The present disclosure is based on a device and on a method for enabling access to a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has at least one sensor which senses the surroundings and and/or the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The core of the present disclosure is that the enabling of access which occurs in response to an enabling request originating from outside the motor vehicle takes place at least as a function of the sensing by the sensor. The disclosure advantageously provides secure access to the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.