Abstract: A shift mechanism in a motor vehicle gear box is described having on its output gear shaft freely rotatably journalled toothed gears which can be selectively locked to the shaft by means of at least two engaging sleeves axially displaceable on the shaft, said sleeves engaging individual shifting forks displaceable in the axial direction of the gear box. The shift mechanism cooperates with the forks so that, when a gear lever connected to the shift mechanism is shifted, it displaces the engaging sleeves and achieves selective locking of the toothed gears to the shaft.