A vehicle control device has a processor configured to decide on standby time for waiting until a vehicle that is capable of automatic control for at least one vehicle operation from among driving, braking and steering is to begin the operation for the lane change, based on either first information indicating the degree to which the driver contributes to control of the vehicle or second information representing the extent to which manual control of the vehicle by the driver is possible, the greater the degree to which the driver contributes to control of the vehicle, represented by the first information, or the extent to which manual control of the vehicle by the driver is possible, represented by the second information, the shorter the standby time.