A motor vehicle multi-stage planetary transmission which has a housing that accommodates four planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3, P4), shafts (2-9), three clutches (K1, K2, K3) and three brakes (B1, B2, B3) whose selective actuation implements various transmission ratios between drive and output shafts. The carriers of gear sets (P1, P2) are connected by shaft (4), the ring gear of gear set (P2) can be fixed to the housing, via shaft (5), by actuating brake (B1). A ring gear of gear set (P1) and a sun gear of gear set (P2) are coupled by shaft (6) which can be connected, via clutch (K1), to the drive shaft. A sun gear of gear set (P1) can be fixed, via brake (B2), to the housing and can be coupled, by clutch (K2), to drive shaft. The first and second clutches (K1, K2) are startup elements which initiate startup procedures.