides, information sheets and forum posts often cite €350 to €750 — these are the figures from the abolished GebOSt item. Anyone who relies on this underestimates the actual cost by several hundred euros. Only the written quote from the assessment centre you choose is binding.

§ 11 Abs. 6 FeV gives you three rights at once. The authority must set out the reasons for its doubts about your fitness and state the question to be assessed, it must allow you to inspect the documents to be sent, and you choose the assessment centre yourself. Assigning you to a particular provider is not permitted — object in writing if this is attempted.

You do not have to submit a negative report — but that does not save you from the deadline. The report goes to you first, and you decide whether to pass it on. However, if the ordered report is not submitted by the deadline, the authority may, under § 11 Abs. 8 FeV, conclude that you are unfit. The withdrawal or refusal then takes place without any assessment of the substance.

Cannabis has been separately regulated since 2024. The relevant provision is no longer the general drugs rule, but § 13a FeV (“clarifying doubts about fitness in cannabis-related cases”). Under the law on regulatory offences, the limit of 3.5 ng/ml THC in blood serum under § 24a Abs. 1a StVG has applied since 22 August 2024; violations can be penalised with a regulatory fine of up to €3,000, or up to €5,000 in combination with alcohol.

Zero tolerance applies to novice drivers — including for cannabis. § 24c StVG prohibits people in the probationary period under § 2a StVG, as well as everyone under 21, from driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol or tetrahydrocannabinol. The only exception is the proper use of a medicinal product prescribed for a specific medical condition.

Annex 4a FeV is your quality benchmark. The principles for carrying out the examinations and preparing the reports require a case-specific examination, prior information about the subject and purpose, recognised scientific methods, and a report that is generally understandable, comprehensible and verifiable. In addition, the assessor must not be contractually linked to a counselling body that has previously supported you.

The driver fitness seminar and the advanced seminar are not MPU preparation. The driver fitness seminar under § 4 Abs. 7 StVG reduces a points status of one to five points by one point, once every five years; from six points onwards, it no longer affects the points status. The advanced seminar relates to violations during the probationary period. For restoring driver fitness, the courses under § 70 FeV in conjunction with Annex 15 FeV are provided instead.

Base your expectations on realistic figures, not advertising promises. According to BASt data for 2024, of 75,257 assessments, just under 57% concluded with “fit”, just over 39% with “not fit” and just over 4% with a recommendation for a course. The most common reason was alcohol, at around 43%, followed by drugs and medicinal products at around 25% and traffic-related conduct without alcohol or drugs at 19%. There is no official breakdown by prepared and unprepared individuals.

The waiting period after eight points is at least six months. § 4 Abs. 10 StVG provides that a new driving licence may be issued at the earliest six months after the withdrawal takes effect. In addition, the authority must generally order a report from an officially recognised assessment centre for driver fitness. Court-ordered waiting periods following a traffic offence apply separately and can be considerably longer.

How long a positive report remains usable is not regulated by the FeV. There is no express expiry period; the assessment depends on the competent driving licence authority. Because the report is prepared on a case-specific basis under Annex 4a FeV, it loses probative value as time passes — submit it promptly with the application for reissue.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes and their consequences

Letting the set deadline pass. This is the most costly mistake of all: under § 11 Abs. 8 FeV, the authority may conclude that you are unfit if you refuse or fail to submit the report by the deadline. The driving licence is then withdrawn, or the application refused, without any assessor ever having examined your case. An application for an extension must be submitted and reasoned before the deadline expires.

Starting the abstinence evidence too late. The evidence period counts only from the first properly documented sample. Anyone who starts only after arranging an appointment cannot submit twelve months of evidence in time, and loses a whole year. Register for the programme immediately after receiving the order.

Relying on evidence that cannot be used. Self-kept records, certificates from your general practitioner, pharmacy tests or announced appointments do not meet the requirements. The assessment centre rejects such evidence, and the months invested are lost — the procedure starts again from the beginning of the abstinence period. Before the first sample, clarify in writing whether the programme complies with the recognised assessment criteria.

Not reading the question to be assessed. Anyone who prepares for an alcohol-related question when the authority is actually asking about narcotics or traffic-related conduct is preparing for the wrong standard. Under Annex 4a FeV, the assessment centre may only answer the question actually asked. The result is a negative report despite considerable preparation.

Trusting an “MPU guarantee”. No provider can guarantee a result, because the report is prepared by an independent assessment centre. Annex 4a FeV even expressly prohibits the assessor from being contractually linked to the counselling or rehabilitation body that has previously supported you. Anyone advertising pass rates of over 90% is citing a figure that no official statistics support — and you usually pay a four-figure sum for it.

Assessing cannabis under the old legal position. Since 2024, the separate § 13a FeV has applied, and under the law on regulatory offences, the THC limit of 3.5 ng/ml under § 24a Abs. 1a StVG. Anyone who relies on older accounts of the general drugs MPU underestimates or overestimates their situation and makes incorrect statements about their own consumption pattern in the interview.

Submitting a negative report unprompted. As soon as you submit it to the authority, it becomes part of the driving licence file and comes back up at every later order. You are not obliged to submit it. Review the result calmly first, and then decide whether to improve your position and try again.

Planning with an outdated budget. Anyone who budgets €350 because older guides cite the abolished GebOSt item finds themselves unable to pay on the day of the examination. Without payment, the report is not prepared, the appointment lapses and the authority's deadline continues to run. Get the quote in writing in advance and factor in the abstinence evidence.

Confusing the driver fitness seminar with the MPU. The seminar under § 4 Abs. 7 StVG only helps with a points status of one to five points, and only once every five years. Anyone who has already reached eight points loses their driving licence regardless, and must then submit the MPU. The seminar fee is then an expense with no effect whatsoever on the ongoing procedure.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers about the MPU

What does the MPU cost in 2026?

There is no official fee for the MPU: the former fee item in the Fee Schedule for Measures in Road Traffic was abolished on 1 August 2018, and since then the officially recognised assessment centres have set their own prices. In practice, depending on the question to be assessed and the provider, the amounts in 2026 are around €550 to €850 for alcohol-related questions, around €700 to €1,000 for narcotics, and around €500 to €700 for traffic-related conduct. Abstinence evidence, any counselling and the administrative fee for reissue come on top of this.

What is the failure rate for the MPU?

According to the figures published by the Federal Highway and Transport Research Institute, a total of 75,257 assessments were carried out in 2024; just under 57% were rated fit, just over 39% not fit and just over 4% ended with a course recommendation. There is no official statistic that distinguishes between people who prepared and those who did not. Advertising claims of pass rates above 90% after a particular course are therefore unverifiable.

Can I freely choose the assessment centre?

Yes. § 11 Abs. 6 FeV expressly provides that the driving licence authority must inform you that you may choose the assessment centre yourself; it may not prescribe a particular centre for you. All officially recognised assessment centres for driver fitness are available to choose from, such as TÜV, DEKRA, GTÜ, AVUS or pima-mpu. Because prices are calculated freely, it is worth comparing several centres before arranging an appointment.

Do I have to submit a negative MPU report to the authority?

No. The report is sent to you first, and you decide whether to pass it on. This helps only to a limited extent, however: if the ordered report is not submitted by the deadline, or the examination is refused, the driving licence authority may, under § 11 Abs. 8 FeV, conclude that you are unfit and withdraw the driving licence or refuse the application.

When is an MPU ordered because of cannabis?

Since the 2024 cannabis reform, a separate provision applies to cannabis: § 13a FeV governs the clarification of doubts about fitness in cannabis-related cases and provides for either a medical or a medical-psychological report, depending on the circumstances of the case. Under the law on regulatory offences, the limit of 3.5 nanograms of THC per millilitre of blood serum under § 24a Abs. 1a StVG has applied since 22 August 2024; for novice drivers in the probationary period and people under 21, § 24c StVG imposes an absolute ban on driving after cannabis use.

How long does the MPU take and when does the report arrive?

The Driving Licence Ordinance prescribes neither an examination duration nor a deadline for preparing the report; both depend on the competent assessment centre and are communicated when the appointment is arranged. Only the structure under Annex 4a FeV is fixed: medical examination, computer-based performance test and psychological examination interview. What matters is the deadline the authority has set for you under § 11 Abs. 6 FeV for submission.

At how many points do you face an MPU?

With eight or more points in the Register of Driver Fitness, you are deemed unfit under § 4 Abs. 5 StVG, and the driving licence is withdrawn. For reissue, § 4 Abs. 10 StVG sets a waiting period of at least six months from the date the withdrawal takes effect; in addition, the authority must generally order a report from an officially recognised assessment centre for driver fitness. The MPU is therefore not a consequence of the eighth point itself, but a requirement for getting the driving licence back afterwards.

Does the health insurance fund (Krankenkasse) or the authority cover the MPU costs?

No. All the costs of the assessment, the abstinence evidence and any voluntary preparation are borne by the person concerned; no refund by the driving licence authority or by statutory health insurance is provided for. Even a positive result does not lead to a repayment. Only the administrative fee for reissuing the driving licence is officially set.

Is the driver fitness seminar MPU preparation?

No, these are two separate instruments. The driver fitness seminar under § 4 Abs. 7 StVG is a voluntary option available with a points status of one to five points and reduces it by one point once within five years; from six points onwards, it no longer affects the points status. For restoring driver fitness after alcohol- or drug-related conduct, courses under § 70 FeV and traffic-psychological counselling under § 71 FeV are provided instead.

How long is a positive MPU report valid?

The Driving Licence Ordinance contains no express expiry period for a positive report; how long it is used for depends on the competent driving licence authority and the individual case. Because the report is prepared on a case-specific basis under Annex 4a FeV, it loses probative value as soon as the circumstances change or a considerable amount of time passes. Submit a positive report promptly, therefore, together with the application for reissue.

Related official procedures

Reissue of the driving licence
Application following a positive report
€35.70–€258.50
Punkteauskunft in Flensburg
Querying the Register of Driver Fitness
Free of charge
Driving licence: first application
Initial issue of Class B
€40.80 administrative fee

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