A separation device for a motor vehicle, with a flexible flat shaped article, which is held on a winding shaft located in a box housing between a rolled-in rest position and a pulled-out protective position which is rigidly connected to the vehicle with holding devices, in a manner so it can be rolled in and rolled out, where a return spring arrangement applies pressure in the roll-in direction onto the winding shaft. According to the invention, the return spring arrangement is formed by a series or parallel connection of a stronger wound spring and a weaker convenience spring, where the switching is designed in such a manner that, between the rolled-up rest position and a first pull-out position, the stronger roll-up force is applied, and, from the first pull-out position on, for a limited time, a smaller roll-up force is applied, for the transfer into the suspended protective position, and in that the wound spring is associated with a damping element.