A method for operating an internal combustion engine of a drive system for a motor vehicle, the internal combustion engine being designed for operation using various types of fuel, has the following steps: querying operating parameters of fuel-relevant functions of the drive system by means of a central fuel coordination device of a central engine coordination device, determining possible types of fuel for operating the internal combustion engine, based on the queried operating parameters and predefined fuel release conditions, by means of the central fuel coordination device, selecting a type of fuel for operating the internal combustion engine, based on the determined possible types of fuel and at least one predefined selection criterion, by means of the central fuel coordination device, transmitting information identifying the selected type of fuel from the central fuel coordination device to a central engine control unit of the central engine coordination device, and operating the internal combustion engine with the selected type of fuel by means of the central engine control unit.