A method for operating a navigation system for a motor vehicle with autopilot is disclosed, wherein the autopilot is designed to automatically carry out longitudinal and lateral guidance of the motor vehicle in the activated state during a piloted journey without assistance from a driver. The navigation system determines, for a destination prescribed by the user, a route to the destination on the basis of navigation data. The roads on which the activation of the autopilot is likely to be possible is determined using traffic data and on the basis of a predetermined activation condition for the autopilot.