A method for operating a motor vehicle includes the steps of registering a maximum dynamics requirement and adapting the idling operating mode of a fuel cell system of the motor vehicle on the basis of the maximum dynamics requirement. In the first maximum dynamics requirement, lower dynamics are required than in the second maximum dynamics requirement. In the first maximum dynamics requirement, the fuel cell system is operated in a first idling operating mode. In the second maximum dynamics requirement the fuel cell system is operated in a second idling operating mode. The fuel cell system is operated more efficiently in the first idling operating mode than in the second idling operating mode.