A starting device has a first friction element, a second friction element, and a control unit controlling them to change their power transmission states. The friction elements are arranged between an engine and wheels. The control unit controls the first element to produce creep torque by its slippage for creep of a motor vehicle. It includes a slip state judging means judging an excessive slip state of the first element in which it deviates from a permissible slip state, and a slip state shifting means shifting the slip state of the first element and a power transmission state of the second element so as to perform a protect control in which a slip amount of the first element decreases and the second element slips, in a case where the slip state judging means judges the excessive slip state.