A method is provided for determining an operational readiness state of an electric motor, a pump motor for pumping an operating fluid, for example, an aqueous urea solution, in a vehicle. The method includes applying an electric drive voltage to the electric motor according to a prescribed drive voltage curve in order to drive a rotor of the electric motor to rotate through a prescribed angle of rotation, detecting a response behavior of the electric motor, and determining the state of the electric motor based on the results determined in step b).