A vehicle control device includes an operation detection unit detecting an operation input to an operation input unit capable of being used when increasing or decreasing a travel speed of a host vehicle, when initiating a following control with respect to a preceding vehicle, or when reinitiating the following control with respect to the preceding vehicle, and a lane change control unit performing a lane change control based on the operation input detected by the operation detection unit. In the case that a first operation input is performed, the lane change control unit performs a lane change into a first lane located on one side of a host vehicle lane where the host vehicle is traveling, whereas in the case that a second operation input is performed, the lane change control unit performs a lane change into a second lane located on another side of the host vehicle lane.