An object detection apparatus for a vehicle equipped with an obstacle determiner (38, S10) that determines whether an object detected based on points derived by transmitting an electromagnetic beam forward of the subject vehicle and projecting reflection points obtained onto a two-dimensional plane is an obstacle constituting an obstruction to advance of the subject vehicle, comprising: a subject vehicle travel path estimator (38, S12) that estimates a travel path of the subject vehicle; characterised by: a roadside object/preceding vehicle detector (38, S14, S16) that detects a roadside object present at a side of the travel path and a preceding vehicle traveling ahead on the travel path at a speed equal to or greater than a predetermined speed based on the derived points, wherein the predetermined speed is a vehicle speed capable of provoking transfer of the reflection points of the roadside object; and a roadside object movement determiner (38, S18, S20) that determines, when the preceding vehicle passes near the roadside object, whether the roadside object has moved toward the travel path within a predetermined time before and after the preceding vehicle passing near the roadside object; wherein the obstacle determiner determines the roadside object not to be the obstacle when the roadside object is determined to have moved toward the travel path. a subject vehicle travel path estimator (38, S12) that estimates a travel path of the subject vehicle; characterised by: a roadside object/preceding vehicle detector (38, S14, S16) that detects a roadside object present at a side of the travel path and a preceding vehicle traveling ahead on the travel path at a speed equal to or greater than a predetermined speed based on the derived points, wherein the predetermined speed is a vehicle speed capable of provoking transfer of the reflection points of the roadside object; and a roadside object movement determiner (38, S18, S20) that determines, when the preceding vehicle passes near the roadside object, whether the roadside object has moved toward the travel path within a predetermined time before and after the preceding vehicle passing near the roadside object; wherein the obstacle determiner determines the roadside object not to be the obstacle when the roadside object is determined to have moved toward the travel path. a roadside object/preceding vehicle detector (38, S14, S16) that detects a roadside object present at a side of the travel path and a preceding vehicle traveling ahead on the travel path at a speed equal to or greater than a predetermined speed based on the derived points, wherein the predetermined speed is a vehicle speed capable of provoking transfer of the reflection points of the roadside object; and a roadside object movement determiner (38, S18, S20) that determines, when the preceding vehicle passes near the roadside object, whether the roadside object has moved toward the travel path within a predetermined time before and after the preceding vehicle passing near the roadside object; wherein the obstacle determiner determines the roadside object not to be the obstacle when the roadside object is determined to have moved toward the travel path.