A method and device for selecting a parking assistance function from a predefined group of parking assistance functions of a parking steering assistant by an input element of the parking steering assistant of a motor vehicle. The parking assistance functions are arranged in two groups, wherein the first group includes the functions which relate to parking of the vehicle and the second group includes functions which relate to exiting a parking space by the vehicle. A selection is made between the two function groups as a function of the ignition switch state and a distance traveled by the vehicle, as a result of which the method differentiates automatically between parking functions and parking space exiting functions.