A vehicle travel assistance method executed by a processor comprises: setting a travel lane in which a subject vehicle travels based on detection information of a sensor equipped in the subject vehicle, identifying a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of a subject vehicle based on detection information of a sensor, calculating, based on the detection information, a first evaluation value indicating a possibility that the subject vehicle can return to the travel lane from an adjacent lane adjacent to the travel lane after overtaking the preceding vehicle, calculating a shortening width of travel time shortened by overtaking the preceding vehicle based on the vehicle speed of the subject vehicle and the vehicle speed of the preceding vehicle, and determining whether or not to overtake the preceding vehicle based on the first evaluation value and the shortening width.