An image processing apparatus includes an image acquisition unit and a determination unit. The image acquisition unit uses a camera to acquire a first image representing an area in a first relative position and a second image representing an area in a second relative position closer to the moving direction of the vehicle than the first relative position. The determination unit compares the first image with the second image acquired earlier than the first image and representing an area overlapping the first image for luminance and/or the intensity of a predetermined color component to determine whether there exists a specific area higher in luminance than the surroundings or lower in luminance than the surroundings in the first image.