Method for calibrating an image capturing device

In a method for calibrating an image acquisition device arranged at a mounting height on a motor vehicle, a preliminary value of the mounting height is assumed and a measurement section lying in the road surface plane is defined with a defined section length. The measurement section is projected into the image plane by means of a perspective projection using the preliminary value of the mounting height in order to determine measurement positions in the image that correspond to a section start and a section end of the measurement section. By means of an image processing system, an object is identified in successively acquired images that is located at two measurement positions at different times. From the time difference between the different times and the speed of the motor vehicle, a calculated section length of the measurement section is determined. On the basis of a comparison of the defined section length with the calculated section length, an actual value of the mounting height is determined from the preliminary value of the mounting height. The image acquisition device is calibrated using the actual value of the mounting height.