Abstract: A method for producing a protective element which is formed of individual profiles for armoring a motor vehicle. The method includes providing the individual profiles from a same steel alloy or from different steel alloys, welding the individual profiles to provide a preform, heating the preform to a temperature which is higher than an austenitizing temperature of the steel alloy or, if the individual profiles are provided from different steel alloys, to a temperature of the steel alloy having a highest austenitizing temperature, inserting the preform into a hot-forming mold, subjecting the preform to a final shaping in the hot-forming mold to provide the protective element, and hardening the protective element in the hot-forming mold. The welding is performed with a formation of at least two weld seams. A first weld seam is thereby located further away from a strike-facing side of the individual profiles than a second well seam.