The invention discloses a vehicle model identification method and apparatus and belongs to the machine vision technical field. The vehicle type identification method is an image and three-dimensional information fusion-based vehicle model identification method which has high accuracy, high stability and is convenient to update. The vehicle model identification method includes the following steps that: the type and color of a vehicle are determined through using a type and color identification model; the brand of the vehicle is determined using a vehicle brand identification model; and a vehicle model classifier is selected according to the determined type, color and brand of the vehicle, and the model of the vehicle is determined through using the selected vehicle model classifier.