Abstract: A motor vehicle having exterior lateral side rails in the area of a passenger compartment has additional side rails which adjoin in the forward structure of the vehicle and/or in the rearward structure of the vehicle, which side rails are provided in particular with a right-angle bend. The elements which reinforce the vehicle body are connected with the side rails, on the one hand, and/or an underbody or underbody components, on the other hand. The reinforcing element has a first V-shaped strutting which extends in a horizontal plane in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is connected with a second-V-shaped strutting. This strutting is arranged in an approximately vertical transverse plane, in which case the first strutting, by its free ends, is fastened to the side rails and by its other ends, is fastened to the second strutting in a common connecting area. This second strutting is supported on the side rails by its free ends.