A vehicle control device comprising: a mode switching section that switches, according to operation of an input member by a driver of a vehicle, a transmission state of an engine output to driving wheels of the vehicle between at least two modes, that is, a first traveling mode and a second traveling mode more suitable for rough road traveling than the first traveling mode; an idling-stop control section that automatically stops the engine when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied and restarts the automatically stopped engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied; a permitting/prohibiting section that permits the automatic stop of the engine by the idling-stop control section when the transmission state is switched to the first traveling mode by the mode switching section and prohibits the automatic stop of the engine by the idling-stop control section when the transmission state is switched to the second traveling mode by the mode switching section; and a restart preferential section that, when the input member is switch-operated by the driver in the automatic stop of the engine by the idling-stop control section, causes the idling-stop control section to restart the engine and thereafter causes the mode switching section to implement switching of a traveling mode corresponding to the operation of the input member, wherein the vehicle is a vehicle capable of selecting a two-wheel drive mode and a four-wheel drive mode and including a center lock mechanism capable of limiting a differential motion of a center differential gear in the four-wheel drive mode, the first traveling mode is an unlock mode for allowing the differential motion of the center differential gear with the center lock mechanism, and the second traveling mode is a lock mode for limiting the differential motion of the center differential gear with the center lock mechanism. a mode switching section that switches, according to operation of an input member by a driver of a vehicle, a transmission state of an engine output to driving wheels of the vehicle between at least two modes, that is, a first traveling mode and a second traveling mode more suitable for rough road traveling than the first traveling mode; an idling-stop control section that automatically stops the engine when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied and restarts the automatically stopped engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied; a permitting/prohibiting section that permits the automatic stop of the engine by the idling-stop control section when the transmission state is switched to the first traveling mode by the mode switching section and prohibits the automatic stop of the engine by the idling-stop control section when the transmission state is switched to the second traveling mode by the mode switching section; and a restart preferential section that, when the input member is switch-operated by the driver in the automatic stop of the engine by the idling-stop control section, causes the idling-stop control section to restart the engine and thereafter causes the mode switching section to implement switching of a traveling mode corresponding to the operation of the input member, wherein the vehicle is a vehicle capable of selecting a two-wheel drive mode and a four-wheel drive mode and including a center lock mechanism capable of limiting a differential motion of a center differential gear in the four-wheel drive mode, the first traveling mode is an unlock mode for allowing the differential motion of the center differential gear with the center lock mechanism, and the second traveling mode is a lock mode for limiting the differential motion of the center differential gear with the center lock mechanism.