A method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle includes: during a coasting operation of the motor vehicle in which a shifting clutch is open and the internal combustion engine stands still starting the internal combustion engine in a first operating mode with the electric machine and in a second operating mode by at least partially closing the shifting clutch with a coupling torque set at the shifting clutch, thereby operatively connecting the internal combustion engine with at least one wheel, wherein the internal combustion engine is started in the first operating mode when a predictively determined wheel slip predictive value exceeds a wheel slip setpoint value, and wherein when the internal combustion engine is started in the second operating mode the electric machine is used for starting the internal combustion engine and for driving the at least one wheel when a wheel slip actual value exceeds the wheel slip setpoint value.