The invention relates to a method for setting the feed rate of a fuel pump unit, which sucks up fuel from a fuel tank 8, as a function of the feed pressure, which is built up by the fuel pump unit, in an outlet 25 of the fuel pump unit, which outlet leads to an internal combustion engine. The fuel pump unit has a first pump stage and a second pump stage, the two pump stages being connected in parallel below a defined feed pressure in the outlet 25 of the fuel pump unit and being connected in series above the defined feed pressure.