VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS, VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

A vehicle control apparatus includes: an approach detection section; an authentication section; and a start control section. The approach detection section detects a person within a rear detection range and a lateral detection range. The rear detection range includes an area in a rear direction of a vehicle. The lateral detection range includes an area within a range different from the rear detection range. The authentication section authenticates a person detected as a user of the vehicle by using an image captured. The start control section starts the image capturing unit when the person detected within the lateral detection range approaches a position closer than a setting distance from the vehicle, and starts the image capturing unit even when a distance between the person detected within the rear detection range and the vehicle is greater than or equal to the setting distance.