A method for detecting movements of a body (12) of a first motor vehicle (10) includes recording image and sensor data by a camera and sensor device (30) of a second motor vehicle (20). The image and sensor data represent that part of the environment of the second motor vehicle (20) that contains the first motor vehicle (10). The image and sensor data are forwarded to a data analysis device that detects movements of the body of the first motor vehicle and uses artificial intelligence algorithms and machine image analysis to process the image and sensor data to classify movements of the vehicle body (12). The classified movements of the vehicle body (12) are assigned to at least one of a set of defined states. Output data from the determined state are generated for further use in an automated driving function and/or for a user interface.