A vehicle control apparatus executes automated cruise control under which a steering apparatus is controlled to make a vehicle perform automated cruise. The vehicle control apparatus sets a curvature radius difference threshold used in a process for determining whether to start automated cruise control, based on a transverse deviation of the vehicle. The vehicle control apparatus does not start the automated cruise control when the absolute value of a curvature radius difference is larger than the curvature radius difference threshold. The curvature radius difference is a difference between a travelling path curvature radius and a lane curvature radius, the travelling path curvature radius being a curvature radius of a travelling path of the vehicle and the lane curvature radius being a curvature radius of a lane in which the vehicle is travelling.