Method for operating a motor vehicle

The method involves determining item-related road information, where a control device (2) of a motor car (1) automatically and driver independently switches off a drive unit (3) of the motor car at a standstill condition as a function of the item-related road information and a boundary condition. A query to check whether the boundary condition is established, is avoided when the information satisfies road related criteria. The drive information is determined over a navigation device (4) and/or a surrounding field of the motor car is sensed by a vehicle environment sensor system (5). The vehicle environment sensor system is designed as a radar sensor. The drive unit is designed as an internal combustion engine. The boundary conditions are selected from engine speed and tire revolution. The road is selected from an in town or an out of town i.e. highway. An independent claim is also included for a motor car.