A remote control device for an automotive vehicle wherein a transmitter (10) is received in a holder (2), with side-marker lights and taillights staying on, to connect holder-side contacts (3, 4) to transmitter-side contacts (16, 17), and the transmitter (10) is removed from the holder (2) to disconnect the transmitter-side contacts (16, 17) from the holder-side contacts (3, 4). A differentiating circuit (21) detects the disconnection of the transmitter-side contacts (16, 17) from the holder-side contacts (3, 4) by the removal of the transmitter (10) in the on position of the side-marker lights and taillights, and a timer (22) clocks a predetermined timer time over which LEDs illuminate manipulation keys (12) of the transmitter (10). Only the removal of the remote control transmitter from the holder permits the manipulation keys to be readily illuminated.