A control unit and method are provided for controlling an automatic shut-off process of a vehicle power plant in a motor vehicle, wherein the control unit emits a shut-off signal for initiating corresponding shut-off measures for automatically shutting off the vehicle power plant, when predetermined shut-off request conditions are fulfilled, and no predetermined shut-off inhibiting condition is fulfilled. The control unit sends to a memory unit a memory signal for storing at least one memory entry, allocated to a shut-off inhibiting condition, when predetermined conditions are fulfilled. In an analogous manner, a control unit and method are designed for controlling an automatic start-up process.