When a likelihood of a collision between an object and an own vehicle is determined to be present, an vehicle control apparatus calculates an object width indicating a size of the object in a lateral direction and an overlap ratio indicating a proportion of an amount of overlap in the lateral direction between the calculated object width and a determination area that is virtually set ahead of the own vehicle. Based on the calculated overlap ratio, an operation timing for a collision avoidance control is set. The object width is changed when the overlap ratio is less than a predetermined threshold such that the object width is less than the object width when the overlap ratio is greater than the predetermined threshold. The operation timing for the collision avoidance control is set based on a new overlap ratio calculated based on the determination area and the object width after change.