Abstract: The invention relates to a method for protecting a metal surface by means of a coating based on a corrosion-inhibiting composition containing the following component(s): a) at least one type of deposit substance comprising (1) anions incorporated by an oxidation reaction and (2) releasing at least a part of said anions for a potential variation between a redox potential of the deposit substance and an undisturbed corrosion potential of a metal surface or when a comparably small potential variation is produced on a defect, wherein said anions can inhibit a partial anodic or/and cathodic corrosion reaction or/and act as an adherence initiator, said anions comprise, respectively, an ionic radius non-impairing the migration thereof, possibly b) at least one type of matrix substance, wherein said deposit substance(s) disposed in the undisturbed areas of the coating are at least partially oxidised or at least partially doped by the anions and at least one type of the deposit substance in the disturbed areas of the