In a vehicle control apparatus, a rear side detecting unit, mounted to an own vehicle, detects another vehicle that is present in a first area behind and to a side of the own vehicle. A time acquiring unit, mounted to the own vehicle, acquires a first time that is an estimated time at which a front approaching vehicle will arrive at the first area. The front approaching vehicle is another vehicle that is relatively nearing the own vehicle from ahead of the own vehicle. A sensitivity setting unit, mounted to the own vehicle, sets a detection sensitivity of the rear side detecting unit to the other vehicle in at least a part of the first area in such a manner that the detection sensitivity during a predetermined period set based on the first time is higher than the detection sensitivity during a remaining period other than the predetermined period.