The invention relates to a method for operating a communication device (2) for a motor vehicle (1), in which operating data of at least one operating component (4) of the motor vehicle (1) is provided by means of an interface device (3) of the motor vehicle (1) and transmitted to a mobile apparatus (8) disposed in an interior (10) of the motor vehicle (1), and the operating data is displayed on a display device (11) of the mobile apparatus (8), wherein it is examined by means of the interface device (3) if the motor vehicle (1) is operated in an autonomous drive mode, and if the motor vehicle (1) is operated in the autonomous drive mode, the mobile apparatus (8) is operated in a first operating mode, wherein the operating data is displayed on the display device (11) only in the first operating mode.