Appendix 4 and Appendix 5 of the FeV explained in an easy-to-understand way

Appendix 4 or Appendix 5—which standard applies to you?

Appendix 4 of the Driving Licence Regulation bears the official title “Suitability and Conditional Suitability for Operating Motor Vehicles” and is part of Sections 11, 13, and 14 of the FeV. Appendix 4 lists medical conditions and impairments and assesses whether a person is fit to drive, fit to drive under certain conditions, or unfit to drive.

Appendix 5 of the FeV governs the fitness-for-duty examinations for categories C, C1, D, D1, trailer classes E, and passenger transport, and is part of § 11(9) as well as § 48(4) and (5) of the FeV.

For alcohol, cannabis, or Narcotics / controlled substances, Appendix 4 is the standard by which your MPU is assessed. Appendix 4 does not contain a separate section for points and traffic offenses. This section addresses character suitability pursuant to § 11(1), sentence 3 of the FeV, as mandated by specific provisions of the FeV and the StVG. Appendix 5 applies only to trucks, buses, and passenger transport and constitutes a separate procedure distinct from the MPU.

Why so many people mistake Annex 5 for the basis of the MPU

The misconception that Annex 5 of the FeV is the legal basis for the MPU arises from the text of the regulation itself. Section 11(1), sentence 2 of the FeV states that the requirements are not met, in particular, if a medical condition or impairment exists “pursuant to Annex 4 or 5.” Section 11(2), sentence 2, of the FeV reiterates this, and the regulation requires that questions be posed “in accordance with Annexes 4 and 5.”

Anyone who reads only these sentences would assume that both appendices are of equal standing. They are not. The restriction is already specified in § 11(9) of the FeV, which exhaustively lists classes C, C1, CE, C1E, D, D1, DE, and D1E. Passenger transport is not listed in § 11(9) of the FeV; for this, § 48(4) and (5) of the FeV refer to Appendix 5. For anyone who does not hold or is not applying for any of these classes, Appendix 5 has nothing to contribute in terms of content, even if the order mentions both appendices.

If Appendix 5 appears in your order even though you do not have a truck or bus driver’s license, first check which standard the order is based on.

The sentence that refers to Appendix 5

This paragraph provides a conclusive list of truck and bus classes. Class B is not included, and that is precisely the proof. The word “notwithstanding” makes it clear that this proof is required in addition to the procedures for assessing fitness to drive described in paragraphs 1 through 8 and does not affect those procedures. Section 11(9) of the FeV does not mention passenger transportation; it is addressed in Section 48(4) and (5) of the FeV.

How Appendix 4 of the FeV is structured

Appendix 4 of the FeV consists of three preliminary remarks and a table with eleven number groups. Preliminary Remark 1 lists “commonly occurring illnesses and impairments,” so the list is not exhaustive. Short-term illnesses such as flu-like infections or migraines are not included.

Preliminary Note 2 lists the basis for assessment: as a general rule, the medical expert report pursuant to § 11(2), sentence 3 of the FeV; in special cases, the medical-psychological expert report / assessment report; and, in addition, the expert report / assessment report of an officially recognized expert or examiner for motor vehicle traffic pursuant to § 11(4) of the FeV. Appendix 4 therefore generally leads to a medical examination, not to the MPU. Preliminary Note 3 allows for individual cases.

The table provides separate evaluations for Group 1 (A, A1, A2, B, BE, AM, L, T) and Group 2 (C, C1, CE, C1E, D, D1, DE, D1E, passenger transport), for both fitness and conditions in each case. For many medical categories, Group 2 has stricter requirements; for alcohol and Narcotics / controlled substances, the assessments are identical.

Number 8: Alcohol in Plain Language

Section 8 of Appendix 4 of the FeV operates on a four-step process: first, the condition that precludes eligibility, then the path back to eligibility.

Section 8.1 covers abuse, defined as a lack of a sufficiently reliable separation between driving and alcohol consumption that impairs driving safety. Section 8.2 allows for reinstatement of eligibility “if the change in drinking behavior is well-established.” Section 8.3 covers addiction, which also results in ineligibility. Section 8.4 permits eligibility if the addiction ends and, as a rule, one year of Abstinence has been demonstrated.

Section 8.2 does not set a deadline, but rather a requirement for you. “Consolidated” is a psychological benchmark, not a calendar date. That is the goal. The Four Alcohol Hypotheses etc.

In cases of addiction, Appendix 4 of the FeV specifies a duration: generally one year (sections 8.4 and 9.2.4). Section 9.5 requires one year of abstinence following Detoxification and rehabilitation, without the qualification “generally.” In cases of abuse under Section 8.2, no specific timeframe is specified there; the 2026 Assessment Guidelines generally specify one year of abstinence from alcohol, with a minimum of six months. The duration is not determined by the driver’s license authority; six, twelve, or fifteen months are common. The 2026 Assessment Guidelines require fifteen months in cases of addiction following outpatient rehabilitation or without therapy—as a minimum duration, not as an upper limit.

For your timeline, the starting point is key: for the urine test, it’s the day of registration; for the Hair analysis, it’s the date of your last use. We recommend starting the testing process no earlier than about four weeks after your last use; before that, you should test yourself privately at home. The assessment criteria recommend a safety window of two to three months, depending on previous use (Chapter C.3.3).

If you overlook the starting point, you’ll begin too early. For our clients who fail on their first attempt, this is by far the most common reason. Section 13 of the FeV specifies the blood alcohol concentration threshold at which the MPU is mandated: MPU due to alcohol.

Number 9: Narcotics / controlled substances, Cannabis, and Medications

Section 9 of Appendix 4 of the FeV is divided into six subcategories. Section 9.1 covers the use of narcotics / controlled substances as defined by the Narcotics Act; result: ineligibility. Section 9.2 addresses cannabis separately, in parallel with Section 8: 9.2.1 Abuse, defined as the lack of a sufficiently reliable separation between driving and cannabis use, with effects relevant to traffic safety that are not remote when driving a vehicle; ineligibility. 9.2.2 Fitness to drive if behavioural change is well-established. 9.2.3 Dependence: not fit to drive. 9.2.4 Generally fit to drive after one year of abstinence.

Section 9.3 covers dependence on Narcotics / controlled substances or other psychoactive substances; Section 9.4 covers the abusive, regular, and excessive use of such substances. Section 9.5 governs the period following detoxification and withdrawal and requires one year of abstinence with regular monitoring. Section 9.6 concerns long-term treatment with medications.

Section 13a of the FeV governs whether and when an MPU is ordered in cases involving cannabis. For more details: MPU due to drug use and All drug-related hypotheses.

The medical codes in Appendix 4

The vast majority of the provisions in Annex 4 of the FeV have nothing to do with an MPU. The medical codes listed in the table above refer to medical issues. According to Preliminary Note 2, a physician is generally responsible for these matters, not a driving fitness assessment centre.

A special case is No. 7, mental disorders. If doubts remain after reviewing the medical expert report / assessment report, an additional medical-psychological evaluation may follow, § 11(3), sentence 1, No. 1 of the FeV.

A history of mental illness does not automatically result in classification under Number 7. Appendix 4 lists specific clinical conditions in greater detail, distinguishes between mild and severe forms in cases where multiple conditions are present, and provides for reinstatement of eligibility once symptoms have subsided.

Wording of Preliminary Note 3 to Annex 4 of the FeV

When it comes to the medical criteria, this paragraph is the reason why an MPU can result in a positive outcome at all. For alcohol and cannabis, the guidelines themselves already provide for a restoration of eligibility in sections 8.2, 8.4, 9.2.2, and 9.2.4. Anyone who can demonstrate a stable behavioural change is an exception to the rule, and it is precisely this exception that the MPU assesses.

Anyone who can demonstrate a verifiable change is not arguing against Annex 4, but rather using it to their advantage. The task is to establish the compensation required by the regulation.

Appendix 4 of the FeV does not prescribe anything

Annex 4 of the FeV is an assessment standard, not a prescriptive provision. Orders are issued pursuant to § 11(3), § 13, § 13a, and § 14 of the FeV, as well as § 2a(4) and (5) and § 4(10), sentence 4, of the StVG.

Section 11(3) of the FeV lists nine categories. For the MPU, the relevant categories are No. 4 (significant or repeated traffic violations), No. 5 (a serious criminal offense related to road traffic, or multiple such offenses), Nos. 6 and 7 (criminal offenses related to fitness to drive, such as a high potential for aggression), and No. 9 (reissuance following repeated revocation or revocation for the reasons listed in items 4 through 7). The MPU following a loss of points and the MPU during the Probationary period (novice drivers) are governed by the StVG.

Appendix 4 of the FeV then provides the standard by which the evaluator assesses your situation and involves the authorities in the assessment process.

From the initial incident to the expert report / assessment report in five steps

Step 1. The driver’s license authority is notified of the incident. In cases of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the police report it, per Section 2(12) of the Road Traffic Act (StVG). In cases involving traffic violation points or during the Probationary period (novice drivers), the notification is triggered by the Road Traffic Act, as described above.

Step 2. The driver’s license authority examines whether certain facts give rise to concerns regarding the applicant’s fitness to drive, § 11(2), sentence 1, FeV.

Step 3. The driver’s license authority orders an expert report / assessment report and defines the scope of the report, in accordance with Annexes 4 and 5, § 11(6), sentence 1 of the FeV. The letter specifies the reasons, the deadline, your obligation to cover the costs, and your right to inspect the file, § 11(6), sentence 2 of the FeV.

Step 4. You select the assessment center, commission it yourself, and notify the authorities of your choice, § 11(6), sentences 3 and 5 of the FeV. The authorities will then send the documents, to the extent permitted by restrictions on disclosure, sentence 4.

Step 5. The assessment is conducted in accordance with Annex 4a of the FeV, and the result is evaluated based on Annex 4 of the FeV.

If a person refuses or fails to provide the required information by the deadline, the authorities may conclude that the person is unfit to drive, § 11(8), sentence 1, FeV. The authority must point out this consequence in the order, § 11(8), sentence 2, FeV. The fact that a conclusion of unsuitability cannot be drawn without this notice is not stated in the text itself but follows from case law. More: The MPU Process, Here’s how an MPU assessment works.

Annex 5 of the FeV: What It Actually Covers

Appendix 5 of the FeV consists of three sections.

Section 1 requires applicants for the issuance or renewal of truck and bus licenses and passenger transport licenses to undergo an examination for signs of medical conditions that would disqualify them. Proof of this is the certificate based on the standard form—that is, the standard truck and bus medical examination.

Item 2 applies exclusively to categories D, D1, DE, D1E, and passenger transport. In addition, there are requirements regarding stress tolerance, orientation, concentration, attention span, and reaction time—that is, the performance test. Drivers who only operate trucks do not need to take it.

This is exactly where two things get confused. The performance test on your MPU day is not the performance assessment required under Appendix 5, Section 2. Based on our experience with about 400 clients per year, we know: The part on the day of the MPU often lasts only about twenty minutes and doesn’t cost anything extra—it’s included in the price of the expert report / assessment report. It takes longer for retakes and for Classes C and D. If you only have a Class B license, you can check off Annex 5.

The assessment is conducted in accordance with Annex 4a of the German Driver’s License Regulations (FeV), through an occupational or occupational health expert report / assessment report or by an officially recognized assessment center. It is required for the initial issuance of Class D licenses and for passenger transportation; for license renewals, it is required starting at age 50, and for passenger transportation, starting at age 60. At the time of application, it must not be more than one year old, in accordance with Section 3.

Items 1 through 3 do not mention alcohol, drugs, traffic points, or criminal offenses as reasons for an MPU. More on this: Why the MPU Is Not an “Idiot Test”.

Sample dialogue: Class C1 license and MPU due to alcohol

Sample example; not a specific consulting case. Background: a tradesman with a Class C1 license. Following drunk driving, an MPU order has been issued; the documents indicate two examinations.

Person affected: Two different evaluations. Do I have to pay twice for the same thing now?

Consultant: No, these are two separate procedures with two different purposes. The medical-psychological examination is assessed according to Appendix 4, Section 8. The documentation required under Appendix 5 has nothing to do with the incident; every C1 license holder needs it when renewing their license.

Person affected: And if I do poorly on the Annex 5 examination, will that negatively affect my MPU results?

Consultant: There are two expert reports / assessment reports addressing two separate issues; one does not address the other. They may conflict in terms of timing. The proof required under Appendix 5 must not be more than one year old at the time of application. Anyone who undergoes the medical examination too early and is still working on the Proof of abstinence will have to undergo it twice.

Annex 4a of the FeV—the standard for your expert report / assessment report

Appendix 4a of the FeV pertains to Section 11(5) of the FeV and sets forth the principles for conducting examinations and preparing expert reports. The examination is conducted on a case-by-case basis; the expert adheres to the specific questions posed by the driver’s license authority; the focus is not on the individual’s entire personality, but only on aspects relevant to fitness to drive; and the expert report / assessment report must be transparent and verifiable, including the specification of the examination procedures.

Annex 4a of the German Road Traffic Regulations (FeV) is therefore the standard against which your expert report / assessment report must be measured. A negative assessment result that goes beyond the scope of the questions asked, probes into your overall personality, or derives its conclusions in a way that is not transparent gives cause to have it reviewed. In our experience, however, a negative assessment result is generally not challenged in court—that is very difficult. It is more common to review the result and incorporate the findings into preparation for the next attempt. Which questions are permissible: Questions on the MPU.

Annex 14 of the FeV: Who Is Authorized to Conduct Assessments?

Annex 14 of the FeV is part of Section 66(2) of the FeV and is titled “Requirements for Official Recognition as an Operator of Driving Fitness Assessment Centres.” It regulates personnel, qualifications, independence, and quality assurance.

For the evaluating physicians, Annex 14 of the FeV requires at least two years of clinical experience or board certification in a specialty—including, among others, internal medicine, psychiatry, and neurology—as well as at least one year of evaluation experience at a Driving fitness assessment centre.

According to Section 66(1) of the German Driver’s License Regulations (FeV), providers and their assessment centers must be officially recognized by the competent authority under state law. Furthermore, only an expert report / assessment report from a recognized center counts as a medical-psychological evaluation. These two requirements together are the reason why not every practice is permitted to conduct an MPU. When selecting a provider: How do I choose the right assessment center?.

How to Read Your Own Order

What must be included in your order is listed at the top of the procedure. What matters now is what you take from it. Work through your letter by asking yourself three questions.

Question 1: Which regulation mandates this? Check to see if the letter cites any of the regulatory provisions listed above, from the FeV or the StVG. Section 11(6), sentence 2 of the FeV requires the authority to state the reasons for its doubts regarding your fitness to drive. If it only says “Annex 4,” have someone check what the order is based on.

Question 2: Which number in Appendix 4 is being referred to? Determine from the question whether substance abuse, addiction, or the use of Narcotics / controlled substances is an issue. This distinction will shape the evidence you provide.

Question 3: Does Appendix 5 appear even though you do not hold a Class C, C1, CE, C1E, D, D1, DE, or D1E license and do not transport passengers? Then it’s a matter of a second proceeding or an error in the letter.

And then take care of one thing right away: Request access to your file. You have the right to inspect your file; you don’t need a lawyer for that, though you will need one to help you understand what’s in the file.

The reason for the urgency is the deadline set by the authorities, the time required to review the files, and the period for providing evidence. Read more in the guide. Select an assessment center.

It’s best to have a lawyer specializing in traffic law review whether an incomplete application is unlawful. Meanwhile, the deadline continues to run. You must always request an extension in writing; the decision is made by the authorities. Experience shows that if you currently hold a driving licence, an extension is not granted in over 90 percent of cases; if your driving licence has already been revoked, it is usually granted. Address any doubts while ensuring you meet the deadline. For more information: MPU due to traffic points, MPU due to alcohol, The Five Biggest Mistakes You Can Make on Your MPU.

Current legal status and sources used

Effective as of: October 1, 2026. The official text of the Federal Office of Justice is authoritative for Annexes 4, 4a, 5, and 14, as well as Sections 11, 13, 13a, 14, 48, and 66 of the FeV.

We also drew upon “Forming a Judgment in Driver Fitness Assessments, Assessment Criteria” (5th edition) and the Assessment Guidelines for Driving Fitness, Annex 4a of the FeV in the version dated December 12, 2025, effective August 19, 2026, as the basis for the fitness assessment.

The Driving Licence Regulation is amended regularly. This page does not constitute legal advice in individual cases. The version in effect at the time of the decision and the content of your order are authoritative.