September 13, 202614 Min.
Failed the MPU: What to Do Next
What happens if you fail the MPU?
A negative MPU assessment result is not automatically sent to the driver’s license authority. You are the one who commissions the assessment, and you decide whether or not to submit the assessment report / assessment report.
This freedom has its limits. Anyone who fails to submit a required expert report / assessment report by the deadline must expect the driver’s license authority to conclude that they are unfit to drive, provided the order specified this. A negative assessment result does not mean you’ll lose your driver’s license. But it doesn’t guarantee you’ll keep it either.
This guide shows you three things: how to identify the part where you failed, why a second appointment—without any changes to the supporting documentation—usually yields the same result, and when a course under § 70 FeV might be an option.
Key Points at a Glance
You are the client requesting the evaluation. According to § 11(6), sentence 5 of the FeV, the examination is conducted at the request of the individual concerned, not at the request of the authorities.
Failure to submit the required documents is not a neutral move. If you fail to submit a required expert report / assessment report by the deadline, the driver’s license authority may conclude that you are unfit to drive pursuant to § 11(8) FeV, provided that the order specified this requirement.
There is no legally mandated disqualification period before reissue of the MPU. There is no waiting period or upper limit.
A negative assessment result must include a justification. Appendix 4a, No. 2a of the FeV requires transparency, including all essential findings and the conclusions that led to the assessment.
A good 4 percent of all evaluations result in a recommendation to take a course (Federal Highway Research Institute, Press Release 10/2025 dated December 17, 2025). Under the four conditions specified in § 11(10) of the FeV, this can result in a course pursuant to § 70 of the FeV.
If you leave the same points unchanged on your second attempt, you can expect the same result. A preliminary expert report / assessment report that is available for review compels the second evaluator to justify any discrepancies.
The first step isn’t a test
During the free initial consultation, we’ll go over a few key details and schedule an appointment for an introductory meeting. If you find it difficult to call, message us on WhatsApp. You don’t have to say anything on the phone that you’re not ready to share yet.
Does the driver’s license office automatically receive the negative assessment result?
No. The assessment center prepares the expert report / assessment report for you, not for the driver’s license authority. You commission them, you cover the costs, and you receive the results.
The criteria for assessing fitness to drive establish a contractual relationship between you and the driving fitness assessment centre. The assessor has no obligation to report to the driver’s license authority and, as a doctor or psychologist, is bound by confidentiality.
This leads to a mistake with serious consequences: Anyone who believes they have permanently lost their driving licence after receiving a negative assessment result and fails to contact anyone misses out on the very weeks during which the deadline specified in the order expires.
Remaining silent toward the driver’s license authority is therefore a decision in itself. If the deadline expires, the authority may assume you are unfit to drive even without knowledge of the expert report / assessment report, provided the order specified this. The relevant reference can be found in the section two ahead.
More on this: How an MPU order is issued. All other topics related to the MPU and assessment can be found in the Guide Overview.
In our guide, we explain why you don’t receive a letter after a court-ordered license revocation and when the authorities will otherwise contact you. When will the driver’s license office get in touch?.
The assessment is conducted at the request of the individual concerned.
This single sentence encapsulates the entire issue at hand. The contractual relationship exists between you and the Driving Fitness Assessment Centre. You bear the costs, you receive the expert report / assessment report, and there is no regulation requiring the center to report the result to the driver’s license authority. Whether it ends up there is entirely up to you. Those who know this make their decision consciously, rather than out of fear of an automatic process that does not actually exist.
Do I have to submit the negative assessment result to the authorities?
There is no obligation to submit the documents. However, there are very real consequences for failure to do so.
Section 11(8), sentence 1 of the FeV states: If a person refuses to undergo an examination or fails to submit the required expert report / assessment report by the deadline, the authority “may” conclude that the person in question is “unfit.” Sentence 2 requires the authority to specify precisely this consequence in the order. If this specification is missing, it constitutes a defect in the order. Whether this defect ultimately precludes the conclusion is a matter for the administrative courts to decide; it is not a question answered by the wording itself.
This leads to the crucial distinction: Failing to submit the expert report / assessment report protects you from the content of the expert report / assessment report, but not from the decision itself. The driver’s license authority does not need to know the content at all in order to revoke your license or deny a renewal.
What factors influence our decision. It’s not about the result, but rather what the text reveals. If the expert report / assessment report shows visible progress, the template may be useful—even in the case of a negative result. If it does not, we advise against it and prepare for a re-evaluation. This assessment requires the text of the report, not just a gut feeling.
The deadline continues to run in both cases. Anyone who needs time to prepare should submit a written request for an extension before the deadline expires. In our experience, extensions are rarely granted as long as the Driving licence is still valid, and are usually granted only if it has already been revoked.
To submit or not to submit—what happens in each case
| Your decision | What follows from this | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Submit a negative assessment result by the deadline | The driving licence authority makes its decision based on the content: revocation of an existing driving licence, or denial of an application for the reissue of the driving licence. | § 46(1) FeV; § 2(2), sentence 1, no. 3 StVG in conjunction with § 11(1) FeV and § 20(1) FeV |
| Failure to submit the expert report / assessment report; deadline is approaching | The driver’s license authority may conclude that the applicant is unsuitable without knowing the content, provided that the order indicated as much. | § 11, para. 8, sentences 1 and 2 of the FeV |
| Apply for an extension before the deadline expires | The driver’s license authority makes the decision; there is no legal entitlement. Always submit your application in writing. | Based on experience: rarely granted if the driving licence is still valid; usually granted if it has been revoked |
| Submit an expert report / assessment report with a course recommendation | A course under § 70 FeV may be considered if all four requirements are met. Not without prior approval. | § 11(10), sentence 1, FeV |
| New evaluation without any change in the supporting documentation | Another negative assessment result is expected. There is no disqualification period before reissue. | No legal basis; based on experience from post-assessment support |
How can I tell from the expert report / assessment report why my application was rejected?
The key passage is in the evaluation section. An MPU expert report / assessment report consists of five parts based on the assessment criteria for Fitness to drive:
- Part I Reason for and Focus of the Study
- Part II Background history with an overview of the case files and the tested hypotheses
- Part III Examination findings, separated into medical and psychological categories
- Part IV Evaluation of the findings, i.e., acceptance or rejection of the hypotheses from Part II
- Part V Answers to official inquiries and recommendations
Read in this order: Part I explains what had to be documented. Part II lists the requirements against which the assessment was made. Part IV specifies which of these were not considered met and why. Part V is to be read last; it contains the response to the official inquiry and, if applicable, a course recommendation.
If you were already given an assessment on the day of the examination: Don’t come up with excuses—that does more harm than good. Ask objectively what was missing, and take notes. Experience shows that these notes are the most useful material for your second attempt—often more specific than the written text you’ll produce weeks later.
An expert report / assessment report evaluates the plausibility of your account in light of the findings. It does not pass judgment on you as a person. More on this: Why the MPU makes a prognosis rather than passing judgment on you and How credibility is assessed during the evaluation.
Typical Sample Justification and what they mean for your second attempt
What the expert report / assessment report essentially states
What this says about your second attempt
The information regarding past substance use is inconsistent with the available findings.
There’s a discrepancy between your account and the case file. You can resolve it by explaining it, not by changing the story.
The causes of the misconduct could not be explained in a sufficiently comprehensible manner.
The result was there, but the path to it was not. What’s needed is a verifiable chain of causes leading up to the specific situation.
A lasting change in attitude is not yet apparent.
The change is too recent or lacks sufficient evidence. It needs more time to prove itself—not just another appointment.
The stated period of abstinence is not sufficiently substantiated.
A documentation issue, not a communication issue. Check your supporting documents against Annex 4a, No. 6 of the FeV: original, signature, authorized issuing authority.
The avoidance strategies do not appear to have been sufficiently tested.
Your strategies are listed, but not illustrated with real-life situations. We’re looking for examples of times when they were actually applied.
The performance criteria did not meet the requirements.
A separate point unrelated to the review process. You should check with the assessment center to determine whether a driving behavior observation can be used as a substitute.
For context The left column is a recreation, not a direct quote. It summarizes how justifications in Part IV are presented during our follow-up support. The wording and emphasis vary depending on the assessment center.
Why does a second MPU attempt fail without addressing the underlying issues?
Because the Driving Fitness Assessment Centre addresses the same issues during the second appointment and is already familiar with the first expert report / assessment report.
The question remains the same. Pursuant to § 11(6), sentence 1 of the FeV, the driver’s license authority determines which questions need to be addressed. As long as the case file remains unchanged, this question stays the same. Anyone who answers the same question using the same material will receive the same response.
The findings cannot be replaced by mere wording. If the reasoning behind the first expert report / assessment report points to a lack of evidence, even a better-prepared interview won’t help. A story cannot replace missing proof of abstinence.
Any deviations from the first appointment stand out. The second expert report / assessment report must explain why its decision differs from that of the first. Without verifiable changes, it lacks the basis for doing so.
This brings us to the uncomfortable point: Anyone who downplayed the facts during the first appointment must correct their earlier statements during the second one. This can only be done openly. Here are some questions that may come up: The questions asked during the assessment interview.
If a previous assessment report was available and reviewed during the current evaluation, any assessment that differs from it must be justified in light of the reasoning provided at that time; in other words, the change in the findings—for example, regarding performance, behavior, attitude, or living conditions—must be clearly demonstrated.
This is the technical reason why a second attempt—without any change in the supporting documentation—typically fails. The second expert report / assessment report must justify any deviation, and to do so, he needs evidence of a change. A different presentation of the same facts is not sufficient. Note the condition in the first half of the sentence: The rule applies if the previous assessment is available for review during the new evaluation.
Results of MPU evaluations for the 2024 reporting year
About four out of every hundred evaluations result in a recommendation to take a course rather than a simple “yes” or “no.” Data point: 75,257 evaluations in the 2024 reporting year, including repeat evaluations.
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| suitable | just under 57% |
| Unsuitable | just over 39% |
| Course recommendation | just over 4% |
This distinction serves as a guide for readers; it is not a systematic classification based on the assessment criteria, but it does determine your task. Reasons 1 and 3 are time-related issues, Reason 2 is an implementation issue, and Reason 4 is a training issue. Therefore, keep in mind: not all preparation is created equal. If you have a gap in your supporting documentation, interview training won’t help you, and if you merely recite your offense by heart, providing additional evidence won’t help either.
When can I retake the MPU, and how long do I have to wait?
The Driving Licence Regulation does not specify a waiting period for retaking the MPU. It does not set a time limit following a negative assessment result nor an upper limit on the number of assessments. Theoretically, you can retake the MPU after about four weeks, and you do not need to submit a negative assessment result to do so. The prerequisite is that the driver’s license authority has received your file back from the first assessment center. The authority sends the questions and documents to the new center; the reference can be found in the comparison table below. The deadline specified in your order remains in effect: If you do not submit an expert report / assessment report by then, the authority may conclude that you are unfit to drive pursuant to Section 11(8) of the Driver’s License Regulation (FeV).
If a suspension is still in effect following a revocation—for example, under Section 69a of the German Criminal Code (StGB)—Section 20(4) of the German Driver’s License Regulations (FeV) also applies: You may apply for a new license no earlier than six months before the suspension expires.
The actual waiting period begins from the point at which the first expert report / assessment report was unsuccessful. If Proof of abstinence is missing, the required period of abstinence determines the date of the next appointment. If the required processing of the issue is missing, the time needed to demonstrate a verifiable change determines the date of the next appointment. If both are missing, the longer period applies.
Based on our experience in providing support: Without new proof of abstinence, there are typically two to three months between the two appointments. This includes the processing time for the Expert report / assessment report and the time needed to evaluate it. If proof of abstinence is provided, the timeframe of that proof determines the appointment date, not the preparation. The assessment criteria—not the driver’s license authority—determine how long the period of abstinence must last.
However, there is no single month that applies in all cases. Check the expert report / assessment report to see which specific point is mentioned, and work backward from there.
What does a course recommendation in the MPU expert report / assessment report mean?
A course recommendation is neither a pass nor a fail, but a third outcome. The Driving fitness assessment centre does not yet consider the applicant’s fitness to drive to be confirmed, but believes it can be established through a recognized course.
These two provisions must be considered separately. Section 70 of the FeV governs the recognition of courses and providers. Section 11(10) of the FeV states that a certificate of participation may replace an expert report / assessment report. This replacement applies only “as a general rule” and only if four conditions are met simultaneously:
- The course is recognized under § 70 of the FeV.
- An expert report / assessment report from an assessment center considers participation in this type of course to be an appropriate measure.
- You do not hold a driving licence.
- The driver’s license authority approved participation in the course before it began.
This is where people most often go wrong in step 4. Anyone who books before receiving approval risks that their participation will not count as a substitute for the second evaluation.
This procedure does not apply in cases involving traffic violation points or criminal offenses, § 11(10), sentence 2, FeV.
Regarding sources: The application process and processing time for the approval under Section 4 are not uniformly regulated nationwide and are not documented centrally anywhere. Contact your driver’s license authority in writing and request that the approval be provided in writing.
Course or second attempt—what’s the difference?
| Question | Course pursuant to § 70 FeV | Second MPU |
|---|---|---|
| Who decides whether the path is open? | Only if the course is expressly recommended in the expert report / assessment report and with prior approval from the driver’s license authority. | Without consent and without a waiting period, but only based on the questions and documents provided by the driver’s license authority, § 11(6), sentences 3 and 4 of the FeV. |
| Legal Basis | Section 11(10) of the FeV, recognition pursuant to Section 70 of the FeV. | § 11, paras. 6–8 of the FeV. |
| What ultimately comes down to | A certificate of participation containing the information specified in § 11(11) of the FeV. | A new expert report / assessment report, with the risk of another negative result. |
| Is a re-evaluation necessary? | Generally not among the four requirements. | Yes, the assessment is the way to go. |
| When the path is not open | No course recommendations; for those with a valid driving licence and for cases involving traffic points or traffic offenses. | Not legally prohibited. However, each expert report / assessment report submitted adds to the case file. |
If your expert report / assessment report includes a course recommendation, the course must be conducted by a course provider recognized under state law in accordance with § 70 FeV. MPU Guru does not offer this course.
Can I appeal a negative MPU assessment result?
It is not the expert report / assessment report that can be challenged, but rather the decision issued by the driver’s license authority based on it. An expert report / assessment report is a piece of evidence, not a decision by the authority. A lawyer specializing in traffic law will assess what this means for your case.
In addition, formal deficiencies are open to challenge. Appendix 4a, No. 2a of the FeV requires a presentation that is generally understandable, comprehensible, and verifiable, including all essential findings; No. 2c requires a distinction between the patient’s medical history and current findings. So if you can’t find the rationale, it’s not necessarily a problem with your understanding: As the client, you are entitled to an expert report / assessment report free of defects.
A second point concerns the order. According to the assessment criteria, a finding of unsuitability due to failure to submit the required documentation generally presupposes a fully lawful order for an expert assessment (5th edition, Chapter A.1). However, the order cannot be challenged in isolation; it is only reviewed during proceedings against the decision.
What we recommend in practice. As a general rule, we do not legally challenge a negative assessment result. The process is difficult and time-consuming, and at best, the outcome is a negative assessment result that has been overturned—not a positive one. Instead, we work through it: The reasoning from Part IV is incorporated, point by point, into your preparation. The expert report / assessment report that held you back is the most precise set of instructions you’ll receive for your second appointment.
A lawyer specializing in traffic law can determine whether different rules apply in your specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Template and Revision
Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Jobs and Documentation
Legal Status and Sources
Effective as of: October 1, 2026. The following are cited: Sections 11, 20, 46, and 70 of the FeV, as well as Annex 4a of the FeV; furthermore, Section 2(2) of the StVG and the assessment criteria for Fitness to drive, 5th edition, as well as the guidelines for assessing driving aptitude in the version dated December 12, 2025. All wording has been verified against the official full text. Subsequent legal changes are not taken into account; this guide does not constitute legal advice.
Sources Used
- Driving licence (legal permission to drive) Regulation, § 11 FeV, Federal Ministry of Justice
- Driving licence (legal permission to drive) Regulation, Appendix 4a (FeV), Principles for examinations and the preparation of expert reports
- Federal Highway Research Institute, Assessment of Fitness to drive 2024, Press release 10/2025 dated December 17, 2025, accessed on August 29, 2026
- Brenner-Hartmann, J., Fastenmeier, W., & Graw, M. (Eds.) (2026). Decision-Making in Driver Fitness Assessments: Evaluation Criteria. 5th revised and expanded edition. Bonn: Kirschbaum Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7812-2162-8.
My own assessment: The information labeled as “based on experience” comes from our own follow-up support and is not based on collected statistics. Official figures and our own observations are presented separately in the text.
Read more: MPU due to alcohol: how the order is issued and Why the MPU Is Not an “Idiot Test”.
Do you have your expert report / assessment report in front of you and don’t know why you failed?
This is exactly the question you can clarify before you book anything. During the free initial consultation, we’ll briefly go over the key details and schedule an introductory meeting. Here’s what happens during that meeting, which is also free:
- We review the reasoning in the expert report / assessment report and determine whether it points to a lack of evidence or to the presentation of the case.
- We’ll check whether your expert report / assessment report includes a course recommendation and what that means for you.
- You’ll receive an assessment of which documents are missing for a second attempt, the timeframe involved, and which step to take first.
At MPU Guru, the preparation itself is led by psychologists. We’re available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you can’t talk on the phone during the day, message us on WhatsApp or leave a preferred time for a callback. We’ll get back to you by the next day at the latest.
And what if things don’t go as planned? Our policy applies to both the comprehensive package and individual preparation sessions: Follow-up support guarantee: We’ll analyze the expert report / assessment report and schedule two additional preparation sessions based on it. This comes with two conditions—both of which must be met: consistent cooperation and that you do not take the MPU earlier than we recommend. You’re not at the end of the road yet. You now know exactly where you stand.
