A method for determining the driving resistance of a vehicle by taking into account a value for the vehicle mass is described. Before beginning to drive, the vehicle mass and driving resistance coefficients are estimated with an estimation method by taking into account sensor signals, and an initial value for the driving resistance is calculated from the vehicle mass and the driving resistance coefficients. A corrected value for the driving resistance and the vehicle mass is calculated while driving, based on measured driving-related values, which are measured in chronological succession.