The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a transmitting device of a motor vehicle, in which method the transmitting device is operated in a private mode or in a transmitting mode. In the transmitting mode, the transmitting device transmits vehicle data to a computing device external to the vehicle. In the private mode, transmission of the vehicle data is stopped. A switchover from the transmitting mode into the private mode occurs as soon as a successful authentication of a specified user action has been captured.