In a deceleration control method for a vehicle, by which deceleration control of the vehicle is performed based on a distance between the vehicle had an obstacle including a preceding vehicle ahead of the vehicle, a target deceleration at which the vehicle is to be decelerated is obtained based on the distance; a speed or speed ratio that will apply a deceleration equal to, or less than, the target deceleration to the vehicle is selected as the speed or speed ratio of a transmission of the vehicle during a shift operation; and the deceleration control is executed by an operation of a brake system which applies a braking force to the vehicle and a shift operation which shifts the transmission of the vehicle into a relatively low speed or speed ratio.