A vehicle control apparatus includes: a state determining portion configured to determine whether an engine is in a first operational state corresponding to a normal operation state or a second operational state corresponding to an engine stop state in which the engine is stopped and/or a catalyst warming-up state in which the engine is operated to warm up a catalyst; and a shift control portion configured, in process of a shifting action of a transmission mechanism, to control at least an engaging pressure of an engaging coupling device as one of a plurality of coupling devices of the transmission mechanism, which is to be placed in an engaged state upon completion of the shifting action, such that the engaging pressure of the engaging coupling device is controlled to be lower when the engine is in the second operational state, than when the engine is in the first operational state.