A gear changing device (1) has a gear lever (3) to operate a vehicle gear box, and several sensors to detect the movement of the gear lever with respect to the surroundings as a result of a force exerted by a user on the gear lever. The gear-changing device also has two electrical motors (5, 7), which are connected to the gear lever (3) via transmissions (9, 11). The transmission (9, 11) are formed by self-braking worm-worm wheel transmissions. The gear lever (3) can only be shifted if the electrical motors are actuated. The electrical motors shift the gear lever or permit the movement of the gear lever, depending on the sensor signals. The movement speed of the gear lever in this is such that it appears to the user that he has to overcome resistance to be able to shift the gear lever, so that the gear lever exercises a haptic effect.