A shift control system for the vehicle contains a torqueconverter, a multiple stage gear mechanism adapted for a shift of an operating state of a friction coupling means of a hydraulic pressure type which is coupled to the torque converter, a temperature sensor for sensing temperatures of the operating oil for the torque converter and the friction coupling element, and a control unit for shift control. The control unit controls operation of the friction coupling elements on the basis of a predetermined shift characteristic and shifts the shift characteristic, when the temperature of the operating oil to be sensed by the temperature sensor is lower than a given value, is in such a manner that the area of driving at least for first speed stage is narrowed.