In a vehicle control apparatus for reprogramming data stored therein based on a reprogramming instruction transmitted thereto via a wireless communication network, an asking unit is provided. The asking unit asks a data reprogramming unit about whether the reprogramming instruction is validated or not. The data reprogramming unit has been authorized to reprogram the data stored in the vehicle control apparatus. A determining unit is provided in the vehicle control apparatus. The determining unit receives a reply to the asking transmitted from the data reprogramming unit via the wireless communication network and determines whether to enable or disable the reprogramming of the data stored in the vehicle control apparatus based on the received reply.