A vehicle control device in a vehicle including an engine and a multi-speed transmission having a plurality of gear positions, each gear position out of the plurality of gear positions established by engaging predetermined engagement devices out of a plurality of engagement devices, the vehicle control device including a shift control portion configured to control release of a release-side engagement device of the plurality of engagement devices and engagement of an engagement-side engagement device of the plurality of engagement devices so as to switch the gear position established in the multi-speed transmission, and an engine control portion configured to provide idling-reduction control of temporarily stopping the operation of the engine based on a predetermined engine stop condition.