A control device for a motor vehicle such that during a driving direction change from an original direction and/or during a starting process and/or during a stopping process and/or during a rolling process, in order to assist with the driving direction change and/or starting process and/or stopping process and/or rolling process, an appropriate control signal is provided by the control device to automatically activate a service brake. The control device automatically determines the friction energy produced at a starting clutch, during the driving direction change and/or starting process and/or stopping process and/or rolling process, without activation of the service brake. The control device only automatically activates the service brake, to assist with the driving direction change and/or starting process and/or stopping process and/or rolling process, if the determined friction energy exceeds a limit value.