In a vehicle control unit for controlling a vehicle based on a detection signal obtained from a shift range detecting unit that detects a shift range selected by a shift operating unit, a vehicle speed detecting unit that detects a vehicle speed, and an engine rpm detecting unit that detects an engine rpm, when the detected vehicle speed is less than a reference vehicle speed, the shift range detecting unit detects that a shift switching operation is carried out from a neutral to a forward range or a reverse range, and the engine rpm detecting unit detects that the engine rpm is not less than a predetermined value until a time not less than a predetermined time is elapsed from when the shift switching operation is detected, a control for prohibiting a shift change of a transmission in accordance with the shift switching operation is carried out.