MPU Costs in 2026: The Total Cost of the MPU

An MPU typically costs between 2,800 and 5,000 euros in total; at the lowest end, around 1,800 euros, and at the highest, just over 7,700 euros. Anyone searching for the costs of the “MPU test” is referring to the same assessment and the same items. All amounts are market estimates.

There are three factors you can influence, and one you can’t. Find out which one it is here. Preparation can also be done in installments upon request.

The expert report / assessment report itself accounts for the smaller portion of the cost, ranging from 800 to 1,400 euros depending on the assessment center. The range is due to three other components: laboratory testing as proof of abstinence, preparation for the assessment, and the reissuance of the driver’s license.

The specific questions listed in the notice from the driver’s license authority can make a difference of several hundred euros. When you read your notice, you’ll have a more accurate idea of your budget than any flat-rate estimate you’ll find online. You can find out what’s behind each individual item in our Guide Overview.

The third column contains the key message: Official fees are limited to the amounts charged by the driver’s license authority, the fee for the criminal record check, and—if a test is ordered—the test fees. Everything else consists of prices charged by private providers.

Why does the same MPU cost different amounts at two different providers?

The amount charged by a driving fitness assessment centre is not an official fee, but a price set at the centre’s discretion. Driving fitness assessment centres are privately operated entities. According to § 11(3) of the German Driver’s License Regulations (FeV), the driver’s license authority may only require a medical-psychological expert report / assessment report from an officially recognized agency. The recognition procedure is governed by § 66 FeV, and the requirements are set forth in Appendix 14 FeV. None of these regulations address pricing.

This leads to a difference that many people mistakenly believe is an error: Two assessment centers in the same city may charge different amounts for the same service.

In contrast, what the driver’s license authority charges is an actual fee in accordance with the schedule of fees for traffic-related measures. Therefore, when people compare prices online, they are often comparing two different things: a contractual service and a fee.

So, the choice of assessment center affects your price. Learn more at How to Choose an Assessment Center.

This is how MPU costs work. You are the one commissioning the evaluation, not the government agency. That’s why the assessment center sends the bill directly to you, and why no government agency covers any of the costs upfront.

There is no refund based solely on a negative result. If the expert report / assessment report is defective, the standard claims under a contract for services apply. A complete and defect-free expert report / assessment report is required.

How does the nature of the inquiry affect the price?

The questions listed in the order determine which parts of the examination will take place. Each part costs money, and this determines the pricing structure.

A medical-psychological examination consists of a physical examination by a doctor, a psychological interview, and—depending on the specific issues—a performance test assessing attention and reaction time. For drug-related cases, a screening is included as part of the evaluation; for alcohol-related cases, laboratory test results are compared with the information you provide regarding your consumption. If the issue is solely related to traffic violation points, the need for laboratory testing is largely eliminated.

There are two aspects that those affected often misunderstand. The performance test does not incur any additional costs; it is included in the price of the assessment and often takes only about twenty minutes. It takes longer if the procedure is repeated and for Class C and D licenses. The driving behavior observation, on the other hand, is a separate item costing between 350 and 550 euros, because a driving instructor and an evaluator ride along. It is not required in every case, but will be added to the bill if ordered. Both figures are based on experience from cases handled by MPU Guru. The prices for expert reports / assessment reports, preparation, and laboratory services listed below, however, are researched market benchmarks, not based on consulting experience.

A third point applies to anyone whose case file covers more than one issue: If the authorities raise multiple issues—such as drug use and traffic points—the assessment centers charge an additional fee for each additional issue. Each center determines the amount of the surcharge on its own. The grounds on which an agency accepts a case and when it does so are governed by When an MPU Is Ordered Due to Alcohol Use.

How much do proofs of abstinence cost, and what accounts for the difference?

The Proof of abstinence has the longest lead time and the widest price range for the same service, depending on the choice of laboratory. The prices listed here are market benchmarks.

The same hair analysis costs around 90 euros at an independent, CTU-compliant lab; for a combined alcohol and drug test, it costs around 125 euros. At the assessment center’s own lab, the cost is often around 300 euros per analysis. For a 12-month alcohol monitoring period with four analyses, that comes to around 360 euros, compared to around 1,200 euros for the same level of accuracy. MPU Guru does not conduct screenings itself and therefore advises, with no vested interest: Choose an independent laboratory that is accredited according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 and meets the CTU criteria. Both together—not just one or the other.

The second area where people lose out financially is the start date. A urine testing program begins on the day of registration. A Hair analysis begins on the day of the last use. We recommend starting the testing process no earlier than about four weeks after the last use; before that, you should test yourself privately at home. For hair analysis, the evaluation criteria recommend a safety window of two to three months, depending on previous consumption (Chapter C.3.3). If you don’t plan the start date, you’ll end up with a gap and have to pay for an additional analysis.

Neither you nor your preparation counselor determines how long you must provide proof. This is determined by how your case is classified according to the assessment criteria. Details at The procedures for proof of abstinence in detail.

Hair analysis is also part of the program: A twelve-month record consists of several analyses that must cover the entire period without gaps, and each one is billed separately. The guide explains which time periods apply, how long a gap can be, and how close the last sample must be to the assessment date. Proof of abstinence.

The most expensive item isn’t listed in any price list

The most expensive aspect of the MPU process is time, and it doesn’t appear on any bill.

The disqualification period before reissue and the administrative proceedings are two separate tracks. The disqualification period expires regardless of whether you take advantage of it or let it pass. If you don’t begin providing Proof of abstinence until after the suspension period has ended, you’ll extend the time without a Driving licence by the full duration of the proof requirement. For twelve or fifteen months, that’s a year or more.

The order in which you submit your application matters, too. When you apply for a new driver’s license, the driver’s license authority sets a deadline for the expert report / assessment report. If you submit your application before your supporting documents expire, you’ll either be rushed into the evaluation process or your application and fee will lapse.

After a court-ordered suspension, you can apply for reinstatement under Section 20(4) of the FeV no earlier than six months before the suspension expires. This is the earliest reasonable starting point for the application, not for gathering the required documentation. You should start gathering that documentation sooner. The guide explains how these two processes work together. Driver’s License After the MPU.

How much does MPU preparation cost?

Serious preparation programs typically cost between 800 and 4,500 euros on the market. This is a rough estimate based on market observations, not on collected price statistics.

A preparation course is not required by law. Preparation is therefore the only item that can be omitted entirely. When it comes to the assessment center and the verification process, however, you’re simply choosing between different options. At the same time, this item has the greatest impact on how well you understand the requirements of the assessment.

A high price says nothing about quality. And if you don’t read your notice until shortly before the appointment, money won’t buy you back the time you’ve lost.

Preparation is also the expense you’re most likely to be able to spread out over several months. The assessment center and the lab bill you directly for their expert reports / assessment reports and lab services. At MPU Guru, you can pay for the preparation in up to six installments at no extra cost, or via Klarna and PayPal with a repayment term of up to 48 months.

You can find out how a structured preparation program is organized at MPU Preparation with MPU Guru.

How much does a driver’s license cost after passing the MPU?

A positive assessment result does not automatically mean you’ll get your driver’s license back. Reissuance requires a separate application and involves additional costs.

According to Section 20(1) of the FeV, the regulations for initial issuance apply. This entails the following requirements: application fee, eye exam, passport photo, and, if required by the authorities, a certificate of good conduct. According to Section 19(2), second sentence, of the FeV, proof of first-aid training is not required if you have already completed such training. For most people, this requirement is therefore waived.

Only a few of these amounts are standardized: the fee for reissuing a license according to the Schedule of Fees for Road Traffic Measures, ranging from 33.20 to 256.00 euros; the criminal background check at 13.00 euros; and the vision test. The 60 to 350 euros listed in the cost table are higher because many agencies bill for multiple fee items.

A cost factor that hardly any guide mentions is outlined in § 20, paragraph 2 of the FeV: a repeat driver’s license exam if facts justify the assumption that the required knowledge and skills are no longer present. There is no fixed two-year limit for this. Based on cases handled by MPU Guru, the authorities typically order this when the driving licence has been revoked for longer than the driver previously held it. In such cases, driving lessons and exam fees are added to the cost.

How much does the MPU cost on the second attempt?

A second expert report / assessment report costs the full price again, meaning another 800 to 1,400 euros. There is no discount based solely on the result. However, the second attempt becomes expensive in another way: If your Proof of abstinence between the two appointments falls outside the required time window, you’ll have to repeat the laboratory tests as well, and you’ll face additional months without a Driving licence (legal permission to drive).

This is precisely where the most costly mistake lies, and it happens before the first appointment. Of the clients who fail their MPU on the first try at MPU Guru, a good three-quarters took the test too early, against our recommendation. Going to the appointment four to six weeks early doesn’t save anything; in the end, it costs you the opportunity to pass the Expert report / assessment report a second time.

That’s why our Follow-up support guarantee Subject to certain conditions. It consists of an analysis of the negative assessment result and two additional preparation sessions; it is included in both the comprehensive package and the individual preparation option, and it applies only if both conditions are met: consistent cooperation and no premature attempt to take the test contrary to our recommendation.

As a rule, two to three months pass before the second attempt, provided that no new or extended period of Abstinence is required. The regulation does not specify a statutory waiting period. Section 11(10) of the FeV provides an alternative: Instead of a new expert report / assessment report, a certificate of completion of a course recognized under Section 70 of the FeV may suffice. Four conditions must be met: the course must be recognized, the assessment center must have recommended it, you must not hold a Driving licence, and the authorities must have given their approval before the course begins. In cases of traffic violations or criminal offenses, this option is excluded under sentence 2. For more information, see Failed the MPU.

In financial terms: A negative assessment result is not a rare occurrence, and anyone who has to retake the test after that will have to pay the largest fees all over again. The rate refers to all expert reports / assessment reports in a given year, including retakes, not to individual people.

Conversely, don’t delay providing Proof of abstinence. If you rely on your driving licence for work, every month without a driving licence will cost you more than the entire lab fee.

The greatest harm occurs when a certificate is issued by a non-accredited agency, contains a gap, or fails to meet the sampling requirements. In the worst-case scenario, it is worthless, and the process starts all over again.

Current legal status and sources used

Date of this guide: August 29, 2026. Prices for expert reports / assessment reports, laboratory services, and preparation are subject to change; the amounts listed are approximate.

Legal basis: Driving licence regulation, specifically § 11 on ordering and cost coverage, § 20 on reissue of the driving licence, § 66 on the recognition of assessment centers, and § 70 on recognized course providers, each via gesetze-im-internet.de. The principles governing the assessment are set forth in Appendix 4a of the FeV, and the requirements for assessment centers are outlined in Appendix 14 of the FeV. The agency’s fees are based on the Schedule of Fees for Road Traffic Measures, while the fee for the certificate of good conduct is governed by the Judicial Administration Costs Act.

Technical foundations: Assessment guidelines on fitness to drive issued by the Federal Highway Research Institute, as well as its assessment statistics, bast.de. Decision-Making in Driver Fitness Assessments, Assessment Criteria, 5th edition, DGVP and DGVM, including the CTU criteria.

Source of price information: Market observation, as of August 26, 2026; no price statistics were collected. Empirical data from cases handled by MPU Guru are specifically marked in the text.