A method for operating a vehicle heater dosing pump for conveying fuel having a piston which can be moved back and forth between a start position and an end position, and a drive unit which can be electrically excited by applying a voltage, having the following procedure: controlling and/or regulating the voltage for generating an effective voltage to transfer the piston from the start position to the end position, wherein the effective voltage reaches a first maximum (U.sub.1) in a start phase (t.sub.0-t.sub.1), and is lower than the first maximum in a subsequent intermediate phase (t.sub.1-t.sub.2). The effective voltage reaches a second maximum (U.sub.3) in an end phase (t.sub.2-t.sub.3) following the intermediate phase. A device is also provided having a dosing pump and a control/regulation unit. The control/regulation unit is suitable for controlling voltage applied to a drive unit of the dosing pump.