A method for operating a higher-level automated vehicle (HAV), in particular a highly automated vehicle, is provided, including: S1 for providing a digital map, which may be a highly accurate digital map, in a driver assistance system of the HAV; S2 for determining an instantaneous vehicle position and localizing the vehicle position in the digital map; S3 for providing an expected setpoint traffic density at the vehicle position; S4 for ascertaining an instantaneous actual traffic density in the surroundings of the HAV; S5 for comparing the actual traffic density to the setpoint traffic density and ascertaining a difference value as the result of the comparison; S6 for checking the vehicle position of the HAV for plausibility at least partially based on the difference value and/or S7 for updating the digital map at least partially based on the difference value. Also described are a corresponding driver assistance system and a computer program.