A vehicle control device includes a crossing vehicle detection sensor configured to detect a crossing vehicle approaching an own vehicle while the own vehicle is traveling in an intersecting lane, the intersecting lane being a lane that intersects an own vehicle lane at an intersection at a time the own vehicle approaches the intersection, the crossing vehicle being a vehicle travelling in the intersecting lane; and a controller configured to automatically brake the own vehicle to avoid a collision between the own vehicle and the crossing vehicle under a condition that the own vehicle enters the intersecting lane. The controller is configured to set, between the own vehicle and the crossing vehicle, a virtual area that moves with the crossing vehicle and that extends in an advancing direction of the crossing vehicle, and automatically brake the own vehicle to prevent the own vehicle from contacting the virtual area.