An object of the present invention is to provide vehicle drive assist apparatus which can vary torque in a manner adapted to road situations. The present invention is related to a vehicle drive assist apparatus 10A for assisting in driving a vehicle by varying drive torque of wheels which comprises torque-up means 36, 38 for increasing the drive torque; step detecting means 12A, 56 for detecting a step which may exist on a road surface in a traveling direction of the vehicle; and switching means 12A for switching a status of control between a first status in which the torque-up means is permitted to operate and a second status in which the torque-up means is restricted to operate, wherein the switching means forms the first status if the step is detected by the step detecting means.