Abstract: A circuit arrangement determines a distance of a motor vehicle from an obstacle in a near range by a displacement sensor instead of an ultrasonic measurement. The distance is determined, above a predetermined limiting value, in accordance with the known ultrasonic transit time measurement. In this range, by comparing the signals of the displacement sensor with the ultrasonic measurement a calibration can be carried out and a correction factor for the displacement sensor can be formed. The correction factor is taken into account during the measurement in the near range, as is the contour of the vehicle.