An operation detecting apparatus for a vehicle includes: a detecting unit including a first electrode and a second electrode for detecting variations in capacitance value; a capacitance measuring unit configured to measure a first capacitance value detected by the first electrode and a second capacitance value detected by the second electrode; a determining unit configured to compare a value on the basis of an amount of variations in the first capacitance value with a value on the basis of an amount of variations in the second capacitance value and determine presence or absence of operation from a user on the basis of the result of comparison; and an output unit configured to output a control signal on the basis of a result of determination of the determining unit.